Director Student Financial Services Operations

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

2d•$85,000 - $100,000•Remote

About The Position

Job Purpose: The Director of Student Financial Operations provides systemwide leadership over the execution of student financial services operations across The Community Solution Education System. This role reports to the Vice President of Student Financial Affairs and is responsible for overseeing both financial aid and student accounts operational workflows, ensuring accurate processing, regulatory compliance, and operational consistency across institutions. The Director serves as the operational authority for student financial services, translating regulatory requirements and institutional policies into effective business processes. This role supports student success through the timely, accurate, and compliant administration of financial aid and student account activities. The role carries explicit responsibility for ensuring a consistent student experience, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional coordination across institutions. Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Oversee daily student financial services processing functions, including Student Aid Report (SAR) processing, verification flags, packaging, originations, authorizations, disbursement, reconciliation, and post-disbursement adjustments Provide oversight of daily student accounts processing functions, including billing, adjustments, refunds, reconciliation, and resolution of complex account activity Ensure timely and accurate awarding, disbursement, posting, and reconciliation of federal, state, institutional, and private aid Monitor workflow queues, processing timelines, and service-level expectations to support enrollment, persistence, cash management, and compliance objectives Compliance & Regulatory Execution Execute operational processes in compliance with federal Title IV regulations, state requirements, and institutional policies and procedures Support audits, program reviews, and internal assessments by preparing documentation, responding to findings, and implementing corrective action plans in coordination with compliance leadership Maintain operational procedures and documentation to ensure consistent execution of regulatory and institutional requirements Partner with compliance leadership to implement new or revised regulatory requirements into day-to-day operations Business & Functional Ownership Serve as the business and functional owner for student financial operations, including configuration requirements, workflow design, testing, and operational readiness, in partnership with Information Technology Collaborate with institutional and systemwide teams on operational readiness for system enhancements, implementations, upgrades, and process changes Identify operational risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement through data analysis and performance monitoring Support systemwide reporting, reconciliation, and data integrity efforts related to student financial services Staff Leadership & Development Supervise, train, and evaluate financial aid and student account staff across the system Provide expert guidance on complex cases, escalations, and operational decision-making Support onboarding, cross-training, and professional development to ensure operational continuity and resilience Foster a student-centered, compliance-aware service culture aligned with organizational mission and values Student, Campus & System Engagement Support escalated student and family concerns related to financial aid eligibility, awards, billing, and account resolution Collaborate with system and campus partners to support communications, outreach, and student success initiatives Contribute to the development of operational guidance, training materials, and student-facing communications related to student financial services

Requirements

Thorough understanding of student financial aid and student accounts operations
Demonstrated knowledge of federal Title IV programs and operational compliance requirements
Functional and in-depth experience with Student Information Systems, including financial aid and/or student account modules
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into effective operational processes
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a dynamic environment
Collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively across functional, institutional, and systemwide teams
High level of professionalism, discretion, and judgment
Ability to manage responsibilities in a complex, multi-institutional system environment
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
3 to 5 years of progressive experience in student financial services administration with significant operational responsibility
Experience supervising and leading staff in a complex, multi-entity, or systemwide environment

Nice To Haves

Experience working within multi-institution or system-based university environments
Experience supporting audits, program reviews, or compliance remediation initiatives
Demonstrated experience leading operational change, process improvement, or system transitions

Responsibilities

Oversee daily student financial services processing functions, including Student Aid Report (SAR) processing, verification flags, packaging, originations, authorizations, disbursement, reconciliation, and post-disbursement adjustments
Provide oversight of daily student accounts processing functions, including billing, adjustments, refunds, reconciliation, and resolution of complex account activity
Ensure timely and accurate awarding, disbursement, posting, and reconciliation of federal, state, institutional, and private aid
Monitor workflow queues, processing timelines, and service-level expectations to support enrollment, persistence, cash management, and compliance objectives
Execute operational processes in compliance with federal Title IV regulations, state requirements, and institutional policies and procedures
Support audits, program reviews, and internal assessments by preparing documentation, responding to findings, and implementing corrective action plans in coordination with compliance leadership
Maintain operational procedures and documentation to ensure consistent execution of regulatory and institutional requirements
Partner with compliance leadership to implement new or revised regulatory requirements into day-to-day operations
Serve as the business and functional owner for student financial operations, including configuration requirements, workflow design, testing, and operational readiness, in partnership with Information Technology
Collaborate with institutional and systemwide teams on operational readiness for system enhancements, implementations, upgrades, and process changes
Identify operational risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement through data analysis and performance monitoring
Support systemwide reporting, reconciliation, and data integrity efforts related to student financial services
Supervise, train, and evaluate financial aid and student account staff across the system
Provide expert guidance on complex cases, escalations, and operational decision-making
Support onboarding, cross-training, and professional development to ensure operational continuity and resilience
Foster a student-centered, compliance-aware service culture aligned with organizational mission and values
Support escalated student and family concerns related to financial aid eligibility, awards, billing, and account resolution
Collaborate with system and campus partners to support communications, outreach, and student success initiatives
Contribute to the development of operational guidance, training materials, and student-facing communications related to student financial services