Manager, Financial Aid

Academy of Art University • San Francisco, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Financial Aid oversees the tracking of financial status for student loan applications and financial aid paperwork, including FAFSA completion and resolution of funding gaps. The role manages the performance of the Financial Aid team by communicating departmental objectives, coaching employees on work standards, and monitoring progress toward operational goals. The opportunity is described as hybrid and based in San Francisco, with remote work potentially available from a predesignated location within the contiguous United States.

The manager supports students throughout the financial aid process, ensuring they are financially planned for their academic year and entire program. The role includes student counseling, portfolio and inbox management, training, workshops, coordination with Admissions, assistance with office operations and events, and other duties assigned by the Associate Director, Student Financial Services and Executive Vice President of Financial Aid & Compliance.

Requirements

• Thorough understanding of federal, state, and financial aid programs.
• Proven experience communicating complex financial aid information to students and families.
• Six years of financial aid experience; higher education experience preferred.
• Ability to collect and analyze data, communicate clearly, and exercise independent and appropriate judgment with a diverse client population.
• Proven experience leading diverse teams and training, coaching, and mentoring employees to achieve operational goals.
• Effective problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure with tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Financial aid experience in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Track the financial status of new domestic students, registered students, and applicants, including FAFSA completion, gap funding, and file completion.
• Report to the Associate Director, Student Financial Services on the financial status of new domestic students.
• Supervise Financial Aid Representatives serving domestic students and ensure their students complete the financial aid process and receive necessary gap-funding information.
• Ensure new students are financially planned for the academic year and the duration of their programs.
• Ensure students receiving financial aid receive counseling about the financial portion of their program plans and aggregate federal student loan and Pell Grant limits.
• Manage emails from the general financial aid inbox.
• Manage the new-student financial aid hotline and hunt lines for inquiries about financial aid file status and other financial aid questions.
• Maintain a student portfolio and track each student's FAFSA completion, gap funding, and file completion.
• Assist with special events throughout the year, including Open Studio, Fashion Show Open House, and Spring Show Open House.
• Lead entrance loan counseling at financial aid orientation for new students before each semester.
• Facilitate Academy financial aid workshops and financial aid chats.
• Assist with the Transfer Monitor List and Duplicate Borrower Report.
• Assist Admissions with financial exceptions, such as early refunds and registration fees.
• Assist with financial aid office operations, including move and maintenance requests, equipment issues, ergonomic requests, and schedules.
• Assist with training new Financial Aid Representatives and provide financial aid training for Admissions new hires.
• Assist with updating financial aid documents, intranet and internet content, and the new-hire training manual.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Associate Director, Student Financial Services and Executive Vice President of Financial Aid & Compliance.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• 401(k) options
• Paid vacation based on years of service, with 15 days' accrual at start
• Paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Commuter benefit program
• Opportunity for full-time employees to take one undergraduate course tuition-free each semester

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed