Senior Director, Financial Aid

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

1d•$102,000 - $110,000•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Director of Financial Aid serves as the systemwide leader of financial aid operations within a centralized service model across The Community Solution Education System. This role reports to the Vice President of Student Financial Affairs and is responsible for the overall administration, performance, and compliance of financial aid functions supporting all institutions within the system. The Senior Director oversees a centralized financial aid office responsible for application processing, awarding, advising, and service delivery. This role maintains full accountability for the effectiveness, accuracy, and compliance of all financial aid activities. This position serves as the primary authority and representative for Financial Aid, leading systemwide initiatives, advising executive leadership, and ensuring alignment between operational execution, regulatory requirements, and institutional strategy. The role carries ultimate responsibility for financial aid outcomes, including maintaining institutional eligibility for participation in Title IV federal student aid programs. Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Financial Aid Operations & Oversight Oversee all centralized financial aid operations, including application processing, verification, awarding, advising, disbursement coordination, and student support Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant administration of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid across all institutions Maintain accountability for service delivery, processing timelines, and the overall student financial aid experience Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Director of Financial Aid, who manages day-to-day operations and staff execution Monitor operational performance, workflow efficiency, and service levels to support enrollment, persistence, and financial integrity Leadership, Direction & Accountability Lead the centralized financial aid function, establishing priorities, performance expectations, and operational standards Ensure alignment between operational execution and regulatory, institutional, and student experience expectations Maintain ultimate accountability for all financial aid-related functions, outcomes, and compliance obligations, including institutional eligibility for Title IV participation Serve as the final escalation point for complex, sensitive, or high-risk financial aid matters Strategic Initiatives & Representation Lead systemwide financial aid initiatives, including regulatory implementation, process transformation, and system enhancements Represent Financial Aid in executive discussions, governance forums, and cross-functional initiatives Serve as the primary representative of Financial Aid in systemwide planning and decision-making efforts Partner with institutional and system leadership to align financial aid strategy with enrollment, retention, and financial sustainability goals Advise executive leadership on regulatory risk, policy interpretation, and strategic decision-making Compliance & Regulatory Oversight Ensure financial aid administration across all institutions complies with federal Title IV regulations, state requirements, and institutional policies Oversee systemwide readiness for audits, program reviews, and regulatory inquiries, in coordination with compliance leadership Ensure consistent interpretation and application of regulatory requirements across institutions Partner with compliance leadership to implement new or revised regulatory requirements into operational practice Maintain oversight of policies, procedures, and controls to support institutional eligibility and regulatory compliance Cross-Functional Coordination Collaborate with Student Accounts, Registrar, Admissions, Institutional Research, Academics, and Information Technology to ensure alignment across the student financial services lifecycle Support coordination of financial aid with billing, disbursement, and academic activity to ensure accuracy and minimize student impact Contribute to systemwide initiatives related to financial literacy, student communications, and service delivery improvements Operational Effectiveness & Continuous Improvement Identify systemwide risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement through data analysis and performance monitoring Support implementation and optimization of financial aid systems and processes in partnership with IT and system leadership Drive process improvements that enhance efficiency, compliance, and the overall student experience

Requirements

Comprehensive knowledge of federal Title IV programs, regulations, and compliance requirements
Demonstrated ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into operational strategy
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Ability to lead through influence in a multi-institution, matrixed environment
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage high-risk, high-impact issues with sound judgment and urgency
High level of professionalism, discretion, and executive presence
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Minimum of 7 years of experience in financial aid administration
Demonstrated experience in leadership, oversight, or system-level coordination of financial aid functions
Experience managing regulatory compliance, audits, or program reviews

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
Experience in a multi-campus or system-based environment strongly preferred
Experience leading large-scale initiatives such as system implementations or regulatory transformations
Experience working with financial aid systems and enterprise platforms
Experience advising senior leadership on regulatory or operational strategy

Responsibilities

Oversee all centralized financial aid operations, including application processing, verification, awarding, advising, disbursement coordination, and student support
Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant administration of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid across all institutions
Maintain accountability for service delivery, processing timelines, and the overall student financial aid experience
Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Director of Financial Aid, who manages day-to-day operations and staff execution
Monitor operational performance, workflow efficiency, and service levels to support enrollment, persistence, and financial integrity
Lead the centralized financial aid function, establishing priorities, performance expectations, and operational standards
Ensure alignment between operational execution and regulatory, institutional, and student experience expectations
Maintain ultimate accountability for all financial aid-related functions, outcomes, and compliance obligations, including institutional eligibility for Title IV participation
Serve as the final escalation point for complex, sensitive, or high-risk financial aid matters
Lead systemwide financial aid initiatives, including regulatory implementation, process transformation, and system enhancements
Represent Financial Aid in executive discussions, governance forums, and cross-functional initiatives
Serve as the primary representative of Financial Aid in systemwide planning and decision-making efforts
Partner with institutional and system leadership to align financial aid strategy with enrollment, retention, and financial sustainability goals
Advise executive leadership on regulatory risk, policy interpretation, and strategic decision-making
Ensure financial aid administration across all institutions complies with federal Title IV regulations, state requirements, and institutional policies
Oversee systemwide readiness for audits, program reviews, and regulatory inquiries, in coordination with compliance leadership
Ensure consistent interpretation and application of regulatory requirements across institutions
Partner with compliance leadership to implement new or revised regulatory requirements into operational practice
Maintain oversight of policies, procedures, and controls to support institutional eligibility and regulatory compliance
Collaborate with Student Accounts, Registrar, Admissions, Institutional Research, Academics, and Information Technology to ensure alignment across the student financial services lifecycle
Support coordination of financial aid with billing, disbursement, and academic activity to ensure accuracy and minimize student impact
Contribute to systemwide initiatives related to financial literacy, student communications, and service delivery improvements
Identify systemwide risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement through data analysis and performance monitoring
Support implementation and optimization of financial aid systems and processes in partnership with IT and system leadership
Drive process improvements that enhance efficiency, compliance, and the overall student experience