Vice President of Student Financial Affairs

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

78d • $170,000 - $190,000

About The Position

The Vice President of Student Financial Affairs serves as the System’s senior leader for student finance, financial aid, title IV regulatory compliance, student accounts, external student funding partnerships. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role is pivotal in advancing a One System model of radical cooperation and excellence—aligning six colleges and universities under a shared vision of student-first service, operational excellence, and regulatory accountability. This leader directs a division that bridges compliance, student finance, and student experience—areas that collectively shape the student journey and directly influence access, persistence, and success. The Vice President must balance regulatory rigor with innovation and empathy, ensuring that all financial aid and student accounts operations reflect best practices, technological advancement while remaining compliant, agile, and responsive within a complex and continually changing U.S. Department of Education (ED) regulatory environment. The role also oversees the development of new funding pathways through external lending partnerships, institutional and donor-funded scholarship programs, and international student financing strategies—expanding affordability and access across all colleges and universities.

Requirements

• Comprehensive knowledge of Title IV and federal/state financial aid regulations.
• Strong communication, leadership, change-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to student service, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Master’s degree in higher education administration, business, finance, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in financial aid, student accounts, or related student finance functions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a university system or multi-campus environment.
• Record of leading cultural change, employee engagement, and service-excellence initiatives.
• Demonstrated success with external lending partnerships and private loan programs.
• Experience designing or managing institutional scholarship programs and international student funding.
• Proven success modernizing processes and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership for a centralized area that includes the Associate Vice President of Compliance and Student Finance, the Senior Director of Financial Aid, and their respective teams.
• Lead within a One System mindset, ensuring that each of our colleges and universities is served with consistency and excellence.
• Advance best practices in student financial services—award packaging and monitoring, Return to Title IV (R2T4) accuracy and timeliness, disbursement reconciliation, overpayment resolution, and accounts receivable management.
• Oversee external lending and third-party partnership management, ensuring compliance and student-centered relationships.
• Develop and lead a comprehensive scholarship and institutional aid strategy.
• Expand international student funding opportunities by collaborating with global enrollment and compliance teams.
• Ensure agility in policy and process updates in response to ED rulemakings and guidance.
• Lead systemwide policy governance related to student financial services.
• Partner with colleagues in various departments to create seamless, student-centered journeys.
• Champion a culture of transparency, accountability, and compassion.
• Oversee the technology roadmap in partnership with the COO and IT.
• Elevate financial wellness through student-facing education.
• Serve as the System’s primary liaison to federal and state regulatory agencies.

Benefits

• Generous paid time-off.
• Medical and dental insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Retirement plan with employer contribution.
• Multiple flexible spending accounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Master's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees