Director of Financial Aid

College: SLCC

Department: Academic & Student Affairs

Sub department: Financial Aid

Type of Appointment: Unclassified - Administrative/Staff

Salary: $65,758 - $88,676

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

Leadership/Supervision
• Provide leadership in developing and communicating the mission and goals of SLCC and the Office of Financial Aid to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs to assure that goals and priorities align with the Strategic Planning – Annual Plans, College Scorecard, and Standards of Practice.
• Hire, supervise and evaluate Financial Aid Office staff.
• Develop relationships with all key student support and college offices in order to educate and inform the college community about all forms of financial aid and programmatic and student needs.
• Interprets and applies federal laws and regulations; college policies and regulations; and state regulations relating to the delivery of student financial aid.
• Implement, review, and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls for proper aid administration.
• Monitor and analyze quality of financial aid work.
• Ensures that the computer system continues to operate as required. Involved in validating/designing suggested changes to ensure requirements continue to be met. Works with the LCTCS staff for program administration support as needed.
• Maintain student financial records, FAFSA applications, and certifications.
• Support students in both credit and non-credit programs with the appropriate type of financial aid funding as permitted by State, Federal and College rules and regulations.
• Prepare departmental goals, key performance indicators and departmental assessments.
• Create operational office schedule and oversee workflow and assignments including back up for critical procedures.
• Participate with the leadership of Enrollment Services by planning and implementing appropriate strategies to maximize the use of financial aid in support of recruitment and enrollment goals of the college.
• Annually prepare the FISAP for submission to the Federal Government.
• Analyze and identify the strengths and weaknesses of service delivery options and exercise critical thinking, problem solving, and judgment skills.
• Operates effectively within the organizational structure
• Design, review, and update control framework documentation and procedures.
• Walk through processes to determine testing readiness.
• Define and implement remediation plans as necessary.
• Integrate lessons learned from previous audits.
• Review and evaluate compliance with federal, state, and LCTCS regulations.
• Support functional areas with review and evaluation of audit reports and coordinate action plans as necessary.

Administrative/Operations/Compliance
• Ensure that the College has exception-free Financial Aid audits and program reviews by keeping abreast of and implementing all federal and state laws and regulations that pertain to the programs administered by the Financial Aid Office
• Ensure annual federal and state reporting requirements are met.
• Develop, articulate, and implement policies and procedures for student financial aid including all federal, state, institutional, and privately funded financial aid programs, and loan default prevention.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, private and College regulations and program guidelines for the Office of Financial Aid.
• Evaluate the requirements for the institutions receipt of a student’s financial aid eligibility by: analyzing and monitoring the student’s enrollment, financial account, other financial aid, and academic records; and staying abreast of the changing regulatory environment that may impact the institutions policies and procedures for receiving and processing Title IV, state, and institutional aid.
• Manage the processing of FAFSA applications and awarding of aid for eligible students by coordinating with applicable institutional departments (Registrar, Financial Aid, Student Accounts) and ensuring all awards and related documentation are processed timely and accurately.
• Coordinate timely processing of all students’ financial documentation ensuring all records are adequately safeguarded and properly retained.
• Reconciliation of all Title IV, State, and institutional aid.
• Prepare an end-of-the-year office annual report including: highlights, statistical analysis and future year goals.
• Attend all necessary meetings, conferences, workshops, and webinars that impact students aid and success as well as the institution’s compliance.
• Administer, maintain, and utilize the Banner Student Information System.
• Identify and develop creative uses of the Banner system to provide access and information to students, faculty and staff.
• Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in financial aid. Applies relevant new knowledge to the performance of responsibilities.
• Provide students in both credit and non-credit programs with the appropriate type of financial aid funding as permitted by State, Federal and College rules and regulations.
• Predictable and reliable attendance is required in order to provide consistency and continuity of educational services.

Liaison/External Relations
• Build strong relationship with internal and external stakeholders to promote and build the Financial Aid program at SLCC.
• Interface and work closely with Federal, State, and institutional personnel to identify participants who may be eligible for financial aid awards.
• Serve as liaison to families and appropriate internal and external offices, agencies, and organizations regarding program policy, planning, administrative implications, audits, and service delivery.
• Work closely with the SLCC Communications/Marketing department, develop an advertising campaign to inform the college community of financial aid services and programs available.
• Ensure financial aid outreach and consumer information through publications, marketing and communications.
Case Management/Advising/Guidance
• Demonstrate a strong customer service and/or student advocacy through a positive attitude of approachability, adaptability, strong problem-solving and desire to identify and support student success.
• Engage in behaviors that create an inclusive environment in which all people are valued and supported.
• Go beyond the easiest or surface answer to issues for students, faculty, and staff and get to the root of the cause of the problem, question or issue to solve it as quickly and professionally as possible.
• Troubleshoot student issues and assist leaders in working with various funding sources to investigate and resolve student complaints.
• De-escalation of student issues as well as mitigating and resolving student complaints.

Required Education: 

Master’s degree or bachelor's degree with four years of directly related work experience

Required Experience: 

Candidate must possess at least five (5) years of full-time progressively responsible experience in financial aid, preferably within a public two-year higher education institution. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.

Required Licenses or Certifications: 

Valid, unencumbered driver's license

Preferred Experience: 

Prior experience with the Ellucian BANNER system is highly desirable as well as proficiency in utilizing analytical software, a personal computer, and related software including Microsoft Office, the Internet, and financial applications.

Passing pre-employment criminal background screen is required as a condition of employment.

SLCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Louisiana is a Model Employer for People with Disabilities.