Assistant Director of Financial Assistance

Assistant Director of Financial Assistance

Supervised by: Director of Financial Assistance
Department: Financial Assistance	Grade: I
Category: Full-time Professional/Technical/Support	Status: Exempt

Function of the Job

Advise students and perform technical office activities related to student financial assistance.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for daily contact with parents, students, and community residents regarding Federal, State, and institutional financial assistance questions, eligibility, and procedures.
• Administer, calculate, reconcile, and oversee student loan programs, including originating, prorating, adjusting, and monitoring loans to ensure Federal, State, and institutional regulatory compliance and accurate disbursement.
• Responsible for verification and non-verification file review by interpreting federal and state regulations, exercising professional judgment and independent decision-making to perform professional judgment determinations to ensure compliance and accurate eligibility outcomes for file completion.
• Review financial aid applications, determine eligibility, collect/enter data, and package award funds for payment of tuition, fees, books, and supplies exercising independent judgment in accordance with Federal, State, and institutional policies.
• Develop, review, and updated policies and procedures governing financial assistance operations to ensure compliance with Federal and State regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure compliance of all students’ records/files and comply with FERPA, GLB, and other applicable privacy regulations.
• Monitor, evaluate, and recommend improvements to office processes, policies, and awarding practices to identify compliance risks and discrepancies; exercise decision-making to implement corrective actions as needed.
• Apply Federal PELL Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant, resources and Federal Work-Study funds to student accounts.
• Responsible for submitting State payment rosters electronically utilizing MAP software.
• Develop, administer, and ensure compliance of entrance and exit loan counseling processes in accordance with federal regulations; design and deliver financial literacy programming and staff training to support informed borrowing decisions and student success.
• Oversee the awarding, reconciliation, and maintenance of federal and private loan processing to ensure regulatory compliance, accuracy, and audit readiness.
• Assist applicants in completing free application for Federal student aid, all applicable student applications, Federal and State veteran benefit applications, and required Federal verification materials.
• Submit student loan originations and secondary market guarantees.
• Identify and resolve loan problems by serving as a primary liaison with lenders, guarantors, servicers, and regulatory agencies to resolve complex issues.
• Review and resolve complex student cases, including conflicting information, verification issues, and unusual enrollment or eligibility situations.
• Support and contribute to federal and state reconciliations, identifying discrepancies and ensuring timely resolution in coordination with the Business Office.
• Assist in audit preparation and compliance reviews, including federal program reviews, internal audits, and reporting requirements.
• Support monitoring of standards of academic progress to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations.
• Keep informed of revisions and legislative developments in state and national student aid programs.
• Assist in providing guidance and training to staff on changes in regulations, compliance updates, office policies, and best practices to ensure consistent application of policies.
• Support the completion of all State and Federal surveys, reporting, and compliance-related questionnaires.
• Assume all other reasonable professional duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.

Essential Functions

• Must understand and support the mission of a community college
• Must have strong skills in communication (written and oral), customer service, and analytical skills.
• Must be able to work with Microsoft Office products.
• Must be able to communicate effectively by phone and email on a daily basis.
• Must be able to provide and understand verbal/visual orders and presentations from supervisors and to subordinates and the general public.
• Must be able to work in a team environment.
• Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness.
• Must be able to interpret rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Must be able to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends.

Personal Interaction

Daily contact with College personnel, faculty, students, and the general public in the routine performance of duties and departmental services. Substantial contact with government organizations, lending agencies, and other colleges.

Supervision Exercised

Functional supervision is exercised over designated College work-study personnel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree is required and three years of financial aid experience. Three years of experience in a community college setting preferred. Must have the ability to represent College and financial assistance office in a professional manner. Experience with word processing software required; experience in EdConnect and SCT Banner financial software preferred. Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, and ability to work in a fast-paced work environment are required. Some supervisory experience is desirable.

Revised: 4/13/2026