Assistant Director, Financial Aid

Pepperdine University; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Pepperdine University in Los Angeles seeks an Assistant Director of Financial Aid to oversee analysis, awarding, verification and disbursement of student financial aid. You will interact with students by phone, in person, and by email, delivering timely information with courtesy and professionalism while guiding the team through federal, state, and institutional programs.

The role emphasizes compliance, data integrity, audits, cross‑functional collaboration, and ongoing regulatory updates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and current experience in the federal and state aid delivery system.
• Minimum of five (5) years of related experience in a similar position.
• Minimum of three years of current experience with administering financial aid programs.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and CA state financial aid programs and regulations.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex federal and state regulations in awarding student aid.
• Understanding and deep appreciation of sound customer service principles.
• Desire to learn all aspects of student financial aid.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint; familiarity with imaging processes, web-based systems; familiarity with ELM, NSLDS, COD.

Responsibilities

• Manage the delivery of high-quality financial aid counseling services while ensuring accuracy and compliance across programs.
• Direct administration of complex federal, state, and institutional aid programs from origination to reconciliation.
• Lead outreach to streamline documentation collection and timely packaging of financial aid.
• Maintain data integrity and establish periodic audit protocols for records and funds.
• Collaborate with campus departments and external agencies to resolve eligibility issues and regulatory challenges.
• Drive ongoing regulatory updates and staff development in financial aid practices.

Skills

Customer service

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Audit procedures

Team leadership

Data interpretation

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master's degree in Business or Finance

Tools

PeopleSoft

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

This position supports the Director of Financial Aid in successful analysis, awarding, verification, and disbursement of student financial aid. The Assistant Director of Financial Aid will interact with students over the phone, in person, and via email communication in a courteous and professional manner to provide timely information in response to inquiries and requests about students’ financial aid options.

This position administers key functions to ensure seamless student financial aid services, contributes to effective enrollment management, and assures students' satisfaction.

Duties

• Manage the delivery of high-quality financial aid counseling services, ensuring team adherence to accuracy, customer service standards, and compliance across all institutional, federal, and state aid programs.
• Direct the administration of complex federal, state, and institutional aid programs, overseeing the full lifecycle from origination and disbursement to reconciliation and regulatory reporting.
• Lead outreach and student support initiatives to streamline the collection of documentation, proactively addressing bottlenecks to ensure timely financial aid packaging.
• Maintain rigorous oversight of data integrity and system quality, establishing periodic audit protocols for records and fund status.
• Collaborate with cross-functional campus departments and external agencies to resolve complex eligibility issues and program compliance challenges.
• Drive professional development and regulatory currency for the team by monitoring changes in financial aid legislation, systems, and best practices.
• Represent the Financial Aid department by presenting at orientations and managing escalations.
• Perform strategic administrative tasks, policy development, and other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree and current experience in the federal and state aid delivery system.
• A minimum of five (5) years of related experience in a similar position is considered equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university.
• A minimum of three years of current experience with administering financial aid programs.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and CA state financial aid programs and regulations.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex federal and state regulations in awarding student aid.
• Understanding and deep appreciation of sound customer service principles.
• The desire to learn all aspects of student financial aid.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, familiarity with imaging processes, web-based systems and applications. Familiarity with ELM, NSLDS, COD.

Preferred:

• Master's Degree or Bachelor's Degree in Business or Finance.
• Five years of position-related experience.
• Proficiency with PeopleSoft

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Rate: $72,384 per year.

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.