Assistant Director of Student Financial Services

Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; Chicopee (MA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Elms College is seeking an Assistant Director of Student Financial Services to lead aid awarding, processing, and counseling for diverse student populations. You will ensure timely disbursement, compliance, and exceptional service across departments.

The role emphasizes collaboration, regulatory knowledge, and student-centered support for undergraduate and graduate programs. Bachelor’s degree required and higher education experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Prior experience in financial aid, student financial services, higher education, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of federal Title IV financial aid regulations and financial aid administration preferred.
• Experience with financial aid management systems, student information systems, and federal financial aid systems preferred.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and compassionately to students and families.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and student cases accurately.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and work effectively with sensitive student and family financial information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a student-centered team.
• Ability and willingness to remain current on changing federal and state financial aid regulations and requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive financial aid counseling to students and families through appointments, phone, email, virtual meetings, and walk-in service.
• Verifies eligibility and awards federal, state, and institutional financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Manages financial aid processing for assigned student populations, including verification, professional judgment documentation, awarding, revisions, and resolution of issues.
• Uses financial aid management and federal systems to verify, process ISIR corrections, COD reporting, and disbursement of aid.
• Reviews student accounts and records to identify and resolve disbursement issues.
• Assists with monthly and annual reconciliation of federal and state financial aid programs and researches discrepancies.
• Educates students and families on eligibility, FAFSA requirements, grants, loans, and financing options.
• Responds to inquiries and assists with outreach on missing documentation and eligibility items.
• Maintains accurate student records to support compliance and audits.
• Participates in presentations, workshops, open houses, and orientation programs, including some evenings/weekends.
• Collaborates with Admissions, Student Accounts, Registrar, and other offices to coordinate a positive student experience.
• Keeps current on Title IV and state regulations and best practices.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Counseling/advising

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Financial aid management systems

Student information systems

Federal financial aid systems

Job description

Assistant Director of Student Financial Services

Salary: $46,000.00 - $50,000.00 Annually

Education

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Student Financial Services, the Assistant Director of Student Financial Services administers federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs and provides high-quality financial aid counseling and service to students and families. The Assistant Director manages financial aid awarding and processing for assigned student populations, counsels students regarding financial aid eligibility and financing options, and supports the accurate and timely disbursement and reconciliation of financial aid funds.

The Assistant Director works collaboratively with colleagues across Student Financial Services, Admissions, Finance, and other College offices to support students throughout the enrollment and financial aid process while ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive financial aid counseling to students and families through individual appointments, phone, email, virtual meetings, and walk-in service; Delivers responsive, student-centered customer service and assists students and families in navigating complex or sensitive financial circumstances.
• Verifies eligibility and awards federal, state, and institutional financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, and established procedures
• Manages financial aid processing for assigned student populations, including verification, professional judgment documentation, awarding, revisions, and resolution of conflicting or incomplete information.
• Utilizes the College's financial aid management system and federal systems to perform verification, process ISIR corrections, complete COD reporting, and facilitate the accurate and timely disbursement of financial aid funds.
• Reviews student accounts and financial aid records to identify and resolve issues that may prevent or delay the disbursement of aid.
• Assists the Associate Director and Director of Student Financial Services, when needed, with monthly and annual reconciliation of federal and state financial aid programs and works collaboratively with appropriate departments to research and resolve discrepancies.
• Educates students and families regarding financial aid eligibility, FAFSA requirements, grants, scholarships, loans, satisfactory academic progress, financing options, and other financial aid policies and processes.
• Responds to financial aid inquiries and assists with outreach to students regarding missing documentation, incomplete requirements, financial aid eligibility, and other action items.
• Exercises appropriate professional judgment when reviewing individual student circumstances in accordance with federal regulations and institutional policy.
• Maintains accurate and complete student records and documentation to support regulatory compliance, audits, and program reviews.
• Participates in financial aid presentations, workshops, open houses, orientation programs, and other recruitment and student-focused events as needed, including some evening and weekend programs.
• Collaborates with Admissions, Student Accounts, Registrar, Academic Affairs, and other College offices to resolve student issues and provide a coordinated student experience.
• Maintains current knowledge of Title IV regulations, state financial aid requirements, institutional policies, and financial aid best practices through professional development, regulatory updates, and professional publications.
• Protects the confidentiality of student information and ensures compliance with FERPA and other applicable regulations.
• Supports the Director of Student Financial Services and SFS team with special projects, compliance initiatives, reporting, and other departmental priorities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Prior experience in financial aid, student financial services, higher education, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of federal Title IV financial aid regulations and financial aid administration preferred.
• Experience with financial aid management systems, student information systems, and federal financial aid systems preferred.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and compassionately to students and families.
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and student cases accurately.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and work effectively with sensitive student and family financial information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of a student-centered team.
• Ability and willingness to remain current on changing federal and state financial aid regulations and requirements.

Elms College (also known as College of Our Lady of the Elms), a private, Catholic, co-educational liberal arts institution in Chicopee, Massachusetts, was founded in 1928 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield. The institution offers Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctor of Nursing practice degrees. Dedicated to non-discriminatory educational practices, the College aims to eliminate barriers to equal access and treatment for its community. Elms College provides rigorous academic challenges and fosters a supportive community for students to thrive. Graduates leave Elms College richer, rooted in faith, educated, compassionate, responsive to civic and social obligations, and capable of adjusting to change without compromising principle.

Elms College’s mission embodies the charism of the founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph, including embracing “the love of neighbor without distinction” and whose Catholic heritage guides our intellectual, social, educational, and community endeavors.

Elms College is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.