Executive Director of Student Financial Services

University of Montana; Missoula (MT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance package

Mandatory retirement plan

Partial tuition waiver

Wellness program

Job summary

The University of Montana invites applications for the Executive Director of Student Financial Services. The Executive Director provides strategic leadership for Financial Aid and Student Accounts, ensuring an integrated, student-centered approach to financial services.

Reporting to the Chief Enrollment Officer, the position is responsible for advancing institutional strategy, regulatory compliance, and financial stewardship across the division.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 7+ years leadership in higher education financial services
• Experience leading complex operations and supervising professional staff
• Experience with regulatory compliance and technology solutions
• Commitment to collaboration, innovation, and service

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for Student Financial Services, aligning Financial Aid, Scholarships, Student Accounts, and related functions with affordability, enrollment, and student success
• Oversee Financial Aid and Student Accounts operations, ensuring accurate, timely, efficient, student-centered, and compliant delivery of financial aid, billing, payments, refunds, and account services
• Lead the integration of financial aid, billing scholarships, and student employment into a coordinated student financial success one-stop service model, including service standards, outreach, and financial education
• Direct the strategic use of institutional financial resources, establish policies and procedures, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, audits, and reporting requirements
• Provide executive oversight of Student Financial Services systems, technology, data governance, and process improvement in partnership with Information Technology and campus stakeholders
• Collaborate with Finance, Treasury, Enrollment Services, the Registrar, Admissions, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners to advance retention, student success, financial stewardship, and institutional effectiveness
• Lead, coach, and develop departmental directors and managers; establish accountability, build organizational capacity, and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement
• Serve as the University’s senior advisor on student financial services, translating institutional priorities and emerging regulatory, technological, and enrollment needs into operational strategies, resource decisions, and measurable outcomes

Skills

Leadership experience in higher ed

Supervising professional staff

Regulatory compliance

Technology solutions implementation

Collaboration and service

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s Degree

Job description

The University of Montana invites applications for the Executive Director of Student Financial Services. The Executive Director provides strategic leadership for Financial Aid and Student Accounts, ensuring an integrated, student-centered approach to financial services. Reporting to the Chief Enrollment Officer, the position is responsible for advancing institutional strategy, operational effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and financial stewardship across the division.

The Executive Director serves as the University’s senior leader for student financial services and works collaboratively across campus to support enrollment, student success and retention, and institutional effectiveness. The position leads organizational development, continuous improvement, and the integration of systems, processes, and services to enhance the student financial experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for Student Financial Services, aligning Financial Aid, Scholarships, Student Accounts, and related functions with affordability, enrollment, and student success
• Oversee Financial Aid and Student Accounts operations, ensuring accurate, timely, efficient, student-centered, and compliant delivery of financial aid, billing, payments, refunds, and account services
• Lead the integration of financial aid, billing scholarships, and student employment into a coordinated student financial success one-stop service model, including service standards, outreach, and financial education
• Direct the strategic use of institutional financial resources, establish policies and procedures, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, audits, and reporting requirements
• Provide executive oversight of Student Financial Services systems, technology, data governance, and process improvement in partnership with Information Technology and campus stakeholders
• Collaborate with Finance, Treasury, Enrollment Services, the Registrar, Admissions, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners to advance retention, student success, financial stewardship, and institutional effectiveness
• Lead, coach, and develop departmental directors and managers; establish accountability, build organizational capacity, and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement
• Serve as the University’s senior advisor on student financial services, translating institutional priorities and emerging regulatory, technological, and enrollment needs into operational strategies, resource decisions, and measurable outcomes

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education student financial services, including significant responsibility for financial aid, student accounts, bursar operations, or related financial services
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing complex operational functions and supervising professional staff
• Experience managing regulatory compliance, implementing technology solutions, and leading organizational improvement initiatives
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, innovation, and service

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Experience overseeing both Financial Aid and Student Accounts operations is strongly preferred

Additional Information

Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, MUS Contract and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

Screening of applications will begin after the priority closingdate of November 17, 2026;however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter:addressing your qualifications and experience related to the stated required skills for the position
• Detailed Resume:listing education and describing work experience
• Three (3) professional references: names and contact information

The University of Montana is interested in receiving applications from people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always