Financial Aid Manager

SCI-Arc; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

SCI-Arc is seeking a Financial Aid Manager under the Financial Aid Director to oversee daily administration of all students' financial aid and employment services, including Title IV programs. The role emphasizes accuracy, compliance, and strong systems knowledge.

The ideal candidate will manage awarding and disbursement, supervise the work-study program, prepare reports, and collaborate with other offices to ensure student success and timely aid processing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree desired or 5+ years of progressive financial aid experience.
• Proficient use of standard office software and common financial aid platforms.
• Knowledge of undergraduate and graduate financial aid programs.
• Experience at a higher education non-profit institution preferred.
• Experience with Title IX program.

Responsibilities

• Manage and administer the financial aid processes for awarding student loans, grants, and scholarship packages.
• Timely review, packaging, and processing of financial aid applications, award letters, scholarships, need analysis, and disbursement of funds to students.
• Manage the student work-study program and federal and state grant expenditures; track student satisfactory academic progress.
• Prepare required reports for timely and accurate submission to federal, state, and local agencies.
• Advise and develop financial aid packaging guidelines in accordance with the institution's goals.
• Coordinate and reconcile students' receivable accounts with the Finance Office each term.
• Coordinate internal reconciliation of federal, state, and institutional awards, as well as student healthcare waivers.
• Coordinate with other departments such as the registrar’s office or academic advisor to ensure that students receive all necessary services.
• Support admissions and recruitment functions with financial aid eligibility and rankings to determine scholarship awards.
• Annually update the Institution's financial aid publications, including the electronic catalog, website, and other media.
• Conduct presentations to educate students on financial aid literacy and process.
• Assess and coordinate community work-study programs to ensure that the institution maximizes its federal allotment.
• Assist with the annual student cost of attendance (COA) budget.
• Maintain federal, state, and institutional reports, including applications for federal funding and reports on expenditures of funds allocated, such as the FISAP and SEFA.
• Coordinate with the Academic Advising department to find outside scholarship opportunities.
• Program administration and compliance of daily operations related to financial aid, regulations, and institutional policies.
• Foster a collaborative and service-oriented team environment with all departments.
• Outreach and counsel parents and students with complex financial aid options, presenting and exhausting all financial aid avenues.
• Remain current with federal laws and regulations; institutional policies and regulations; and state regulations relating to the delivery of student assistance

Skills

Financial aid knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Project leadership

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Office suite

Financial aid platforms

Job description

Department: Financial Aid
Reports to: Financial Aid Director
FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt
Pay Scale: $72,000 to $82,000
Schedule: Eligible for Hybrid Schedule after completing training period

We offer a benefits package with medical, dental, vision, 401k and generous paid time off.

SCI-Arc is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job offers are conditional and contingent upon passing a criminal history review consistent with federal, state and local laws and/or ordinances.

Summary:

Under the Financial Aid Director, the Financial Aid Manager oversees the daily administration of all students' financial aid and student employment services, including Title IV programs. This position is responsible for accurately and promptly processing all aid programs, maintaining secure student records, and ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. The ideal candidate will bring strong systems knowledge, regulatory expertise, and a genuine commitment to student success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage and administer the financial aid processes for awarding student loans, grants, and scholarship packages. Effectively communicate and counsel students on financial aid programs
• Timely review, packaging, and processing of financial aid applications, award letters, scholarships, need analysis, and disbursement of funds to students
• Manage the student work-study program and federal and state grant expenditures; track student satisfactory academic progress
• Prepare required reports for timely and accurate submission to federal, state, and local agencies
• Advise and develop financial aid packaging guidelines in accordance with the institution's goals
• Coordinate and reconcile students' receivable accounts with the Finance Office each term
• Coordinate internal reconciliation of federal, state, and institutional awards, as well as student healthcare waivers
• Coordinate with other departments such as the registrar’s office or academic advisor to ensure that students receive all necessary services
• Support admissions and recruitment functions with financial aid eligibility and rankings to determine scholarship awards
• Annually update the Institution's financial aid publications, including the electronic catalog, website, and other media
• Conduct presentations to educate students on financial aid literacy and process
• Assess and coordinate community work-study programs to ensure that the institution maximizes its federal allotment
• Assist with the annual student cost of attendance (COA) budget
• Maintain federal, state, and institutional reports, including applications for federal funding and reports on expenditures of funds allocated, such as the FISAP and SEFA
• Coordinate with the Academic Advising department to find outside scholarship opportunities
• Program administration and compliance of daily operations related to financial aid, regulations, and institutional policies
• Foster a collaborative and service-oriented team environment with all departments
• Outreach and counsel parents and students with complex financial aid options, presenting and exhausting all financial aid avenues
• Remain current with federal laws and regulations; institutional policies and regulations; and state regulations relating to the delivery of student assistance

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline desired and/or a minimum of 5 years of progressive financial aid experience
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in providing Financial Aid Services to students
• Proficient use of standard office suite and common financial aid platforms
• Knowledge of undergraduate and graduate financial aid programs
• Experience at a higher education non-profit institution preferred
• Experience with Title IX program

Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
• Ability to interact effectively with varied Internal and external constituencies, demonstrating tact, diplomacy, discretion, and good judgment
• Ability to lead projects internally and support streamlining of student-facing projects
• Ability to interpret complex student data and support decision-making in collaboration with other members of the FA team
• Financial and business acumen-ability to work with complex data processing, needs analysis, and aid packaging strategies
• Ability to present financial aid Information to groups of students and parents