Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
Full-time
Finance
Posted on May 2, 2022
Reporting to the Associate Director of Financial Aid, the Assistant Director will join a service-oriented team and will be responsible for counseling students and parents in the areas of financial aid.
Typical duties include:
Typical duties include:
- Provide top level customer service, advice, and counseling to students and families as they make decisions about college planning and financing.
- Perform need analysis and award aid to case load of approximately 400 first year applicants and assume responsibility for a class of approximately 400 students after May 1 commitment date.
- Work independently to read and award financial aid to applicants under a tight timeline.
- Maintain knowledge of federal and institutional financial aid regulations and requirements to ensure legal, fair, and consistent administration of federal, state, and institutional financial aid funds.
- Counsel students on the federal and institutional work-study programs.
- Work as a team to innovate and coordinate outreach activities to current and prospective students.
- Develop, coordinate, and participate in outreach activities with various on and off-campus partnerships such as the Admission Office, Career Center, CT high schools, and community service organizations.
- Maintain various financial aid publications in conjunction with others on campus.
- Serve as Security Liaison for the Financial Aid Office.
- Assist with system processes and functions including full utilization of PowerFAIDS to ensure compliance and enhance efficiency.
- Assist with the disbursement process, including managing weekly disbursements to student accounts.
- Perform weekly ISIR corrections.
- Assist in preparation of statistical, budget, and survey reports.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and a minimum of two years financial aid experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and related experience.
- Effective communication and problem-solving skills.
- Attention to detail and a sense of humor.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and take initiative.
- Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and collaborate with others.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze and synthesize information.
- Demonstrated empathetic customer service skills and experience advising others.
- Proven ability to set work priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines.
- Ability to handle confidential matters with discretion.
- Proven ability to use multiple software systems including but not limited to Word and Excel.
- Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact openly with individuals of different backgrounds.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with PowerFAIDS financial aid software.
- Experience with institutional methodology and need analysis.
- Counseling experience in a higher education setting.
- Knowledge of Federal Title IV programs, federal compliance and state regulations.
- Proficiency in a second language.
Any and all offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate's completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University.
Wesleyan requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they meet the criteria for a medical or religious exemption. New employees must be vaccinated prior to their start date. If an employee needs an exemption for medical or religious reasons, they must submit a request to Wesleyan and be approved before their start date.