Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations

SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid, the Associate Director of Financial Aid Operations serves as a senior leader within the Financial Aid Management team and acts as the Director in their absence. This role acts as the Banner systems specialist and manages all day-to-day system functions while also supporting other functional areas as needed.  

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, policies, and procedures; lead internal/external audits, troubleshoot compliance issues, and ensure Title IV and NJ State financial aid program adherence; support Montclair staff in implementing and maintaining compliance and federal and state financial aid requirements.
• Lead financial aid system operations (Banner/Workday), resolve system-related issues; serve as the primary liaison within the IT department to ensure system efficiency; analyze financial aid data, resolve discrepancies, and develop strategic solutions; ensure that proper security roles and system access for staff for both the Montclair and Bloomfield campuses are in place for various federal, state, and institutional financial aid processing systems.
• Develop and implement robust financial aid related systems for data collection and weekly analysis reporting via knowledge of Banner or Workday and writing reports via SQL with use of COGNOS as well as managing financial aid award years in Banner, writing/updating algorithms and popsels.
• Serve as the Destination Point Administrator for federal systems and security for federal systems, including SAIG Mailbox.
• Oversee the reconciliation process for state and federal funds to ensure internal systems are consistent with external.
• Manage the import and export process (origination, disbursement and response files) of all programs. Federal and State Grants processing along with the Private and Direct Loan processing in Banner or Workday, interacting with COD and NJFAMS to reconcile Federal grants, State grants, Private loan and Direct loan funds.     
• Coordinate operational packaging of financial aid using algorithms, packaging rules and through report generation, monitors all processes are running effectively and accurately.
• Implement Banner packaging parameters with the Director of Financial Aid’s request and review the outcomes of the packaging process per the schedule.
• Update the Policy and Procedures Manual as it pertains to technical operations in the Financial Aid Office. Document step by step instructional guides for most procedures.
• Support the annual A133 financial aid audit and produce necessary reports as needed.
• Provide operational support for reports as required for external publications, NCAA, and State and Federal agencies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Management retains the right to change or add job duties at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum five years’ experience working in operational support of financial aid processing, preferably with Banner.
• Experience with report generation, preferably in COGNOS.
• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations affecting financial aid.
• Experience supporting Federal grants, State grants, Private and Direct Lending process.

PREFERRED:

• Three years of professional experience serving at an associate director level or equivalent.
• Professional experience with COGNOS.

Proficiency in Spanish.

• NASFAA credentials.