Wilson College
Director of Student Financial Aid & Services
Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA, United States
Job Details
Job Location
Wilson College - Chambersburg, PA
Position Type
Full Time
Education Level
4 Year Degree
Wilson College is seeking a Director of Student Financial Aid & Services to lead and optimize our financial aid operations and student account services. Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the director will manage a team of five staff and work collaboratively across departments to support enrollment and retention goals.
This role involves overseeing Federal, State, and institutional financial aid programs, as well as scholarships, to enhance student access and success. The director will ensure compliance with regulations and continuously improve financial aid processes for operational efficiency.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Strategic Leadership and Compliance
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Working at Wilson: Wilson College provides all eligible, full-time employees with a wide range of benefits including health, dental, and vision coverage; college-paid basic life and long-term disability insurance; and employee-funded Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options for health and dependent care. Also available to eligible employees is a Defined Contribution Retirement plan with TIAA. Educational benefits for employees and their families include undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. Tuition Exchange scholarship opportunities are also available across a vast consortium of colleges.
Wilson College offers a flexible, supportive culture that believes in work-life balance, with flexible work options available, and generous paid leave policies including paid parental leave, paid vacation, sick, personal leave, 13 paid holidays, paid jury duty, and paid bereavement leave including miscarriage and stillbirth.
Wilson College offers free on-campus fitness center membership, flexible and affordable dining hall meal plans, health and wellness services, and an employee assistance program.
Wilson College is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit qualifying employer, employees of the College may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Job Location
Wilson College - Chambersburg, PA
Position Type
Full Time
Education Level
4 Year Degree
Wilson College is seeking a Director of Student Financial Aid & Services to lead and optimize our financial aid operations and student account services. Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the director will manage a team of five staff and work collaboratively across departments to support enrollment and retention goals.
This role involves overseeing Federal, State, and institutional financial aid programs, as well as scholarships, to enhance student access and success. The director will ensure compliance with regulations and continuously improve financial aid processes for operational efficiency.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Strategic Leadership and Compliance
- Develop and execute strategies to maximize the impact of financial aid resources in achieving institutional enrollment and retention objectives.
- Serve as the primary Compliance Officer for Title IV Federal Student Aid, State Aid, and other relevant regulations, ensuring adherence to all federal, state, and institutional requirements.
- Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of financial aid and student financial services policies and procedures to meet evolving student needs and institutional goals.
- Oversee annual setup, testing, and activation of the Colleague Financial Aid module in collaboration with the Financial Aid Systems Manager.
- Manage the awarding process for financial aid packages, including Federal Pell Grants, SEOG, State Aid, Federal Work Study, institutional aid, and merit scholarships for new and continuing undergraduate and graduate students.
- Ensure timely and effective packaging of financial aid to support recruitment and retention initiatives.
- Administer and coordinate Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense education benefits for eligible students.
- Ensure Student Financial Services (SFS) adheres to industry best practices for accounts receivable management, tuition billing, and collections.
- Collaborate with the Business Office to align collection efforts and maintain financial integrity.
- Provide strategic direction for SFS operations, including technology integration to enhance service delivery and efficiency.
- In collaboration with campus stakeholders, prepares State and Federal reports, including but not limited to FISAP, Common Data Sets, and IPEDS, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Serve as the financial aid liaison for external audits, including the single audit process.
- Manage the overall financial aid budget, ensuring fiscal accountability in fund allocation, authorizations, disbursements, and recoveries.
- Foster collaboration with Admissions, Business Office, Registrar, Student Life, and other campus offices to ensure seamless transactional and operational activities.
- Provide data and insights to institutional research, academic advising, finance, and advancement offices as needed.
- Recruit, hire, train, and supervise financial aid and SFS staff, fostering a high-performance culture.
- Provide professional development opportunities and ongoing support to ensure team excellence.
- Represent the Enrollment Management division on institutional committees, including the Academic Procedure Committee and other campus initiatives.
- Serve as an advocate for financial literacy and financial aid awareness among students, families, and the campus community.
- Expertise in Financial Aid and Student Accounts Management: Strong knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations, along with proven experience in student accounts management and compliance.
- Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise with financial aid management systems, such as Ellucian Colleague or similar platforms, and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, data management systems, and collaboration tools.
- Leadership and Collaboration: Proven leadership skills with experience supervising staff, managing cross-departmental collaborations, and building relationships with internal and external constituencies.
- Analytical and Organizational Skills: Exceptional analytical abilities combined with a detail-oriented approach to managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Communication Excellence: Outstanding writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to engage diplomatically across diverse professional fields.
- Judgment and Confidentiality: Aptitude for exercising sound judgment and maintaining strict confidentiality in all matters.
- Adaptability and Interpersonal Skills: Flexible and highly organized, with a strong sense of humor and an ability to foster positive interactions across all levels of the organization.
- Full-time, regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
- Some work during evenings and weekends may be required.
- Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in a related field preferred.
- At least 5 years of progressive experience in financial aid administration, with demonstrated expertise in compliance, budgeting, and financial services.
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Working at Wilson: Wilson College provides all eligible, full-time employees with a wide range of benefits including health, dental, and vision coverage; college-paid basic life and long-term disability insurance; and employee-funded Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options for health and dependent care. Also available to eligible employees is a Defined Contribution Retirement plan with TIAA. Educational benefits for employees and their families include undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. Tuition Exchange scholarship opportunities are also available across a vast consortium of colleges.
Wilson College offers a flexible, supportive culture that believes in work-life balance, with flexible work options available, and generous paid leave policies including paid parental leave, paid vacation, sick, personal leave, 13 paid holidays, paid jury duty, and paid bereavement leave including miscarriage and stillbirth.
Wilson College offers free on-campus fitness center membership, flexible and affordable dining hall meal plans, health and wellness services, and an employee assistance program.
Wilson College is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit qualifying employer, employees of the College may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.