About the Opportunity JOB SUMMARY: The Sr Assistant Director of Federal and State Aid Programs is responsible for managing, monitoring, reconciling and reporting on Federal and State Campus-Based Programs (Federal SEOG, MA Gilbert Grant, MA PT Grant, CA CalGrant), Federal Pell, and various State Aid Programs. The Sr Assistant Director is responsible for the design, implementation and success of the policies and processes by which these funds are delivered to students. The Sr Assistant Director ensures that the delivery of aid conforms to any applicable federal and state regulations as well as institutional policies and that the delivery is performed with a high quality of student service. The Sr Assistant Director supervises several 3-4 Financial Aid Counselors and an Administrative Assistant for Federal and State Aid Programs. The Sr Assistant Director manages the respective budgets and funding projections for all federal and state need-based grants, regularly monitors the use of funds and monthly reporting. With assistance from Sr Director, Directors and Associate Directors, the Sr Assistant Director supports the execution of self-audits of high-risk compliance areas and manages the annual federal and state reports and audits. In addition, the Sr Assistant Director will advise and counsel full- and part-time undergraduate students/families on the availability of financial aid, the aid delivery process, and the reconciliation processes required to insure that financial aid funds are transferred to students’ accounts. Review student applications, perform verification procedures, review/evaluate appeals, and intercede for students with participating departments (Deans, various customer service units, Registrar, Co-op). Evaluate and respond to service escalations applicable to reporting staff. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree desired. Considerable, progressive experience in higher educational financial aid administration that demonstrate organizational, managerial and budgetary skills. Four to six years of related experience with budget reconciliation, proficient in Title IV and state regulations required. Detail oriented with ability to organize multiple tasks simultaneously. Effective written, oral, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
Experience
with PowerFAIDs preferred. Ability to build strong working relationships throughout the university community. Ability to balance institutional policies and priorities with aid program regulations and the individual needs of students. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES: Federal Aid Programs Manages the budget, awarding polices/procedures, compliance, and reporting of Federal state grant programs – including but not limited to Pell, SEOG, and other programs. Collect and reconcile respective data required for annual Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP). Assist with training development and delivery for Federal and state aid programs. Manages relevant program budgets including fund projections, monitors the use of funds and the monthly reporting of fund use. Monitor and reconcile over $20 million annually in Pell Grant funding from awarding to disbursement through the federal delivery process. Assure that eligible students’ awards are reported to the Federal Department of
Education
(ED) and corresponding funds are drawn down from ED. State Aid Programs Manages the budget, awarding polices/procedures, compliance, and reporting of all state aid programs – including Massachusetts (MassGrant, Gilbert, Mass PT, Behavioral Internship, others), California Student Aid Commission (CalGrant, others), Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and others. Ensure the timely and accurate processing of aid reconciliation reports and manage multiple relationships with the various State Higher
Education
Agencies. Provide monthly fund reporting for management including usage, comparison to prior years, projected use, etc. Train Oakland staff and coordinate Oakland activities supporting CSAC Grant administration and reporting. Fund Reconciliation and Audits Weekly reconciliation of awarded funds and processes, including Return to Title IV processing, anticipated aid vs disbursed aid, disbursement adjustments, and Federal G5 drawdowns vs disbursed Aid. Provides monthly fund reporting for management including usage, comparison to prior years, projected use, etc. With the assistance of the Associate Director of Financial Aid Services, coordinates and provides data and reporting required for various audits. Under the direction of the Dean Sr. Director and Directors, assists with annual self-audits, evaluates and responds to external audits and official requests, ensure SFS compliance with required federal and state regulations. Monitor new and updated federal and state regulations, assist with updating SFS policy and procedures and staff training. Staff Supervision Direct and supervise financial aid counselors and administrative assistant. Define areas of responsibility and monitor performance. Coordinate personnel functions as they relate to SFS office needs. Initiate and administer personnel development and resolve employee issues with HRM. Train on all Title IV regulations and Northeastern policies. Evaluate and respond to unit and staff service escalations. Ensure high service expectations and delivery for unit Student and Family Counseling Counsel and advise students and parents on financial aid process, awarding and financing options. Through appointments, e-mail, written correspondence, telephone communication, explain financial aid process, NU billing procedures. Provide conflict resolution through customer service with loan servicing center, lenders, and federal processors. Monitor satisfactory academic progress. Administer federal, state, and Northeastern based financial applications. Perform federal needs analysis to determine eligibility. Review and evaluate student appeals. Verify financial information according to federal regulations. Implement Northeastern-based awarding guidelines. Represent Student Financial Services at open houses, student meetings, workshops and undergraduate and recruitment programs for various programs and levels. Position Type Enrollment Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 110S Expected Hiring Range: $76,335.00 - $107,823.75 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change. Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.