Assistant Director, Financial Services (Center for Talented Youth)

Founded in 1979, the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is a center for innovation dedicated to advancing the field of gifted education through research on testing, programs, and other supports for advanced learners. On the premise that advanced learners come from every community and every demographic, we aim to understand and inform how these students need to be nurtured to achieve their full potential as learners and global citizens. CTY also runs in-person and online academic programs for bright learners in order to cultivate a community of advanced learners and connect students in and outside the classroom.

We are seeking an Assistant Director, Financial Services, to provide strategic and operational leadership for all financial aid and student account functions at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY). Reporting to the Director of Enrollment Services, this role oversees a team of Financial Services Specialists responsible for financial aid processing, billing, payment posting, refunds, and reconciliation.

The Assistant Director ensures compliance with university policies, promotes process efficiency, and delivers a seamless financial experience for CTY students and families. The ideal candidate is a critical thinker and problem solver who brings a process-oriented approach to managing complex financial operations. They will drive cross-departmental collaboration, strengthen data integrity, and enhance operational effectiveness across financial systems and workflows.

Specific Duties And Responsibilities

Leadership and Supervision (35%)

• Supervise, train, and evaluate the Financial Services Specialist team, ensuring alignment of priorities and accountability for results.
• Establish team goals, assign work, and monitor progress toward performance benchmarks and service-level agreements.
• Coach staff to develop cross-functional expertise in both financial aid and student accounts management.
• Foster a collaborative, customer-focused culture grounded in continuous learning and operational excellence.
• Develop and maintain staffing plans and professional development pathways.
  
  

Financial Aid Administration (25%)

• Oversee the full lifecycle of financial aid processing, including application review, eligibility determination, award distribution, and reconciliation.
• Maintain compliance with institutional policies, FERPA, and relevant federal regulations.
• Analyze financial aid trends and budget allocations; prepare forecasts and reports for leadership.
• Serve as the primary contact for escalated financial aid inquiries, appeals, or exceptions.
• Partner with university offices to ensure accurate fund disbursement and reporting.
  
  

Student Accounts Management (25%)

• Oversee student billing, payments, refunds, tuition remission, and third-party billing activities.
• Approve complex account adjustments and ensure timely, accurate posting in Modern Campus and SAP.
• Supervise reconciliation of account activity and collaborate with Central Finance on cash management and aging reports.
• Monitor delinquent accounts, coordinate collection procedures, and recommend policy updates to improve receivable management.
• Ensure student financial records are maintained with accuracy and confidentiality.
  
  

Process Improvement and Compliance (15%)

• Lead initiatives to document, analyze, and optimize financial services workflows for efficiency and accuracy.
• Identify upstream and downstream impacts of proposed system or policy changes; recommend creative, data-driven solutions.
• Collaborate with IT, Finance, and Enrollment teams to enhance data integration and automate processes across SAP and Modern Campus.
• Maintain and refine standard operating procedures, internal controls, and audit documentation.
• Prepare reports, data analyses, and findings for audits, leadership presentations, and strategic planning.
  
  

Technical Qualifications And Specialized Skills

• Commitment to providing equitable, student-centered financial support.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, logic formulas, data modeling).
• Ability to translate business challenges into process and system solutions.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, student financial services, or financial aid administration. Prior experience in supervising or leading a team.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education financial aid or student accounts operations.
• Working knowledge of Johns Hopkins University systems such as SAP, Modern Campus, or comparable financial and student information systems.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply financial policies, aid regulations, and institutional compliance standards.
  
  

Classified Title: Asst. Director CTY Financial Services

Job Posting Title (Working Title): Assistant Director, Financial Services (Center for Talented Youth)

Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PF

Starting Salary Range: $85,500 - $149,800 Annually ($90,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)

Employee group: Full Time

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am -5:00 pm

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Hybrid/Mount Washington Campus

Department name: CTY Enrollment Services

Personnel area: Academic and Business Centers