Associate Director-Financial Aid

Job Title: Associate Director- Financial Aid

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Campus: LIU Brooklyn

Reports To: Deputy Director of Financial Aid Operations

Basic Function And Scope Of Responsibilities:

The Center for Student Success & Coaching – Financial Aid Division at LIU provides integrated, cross-functional support across financial aid, academic registration, and student accounts. This position serves as a primary point of contact to deliver efficient, coordinated service and resolve student inquiries related to financial aid, registration, and college affordability.

The Associate Director of Financial Aid supports financial aid operations for all students and possesses comprehensive knowledge of Financial Aid, the Registrar, Student Accounting, Billing, and Cashiering functions.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Serve as a financial aid processor for all grants, loans, and third-party billing in accordance with university financial aid structures and federal and state policy, including cashiering functions, payment plans, collection agreements, end-of-term deferrals, and the processing and certification of third-party billing documents.
• Support financial aid operations, including account management, file review, aid eligibility and packaging, verification, disbursement, payment plans, tuition remission, institutional aid administration, campus-based federal aid, and federal loan management.
• Provide high-quality customer service to support students and families, including in-person assistance focused on college affordability. Supervise and mentor LIU staff by setting goals and supporting ongoing professional development.
• Assist with financial aid functions in compliance with New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA) guidelines.
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Behavioral Objectives

The Associate Director of Financial Aid consistently demonstrates the core competencies outlined below, as well as those established by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and the New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA) for financial aid professionals.

Competencies:

• Leadership: the leader will have the ability to articulate and demonstrate the vision of LIU Division of Financial Aid. In addition, the leader will enhance others’ commitment to their work, motivate and engage employees through effective communication.
• Manage Change: the leaders will demonstrate support for innovation and for organizational changes needed to improve the organization’s effectiveness; initiating, sponsoring, and implementing organizational change; helping others to successfully manage organizational change.
• Customer Orientation: the leader will have the ability to demonstrate concern for satisfying one’s external and/or internal customers.
• Solution Focused: the leader will demonstrate a positive attitude and perspective while focusing division needs, tasks and goals.
• Accountability: Demonstrates responsibility for outcomes, compliance, and service standards across assigned functions.
  
  

Associate Director Area Specializations:

FINANCIAL AID

• Ensures financial aid processing and documentation meet audit, program review, and compliance standards.
• Provides individualized counseling to students and families to support college affordability, including education on personal financing, federal and private loans, grants, scholarships, and long-term financial planning
• Guides students through the financial aid process by assisting with the completion, submission, and tracking of required documentation, including uploading materials into ImageNow and communicating updates or changes to aid eligibility.
• Collaborates with Center for Student Success & Coaching leadership and campus partners to support student retention and resolve complex cases, including financial aid appeals and eligibility reviews.
• Applies professional judgment to adjust student eligibility based on documented special or mitigating circumstances, in accordance with federal and state regulations.
  
  

Associate Director Area Specializations:

STUDENT ACCOUNTS

• Oversee and execute student accounts functions related to billing, refunds, cashiering, payment plans, end-of-term deferrals, award book vouchers, third-party contracts, and collection agreements.
• Ensure accuracy and compliance of student account activity by coordinating financial records between the Center for Student Success & Coaching – Financial Aid Division and Student Financial Services.
• Participate in the reconciliation of the Student Account's Office records with those of the Student Financial Services to ensure complete agreement of billing, receipts, disbursements and outstanding receivable records.
• Manage and monitor the daily execution of student refunds to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
• Support the management of delinquent accounts by assisting with collections processes in accordance with institutional policy and federal and state regulations.
  
  

Education Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree Required, Master Preferred

Training, Skills, Knowledge, Experience:

• At least 5–7 years of progressive professional experience in higher education, financial aid, student affairs, or academic affairs, with demonstrated sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Experience using financial aid management systems, student information systems, and document imaging platforms (e.g., PeopleSoft, ImageNow).
• Demonstrated experience in financial aid administration, including federal, state, and institutional aid programs, compliance, verification, professional judgment, and student account coordination.
• Proven ability to supervise, train, and mentor professional and support staff, including setting goals, evaluating performance, and fostering professional development.
  
  

Working Conditions:

• Requires flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
• Requires regular travel between LIU campuses to support training, meetings, and other University functions.
  
  

Materials & Equipment:

• Computer, fax machine, copier, phone.
  
  

LIU is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable academic community. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, veteran or military status, age, disability, or any other basis protected by applicable law.