Associate Director of Financial Aid – Advisement
The Associate Director of Financial Aid – Advisement is a senior leader within the Office of Financial Aid who serves as the primary
representative and voice of financial aid for Rocky Vista University students.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Financial Aid, this role is charged with
advancing the student experience by providing comprehensive financial aid
advisement, ensuring compliance with federal and institutional policies, and
fostering collaboration across key university departments.
The Associate Director oversees financial aid counseling
services, loan processing, and debt management initiatives, while also leading
proactive engagement efforts to ensure students and families are fully informed
and supported throughout their academic journey. As the face of Financial Aid,
this role delivers presentations to RVU students at critical academic
milestones, offers individualized counseling on borrowing and repayment, and
manages the credit application and loan counseling process for federal and
private loans.
In addition, the Associate Director plays a pivotal role in
cross-departmental collaboration, maintaining strong partnerships with
Admissions, Registrar, Bursar, and Clinical Education Operations to ensure
financial aid processes are seamlessly integrated into the broader student
lifecycle.
This position reports to the Executive Director, Financial Aid.
Essential Functions
Leadership & Advisement
- Supervise,
train, and evaluate counseling staff to ensure accurate, efficient, and
student-centered advisement.
- Provide
direct advisement to students regarding aid eligibility, award
adjustments, loan options, repayment obligations, and debt management
strategies.
- Serve
as the primary financial aid representative at student-facing events
(orientation, class meetings, information sessions, and workshops).
- Develop
and deliver presentations to incoming, continuing, and graduating students
on loan options, repayment, budgeting, and financial wellness.
Loan Counseling & Debt Management
- Oversee
the credit application and loan counseling processes for federal and
private loans, ensuring compliance with Title IV and institutional
requirements.
- Manage
loan entrance and exit counseling processes; ensure students understand
borrowing responsibilities and repayment options.
- Certify/Manage
Direct Loan applications and process loan returns, adjustments, and
cancellations along with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Operations
teams.
- Develop
and implement debt management programs, including individual counseling,
repayment planning, and post-graduation financial education.
- Review
and approve complex loan adjustments, increases, and reductions in
accordance with federal regulations.
- Oversight
of the student facing VA benefits process. Ensure there are at least 3
certifying officials across the team including one on campus.
Collaboration & Student Experience
- Maintain
active interaction with Admissions to ensure prospective and admitted
students are fully informed about financial aid opportunities and
requirements throughout the admissions process.
- Partner
with the Registrar to ensure accurate enrollment data for aid packaging
and compliance.
- Collaborate
with the Bursar to support billing, payment, and aid disbursement
processes.
- Coordinate
with Clinical Education Operations to align aid processing with clinical
placements and scheduling.
- Work
across departments to streamline processes and provide holistic support
for students.
Operational Oversight & Compliance
- Use Jenzabar,
PowerFAIDS, UC4, COD, and NSLDS extensively to process, monitor, and
reconcile financial aid activity.
- Monitor
reports to ensure timely and accurate packaging, awarding, disbursement,
and loan certification.
- Oversee
compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, including
FERPA, Title IV, COD, and NSLDS requirements.
- Maintain
knowledge of federal regulations, lender policies, and institutional
practices; recommend policy and process updates as needed.
- Collaborate
with the Financial Aid leadership team on strategic planning, policy
development, and operational improvements.
- Oversee
FAFSA processing, ISIR review, need analysis, and verification, ensuring
accuracy and timely completion.
- Collaborate
with leadership on system testing, automation improvements, and
operational planning.
- In
conjunction with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Operations leadership,
collaborate on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) reviews and Title IV
refund calculations.
- In
conjunction with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Operations leadership,
collaborate and coordinate all Enrollment and Financial Aid audits,
including internal reviews, external audits, and accreditation reviews;
ensure timely file retrieval, review, and submission.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Deep
knowledge of financial aid regulations, Title IV programs, and compliance
requirements.
- Strong
leadership and staff development skills with the ability to manage and
inspire a counseling team.
- Expertise
in loan counseling, credit application review, and debt management
strategies.
- Excellent
presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to engage
with large groups of students and represent Financial Aid professionally.
- Strong
analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to manage complex data and
reports.
- Extensive
experience with Jenzabar, PowerFAIDS, Banner, UC4, COD, and NSLDS
systems.
- Ability
to balance regulatory compliance with a compassionate, student-focused
approach.
Other Duties
- Provide
coverage for core functions as needed to ensure uninterrupted service to applicants
and students.
- Perform
other duties and special projects assigned by leadership.
This description is not intended to be all-inclusive.
This position may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing
needs of the department/institution.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s
degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum
7 years of progressive financial aid experience, including 3 years in a
supervisory or leadership role.
- Demonstrated
experience with federal loan programs, private loan processing, and debt
management counseling.
- Familiarity
with Title IV regulations, COD, NSLDS, and financial aid reporting
systems.
- Strong
track record of student engagement and delivering financial aid
presentations.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
- Professional
office environment with frequent use of computers, phones, and standard
office equipment.
- Ability
to concentrate in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
- Hybrid
work environment with occasional in-person presentation requirements.
Hours & Travel
- Standard
work week.
- Occasional
evening and weekend hours required for presentations, high volume time
period, or special events.
- Periodic
travel to MGE campuses may be required.
The anticipated salary range for the Associate Director of Financial Aid - Advisement is $69,800 to $82,100 per year. The final salary offered may vary and will be determined based on factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, location, and education of the successful candidate. This information is provided per NYS local law.
We Are
· Student Centric: We approach every task with a focus on supporting our students to achieve their lifelong learning goals in a safe, vibrant and welcoming environment.
· A Global Community: We are one team with an international outlook welcoming the strength in our diversity and the value each of us brings to what we do.
· Accountable: We take responsibility for our actions by being responsive, resourceful and respectful in delivering on our commitments with integrity and the highest ethical standards.
· Collaborative: We support and empower one another through open communications, cooperation, sharing knowledge and taking time to always listen and show we care.
· Committed to Excellence: We take pride in our ongoing pursuit for continuous improvement through creativity, rigor and best practices to produce meaningful outcomes.
About University Support Services, LLC
University Support Services LLC (USS) is an affiliate of St. George's University (SGU), a leading provider of international medical education. SGU students and faculty come from 151 countries to the island of Grenada, located in the West Indies. Our purpose is to support SGU to deliver best in class education for all SGU students. We put a special focus on the growing global need for diverse high-quality medical and healthcare professionals. USS is pivotal in positioning SGU as a premiere medical degree institute through its student-facing as well as functional support teams.
USS is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it is company policy to fill positions with qualified candidates regardless of race, color, sex (including sexual orientation and gender presentation), age, religion, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, pregnancy, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, status in the Uniformed Services of the United States (including veteran status) or status as a victim of domestic violence, except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification. This policy protects applicants and employees from discrimination in the hiring process.
Salary : $69,800 - $82,100
