Assistant Director of Financial Aid - Northwestern University

Department: Financial Aid EV
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid Operations, the Assistant Director of Financial Aid determines financial aid eligibility and develops financial aid packages for prospective and current students; employs independent judgment in the analysis of federal and institutional methodology and interpretation of University guidelines; exercises discretion in the review of requests for waivers, adjustments and appeals. Provides detailed information and professional counseling to parents, students, and staff regarding financial aid eligibility and alternative financing; assesses financial situations and extenuating circumstances case by case. Manage a program area (federal, state or institutional), maintaining regulatory compliance and fiscal integrity in accordance with governmental regulations and University policy.

Please note: Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Specific Responsibilities

• Assistant Director (AD) will analyze complex financial aid applications for approximately 500 to 600 undergraduate students; determine aid eligibility under the terms of both federal and institutional methodology by implementing federal and state regulations and interpreting University guidelines; formulate financial aid packages to meet student need, as well as recruit and retain University student body. AD must exercise discretion in determining when it may be appropriate to invoke authority to use professional, independent judgment to deviate from federal methodology on a case by case basis. In addition, evaluate follow-up requests for waivers, adjustments and additional aid; determine whether individual circumstances warrant an increase in assistance and/or the use of professional judgment to adjust federal and institutional aid eligibility.
• AD will provide detailed information and professional counseling to parents, students, and staff regarding financial aid eligibility and alternative financing for both on campus and for the affiliated study abroad programs offered at the University. ADs are responsible for assisting individuals in meeting their financial responsibilities to Northwestern; thereby supporting the enrollment and retention goals of the University. In the course of counseling families, ADs must assess individual financial situations to determine whether there exists sufficient change or extenuating circumstance to justify a review and potential modification to initial eligibility determination.
• Responsible for managing the federal verification process for the department. This includes processing a caseload of verification files and providing training and oversight of the department team. This person is the primary expert and resource with regard to federal verification guidelines that are updated on an annual basis. This person must stay abreast of federal and state regulations and institutional policies and procedures in order to monitor program requirements, implement programmatic changes and provide prompt and efficient service to colleagues and students.
• Provide oversight of the process to transmit corrections of federal application data to and from the federal system. This involves the review of incoming records for additional and updated information and to ensure that corrections are valid. The position must ensure these records are updated in accordance with federal regulations, must resolve federal comment codes, must resolve database matches and troubleshoot related issues.
• Responsible for presenting at high school financial aid nights and student information sessions.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or the equivalent education, training and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.
• 2-3 years experience in financial aid office, preferably at a private college or university.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Mathematical competence.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Team player.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• 3-5 years financial aid experience.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Ability to explain financial aid regulations to parents and students.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Experience in web design communication.
• Ability to work with federal and institutional methodology.
• Experience in packaging financial aid.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $57,000-$62,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.