Managing Associate Director of Student Financial Services

 This position will assist with the day-to-day management of the Office of Financial Services, and reports to the Assistant VP for Student Financial Services. The Managing Associate Director assists in the execution of the financial aid program designed to assist students and families with their investment in a Suffolk education. The Managing Associate Director also collaborates with both the undergraduate and graduate directors of student financial services to ensure the policies and practices in financial aid will create outstanding customer service moments for current and prospective Suffolk students and families.   The Managing Associate Director will work to eliminate barriers that students may face and create efficient, service friendly ideas and for the benefit of students.

COMPETENCIES: Expertise knowledge of student Financial Aid processes and procedures; knowledge of State and Federal Financial Aid programs, regulations and guidelines; skill in the operation of computers and job-related software programs; skill in interpersonal relations and effectively communicating with internal and external customers.

Primary Responsibilities:

Review undergraduate, graduate, and law financial aid applications and manage a student caseload.  Counsels students and parents regarding financial aid programs.  Coordinates the financial aid award process for incoming students to the UG Miller program.

Represents the Office of Student Financial Services at various on and off-campus events as needed, including occasional evening and weekend hours. Prepares presentations to educate families, and provides documentation to our third-party servicer for the Merit Calculator and Net Price Calculator.

Responsible for certifying UG student eligibility for the Mass Grant programs as well various other programs outside of MA.

With collaborative oversight from the Directors of Student Financial Services and Assistant VP, assists in the endowed scholarship management and awarding processes, communicating with university advancement and collaborating with GR/Law aid counselor(s) who are also charged with this work

Implements financial aid awarding strategies. Establishes office policies and procedures that reflect fair and objective distribution of aid, and participate in financial aid appeals review. Creates and presents trainings for staff, related to compliance topics like verification, appeals and PJ best practices. Aids in the development of quality control mechanisms and standardization of process documents for counseling staff.

Supervises three undergraduate financial aid counselors. Creates an open, welcoming, and inclusive environment in the Office of Financial Aid that actively supports prospective and current students and their families.

Requirements/Qualification: 

• Bachelor's degree;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel;
• Excellent analytical, organizational, problem solving and communication skills;
• Excellent customer service skills;
• Ability to work under continual deadlines requiring great attention to detail while managing competing responsibilities;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
•  
• Minimum of five years of recent professional experience in higher education financial aid including demonstrated expertise in financial aid programs and regulations.
• The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and a strong commitment to help developing and implementing the University's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies and goals.

Caseload responsibilities:

• Packaging and awarding
• Performing verification
• Resolves SAR Comment codes (i.e. C-codes)
• Reviews special circumstance requests
• Reviews satisfactory academic progress appeals (SAP)
• Working reports
• Responds to student inquiries via email
• Follows up with students and families to complete their financial aid file
• Other tasks assigned by manager
• Serve as representative for Student Financial Services office at new student orientation and prospective student events. Coordinate presentations and provide coverage when needed.
  Coordinate with Ram Center and Student accounts colleagues to service inquiries

This position has some flexibility for a hybrid remote schedule to be determined with the manager based on the needs of the office.

Salary Range:  $88, ,000.00