Position Description

*POSITION DESCRIPTION*
Position Title:	Director of Student Financial Services	FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to:	Vice President of Planning and Operations/CIO
Department:	Student Finacial Services
Date Prepared:	February 2011

BASIC FUNCTION

This Director of Student Financial Services provides leadership in the following areas: delivery of financial aid; development of institutional financial aid policies; student accounts; student scholarships; third party funds; oversight over BANNER/Blackboard data and records including interface with PeopleSoft; and acts as customer service manager of this area. The Director also ensures compliance with federal and state laws and regulations as they pertain to all types of financial aid, formulating institutional financial aid policies and overseeing the writing of procedures to monitor compliance, and also complies with all state and federal financial policies as administered from the college Business Office (Comptroller & CFO). The Director will be responsible for providing strong leadership to establish a strong departmental vision, and motivating and supporting a high performance culture. The position also holds responsibility for installing a strong performance management process including establishing stretch department performance objectives, monitoring performance and taking corrective actions to address gaps and opportunities, and holding the department and its employees accountable for achievement of performance objectives.

NATURE & SCOPE

The Director of Student Financial Services is supervised by the Vice President for Planning and Operations in cooperation with the college's CIO, although most work is mission-driven and completed without direct review from the supervisor. However, the entire department, and thus this position, is subject to periodic audits by state and federal reporting agencies. The incumbent is tasked with leading the Office of Student Financial Services in a direction that will advance the College and its students. While general unit objectives are understood, it is at the discretion of the incumbent to establish the plan, determine the priorities, and prescribe the process for achieving these objectives.

The decisions made by the incumbent affect the enrollment of, and thus the future of, students. This direct cause-effect relationship dictates that the incumbent be an excellent decision maker and have the ability to use an objective viewpoint. In addition, the incumbent must be able to communicate effectively with students to express problems or to educate them concerning financial aid eligibility and opportunities as well as the student's financial responsibility to the college.

The Director of Student Financial Services spends a large portion of time reviewing Institutional policies to affirm that they comply with federal and state regulations. This requires a significant allocation of time in researching, studying, and interpreting these laws. Furthermore, the incumbent then must compare the laws to current policies to ensure compliance and make changes as necessary.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

· Responsible for maintaining a customer service focused operation in the Office of Student Financial Services that properly serves prospective students and their families and current students enrolled at ABAC

· Provides leadership in the evaluation, development, and revision of campus financial policies affecting students' aid and financial status with the college

· Ensures compliance with federal and state financial laws and regulations, formulating institutional financial policies and overseeing the writing of procedures to monitor compliance as it pertains to students accounts

· Serves as technical lead for Banner for the Office of Student Financial Services

· In cooperation with College CIO, oversees the Office of Student Financial Services staff and supervises training

· Reviews student appeals for continuation of financial aid eligibility and conflicts with student financial records

· Serves as liaison with the state, University System of Georgia, and ABAC constituents

BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Student Financial Services is responsible for an annual budget. The incumbent is also responsible for the college's total aid allotment that not only includes federal and state funds but also third party and foundation funds.

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

This position requires an advanced degree (masters in related field of study) and five to seven years of experience in either/both a college's student financial aid office or a student financial services office. In addition, extensive knowledge of the Banner student information system and Crystal reports is needed.

Due to the significance placed on customer service, this position requires the incumbent to possess many of the follow skills:

1. Listening effectively.

2. Extending common courtesy.

3. Avoiding the wrong impression.

4. Thinking positively

5. Gathering customer information.

6. Listening to angry customers

7. Writing effective email.

8. A passion for taking care of customers.

9. A work ethic based on dedication to the company and its mission.

10. Excellent communication skills.