Assistant Director of Financial Aid Counseling Services

Job Summary

The Assistant Director for Counseling Services is responsible for supervising front desk operations within the Office of Student Financial Aid. This position provides guidance to students and family members or supporters of students regarding financial aid options, eligibility, and application processes, including scholarships, loans, alternative financing, and debt management. The role involves awarding financial aid, managing student eligibility, and ensuring compliance with requirements such as R2T4, Verification, and audits. Additionally, the Assistant Director will support cross-functional counseling services, delivering high-quality assistance to both internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• COUNSELING: Counseling students and families regarding financial aid eligibility and advising on aid programs, distribution of aid, and renewal requirements. Counsel students on how enrollment affects aid amount awarded and how withdrawing or not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) affects future aid eligibility. Advise students and families regarding non-aid options (i.e., payment plan, etc.) to pay institutional charges by the payment deadline.
• SUPERVISION: The Assistant Director will supervise the three Financial Aid Assistants, ensuring they deliver excellent customer service via telephone, email, and walk-in interactions. This includes providing guidance on best practices for handling inquiries, resolving issues efficiently, and maintaining a high level of professionalism. As the supervisor of the Financial Aid Assistants, this person will be responsible for managing staffing and leave requests for the front desk area and the annual performance evaluations for those positions.
• TRAINING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT: The Assistant Director will regularly monitor customer service performance, offer training and support to the counseling team, and implement efficiencies related to the timely and accurate responses to students and parents. By monitoring customer service performance, offering targeted training to the counseling team, and implementing improvements in workflows, the Assistant Director can enhance the overall efficiency of the financial aid office, reducing response times and increasing the accuracy of information provided. This helps improve the overall student and parent experience.
• FINANCIAL AID PROCESSING: Responsible for the processing of federal, state, and institutional aid following documented policy and procedures for these financial aid programs. Responsible for technical and various system functions for the processing of student aid.
• COMPLIANCE: The Assistant Director ensures financial aid compliance when awarding students financial aid and is transparent when counseling students regarding eligibility. This position is responsible for managing key compliance requirements such as Return of Title IV (R2T4) funds, Verification, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and other requirements. The Assistant Director is responsible for maintaining accurate records, reviewing financial aid counseling processes for compliance with regulatory standards, and working closely with the financial aid leadership team to address any issues. This role is essential in ensuring that financial aid counseling services are compliant and transparent for the integrity of the aid counseling process.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of financial aid or relevant work experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

Working experience with a student information systems such as Banner and Department of Education software, NSLDS, COD, Ed Connect.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

SKILLS
Detail-oriented with strong prioritization and organizational skills.

ABILITIES
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively solve problems and initiate and implement projects independently.
Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to uphold all federal and state statutes and regulations regarding eligibility and distribution of student financial aid.
Professional judgment and critical thinking skills for interpreting and applying federal and/or state regulations and guidelines governing the awarding of financial aid to students.
Demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of people.
Knowledge of and ability to comply with Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws.
Ability to prioritize tasks, detail oriented, and possess a teamwork spirit.

Shift/Salary/Benefits

Shift: Days; M-F (Work outside of the standard business hours may be required)
Pay Band: B10
Salary: $52,500/annually-$54,600/annually
Salary to be commensurate with qualifications of the selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum-midpoint) of the position
Recruitment Period: Until Filled

Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees. Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays. Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.