"Assistant Director of Financial Aid"

Job Description

The Assistant Director of Financial Aid plays a key role in supporting the effective administration and delivery of student financial aid services at the University of Indianapolis. This position is primarily responsible for reviewing and processing financial aid applications, advising students and families on available aid options, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations, and participating in outreach and retention initiatives.

This role has a specialized focus on supporting graduate and professional students, serving as the primary point of contact for counseling, processing, and aid packaging for graduate-level programs. The Assistant Director collaborates closely with academic departments and campus partners to ensure timely and accurate financial aid disbursement, tailored to the unique structures and calendars of graduate programs.

Additionally, the Assistant Director provides systems and IT support, functioning as a critical backup to the Financial Aid Systems Administrator. Responsibilities include assisting with Banner financial aid operations, loading external data files, supporting process automation, and troubleshooting technical issues to maintain the integrity and efficiency of financial aid systems.

The Assistant Director also serves as a liaison for designated financial aid programs, including institutional and external scholarships, and works in partnership with both internal and external stakeholders to advance student access, compliance, and overall success.

REQUIREMENTS/MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience

• Minimum of 2–4 years of financial aid experience, with a preference for experience working with graduate populations.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations.
• Experience with financial aid management systems (e.g., Banner, Congos, Slate) or similar Student Information Systems is strongly preferred.
• Excellent customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated technical aptitude with student systems, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office suite and Google Suite products preferred.

Education

Bachelor’s degree required

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Graduate Student Counseling & Processing

• Serve as the primary financial aid counselor for graduate and professional students across all programs, including traditional, accelerated, online, and certificate programs.
• Advise students on financial aid eligibility, loan options, repayment planning, and financial literacy.
• Package and process financial aid for graduate students in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Communicate with academic departments and program directors to align financial aid practices with program structures and enrollment timelines.
• Participate in graduate student orientations, workshops, and other outreach events to support enrollment and retention.
• Monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for graduate populations and assist with appeals.

Financial Aid Systems Support & IT Backup

• Serve as a secondary point of contact for financial aid system operations, providing backup support for the Financial Aid Systems Administrator.
• Assist in managing Banner financial aid module tasks including rule maintenance, fund setup, data file loads, and process automation.
• Collaborate with IT, the Registrar’s Office, and Student Accounts to ensure system accuracy and integration.
• Help test system updates, troubleshoot errors, and support the implementation of new technologies or modules (e.g., student self-service, mobile platforms, reporting dashboards).
• Maintain documentation for system processes and assist in training staff on technical tools and updates.
• Run standard queries and assist with ad-hoc data requests and federal/state reporting as needed.

Company Description

Thank you for your interest in the University of Indianapolis! The University is a private, liberal arts university located on 65 acres just minutes from downtown Indianapolis. With more than 700 faculty and staff, it is a place where you can become part of a close-knit campus community that emphasizes the importance of community partnerships in the future growth of the University.

UIndy’s mission is to prepare its graduates for effective, responsible, and articulate membership in the complex societies in which they live and serve and for excellence and leadership in their personal and professional lives. The motto of "Education for Service" provides the foundation for our work to better our communities, both near and far.

As University employees, we know the work we do is important to our students and our communities. To accomplish our mission, we welcome talented, civic-minded, and diverse individuals from all career levels to help maintain our high standards of excellence and quality. If you want to join our dynamic environment and experience hard work, creativity, and teamwork, we welcome your application!

The University of Indianapolis is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, citizenship status, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The University of Indianapolis does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission as required by Title IX.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Discount
• Retirement Savings Plan - 403B
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time Accruals
• Paid Holiday time and additional University days off
• Employee Discounts & Services
• Free Parking
• Onsite Health & Wellness Center

For more information about the benefits of being a staff member at UIndy, visit our Benefits site.