Financial Director
: Job Details :

Thank you for your interest in The University of New Orleans. Once you start the application process, you will not be able to save your work, so you should collect all required information before you begin. The required information is listed below in the job posting. You must complete all required portions of the application and attach the required documents in order to be considered for employment. Department Enrollment Management Job Summary Job Description Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Director of Financial Aid is responsible for leading and managing the financial aid team. This role encompasses the planning, organization, direction, development, implementation, and maintenance of a comprehensive financial aid program and aid delivery system that addresses the needs and requirements of students, the institution, and various governmental and private funding sources. Additionally, the Director will cultivate collaboration within academic programs and across administrative and non-academic units to promote enrollment and foster student success. The Director of Financial Aid is responsible for overseeing the comprehensive financial aid process at the University of New Orleans, administering a financial aid package totaling approximately $72 million and managing an annual budget of approximately $800,000. This role involves developing and reviewing the awarding rationale for federal, state, institutional, scholarship, and private awards, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, and maintaining exceptional standards during audits and program reviews. Key responsibilities include supervising the Financial Aid staff, providing ongoing professional development, and coordinating training sessions to enhance service quality for students. The director will also collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders, including auditors and university departments, to ensure effective communication and compliance with policies. The Director of Financial Aid will lead initiatives to create student budgets, monitor award status, and manage operational functions within the Scholarship and Verification Units. Additionally, the role includes overseeing the creation of necessary departmental forms, managing the Return of Title IV adjustments, and monitoring satisfactory academic progress for financial aid recipients. Ultimately, the director will play a vital role in fostering student satisfaction through quality customer service and addressing any financial aid-related inquiries or complaints, while continuously improving processes and communications within the office. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to the following: Manage and review the financial aid awarding rational/packaging process for federal, state, institutional, scholarship and private awards totaling approximately $72 million. Manage the Financial Aid departmental budget including personnel needs, and departmental operating expenses of approximately $800,000. Ensure timely updates to the Program Participation Agreement (PPA) for the University of New Orleans, allowing participation in Title IV and HEA Programs. Supervise the reconciliation process for reporting data on the FISAP (Fiscal Institutional Student Aid Program) for all Federal Student Aid Programs to the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring ongoing funding for Federal Student Aid at the University. Ensures exception-free Financial Aid audits and program reviews by keeping abreast of and implementing federal and state laws and regulations that pertain to the programs administered by the Financial Aid Office. Meet and work closely with Internal, Legislative and Federal Auditors. Develop Financial Aid office response to program reviews and audits. Develop Internal Controls to maintain compliance with Federal, State, UL System Regulations. Develop student Cost of Attendance (individual student budgets including tuition, books, miscellaneous fees, room and board) for the Traditional and Executive Track Programs. Provide Federal Pell Grant Payment Schedule to staff to ensure proper awarding. Supervise Federal Work Study and Budget Student Employment, Debt Management, Verification and Counseling Units and Technical Staff (consisting of full-time Monitor Federal Student Aid offered and accepted awards. Review statistical data of award status for admitted, registered/enrolled students, offered/accepted awards, customer service data, etc. Interpret and apply federal and state laws and regulations; institutional policies and procedures related to the delivery of Student Aid. Interpret, recommend and administer updates to Policies and Procedures of the office, ensuring compliance with pertinent federal, state and institutional requirements. Serve as a liaison in communication with Vice President for Enrollment Management, Finance and Administration, and other units (Admission, Registrar, and other offices on and off campus). Provide directions to the Counseling Unit regarding processing, Professional Judgments, and for outreach programs, etc. Oversee administrative functions of the Financial Aid Office by supervising, providing ongoing professional development opportunities and evaluating staff members. Oversees the review of operational functions of the Scholarship Unit. Investigate and analyze information/complaints regarding the financial aid process. Coordinate with key staff in Information Technology and on the Workday team and engage in resolutions related to ERP issues as they impact Financial Aid. Collaborate with technical staff on internal processes as it relates to the dissemination of electronic communications, web updates, various queries/exception reports needed to assure the accuracy of award packaging, disbursement and reconciliation and making enhancement to all communications. Train and coordinate training sessions for staff to ensure they are effectively servicing students. Create departmental forms necessary for the delivery of service (Spring and Summer Financial Aid Form, Appeal Form, Revision Forms, Professional Judgment, Status Reports, etc.). Monitor the verification and awarding process for the EMBA/HC students, and developing the awarding rationale for this or other specialized programs, etc. Establish and supervise the awarding rationale and process for the Study Abroad Programs. Review, adjust, and authorize Return of Title IV adjustments as needed for post-withdrawals, official and unofficial withdrawals. Supervise Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) eligibility reviews and appeals for financial aid recipients and make adjustments to policy requirements as needed. Monitor university two-year and three-year cohort default rates and Entrance/Exit Counseling requirements for the Federal Direct Loan Programs and PLUS. Supervise University's continuing participants in the TEACH Grant Program and all sequestration requirements. Contribute to student satisfaction through delivery of quality customer service in all aspects of the administration of financial aid. Review, Resolve and Reply to customer service issues. Authorize staff leave. Other duties as assigned Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree plus five (5) years' professional financial affairs experience in Higher Education, preferably Student Financial Aid administration. Possess strong organizational, interpersonal communication and writing skills and the ability to thrive in a high-stress environment. Substantial experience with, and knowledge of, automated financial aid systems, including the U.S. Department of Education electronic financial aid process. Desired Qualifications: Master's degree. Ten (10) years of financial aid experience, education and training in strategic planning. Possess strong management skills and experience in relevant computer software. Have a comprehensive knowledge of all regulations governing federal financial aid programs. Experience in staff training, motivation and evaluation Procedure for Candidacy: Application materials should be submitted via the University of New Orleans online applicant portal at www.uno.edu/careers. For full consideration, applications should be submitted by November 4, 2024. Required Attachments Please upload the following documents in the Resume/Cover Letter section. Detailed resume listing relevant qualifications and experience; Cover Letter indicating why you are a good fit for the position and University of Louisiana Systems; Names and contact information of three references; Diversity Statement (required for all Faculty positions and any Staff position of Assistant Manager and higher). See Diversity Statement instructions by clicking this link: Applications that do not include the required uploaded documents may not be considered. Posting Close Date This position will remain open until filled. Note to Applicant: Applicants should fully describe their qualifications and experience with specific reference to each of the minimum and preferred qualifications in their cover letter. The search committee will use this information during the initial review of application materials. References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process. This position may require a criminal background check to be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire. As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions at the University of New Orleans may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks. The University of New Orleans is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected Veteran status, age if 40 or older, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Located on the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, only 15 minutes from the French Quarter, the University of New Orleans occupies a 195-acre campus in one of the finest residential areas of the city. Founded in 1958, the University of New Orleans was the first integrated university to open in the South. Given its history of educational access for all, UNO is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion - core values that inform all we do. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive educational community that understands and appreciates the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in fulfilling our mission and realizing our vision. UNO has graduated more than 80,000 alumni - more than half of whom live and work in the greater New Orleans metropolitan area. Ranked Top 50 in the Nation for Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report. The Brookings Institution ranked UNO third in the nation for providing equal access to higher education for students from all income levels. The University of New Orleans is the most ethnically diverse college in Louisiana according to College Factual, a data analytics company that focuses on higher education outcomes. For years, UNO has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's least debt list (schools whose graduates have the least amount of debt) among national universities. The University has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research University (high research activity), one of fewer than 100 public universities that holds this prestigious designator. The University of New Orleans is also a major business driver in metro New Orleans, generating a total economic impact of $470.5 million for metropolitan New Orleans in the 2014-15 fiscal year. UNO Welcomes Job Applicants from Diverse Backgrounds The University of New Orleans is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected Veteran status, age if 40 or older, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.