Director of Student Financial Planning

Role Overview

The Director of Student Financial Planning provides strategic leadership and oversight of all student financial aid programs and initiatives. The Director serves as the University’s principal authority on Title IV compliance and programs, North Carolina state financial aid programs, financial literacy initiatives, regulatory reporting, and risk management.

What You Will Do

The Director is responsible for ensuring full compliance with federal, state, institutional, and accreditor regulations while delivering exceptional service and support to students and families. The Director oversees student eligibility determination, verification, packaging, and aid disbursement processes, maintains annual student cost-of-attendance budgets, and conducts regular internal audits of financial aid files, processes, and controls.

Why It Might Be a Fit

The Director must have strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills, effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, and the ability to interpret and apply complex federal and state regulations. The Director must also be able to build effective relationships across departments and with external agencies, and present financial aid policies and information to students, families, and high school counselors during special events.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution required; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum 10 years of responsible leadership and experience in financial aid at Associate Director level or higher
• Demonstrated expertise in Title IV administration, compliance, and regulatory reporting
• Experience managing financial aid audits, reconciliations, and regulatory reporting requirements
• Strong technology background and experience with student information systems, financial aid management systems, federal and state systems, private loan systems, and reporting tools
• Experience administering North Carolina state financial aid programs preferred
• Experience using Ellucian’s Colleague and/or Oracle preferred
• Experience in a private or nonprofit postsecondary institution preferred
• Comprehensive knowledge of Title IV regulations and Federal Student Aid programs
• Thorough knowledge of North Carolina state financial aid programs and their regulatory requirements
• Strong understanding of regulatory reporting, audit preparation, reconciliation, and compliance management
• Knowledge of university policies, budget goals, and forecasting
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills
• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to interpret and apply complex federal and state regulations
• Ability to build effective relationships across departments and with external agencies
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting strict deadlines
• Ability to work beyond a ‘typical’ work day and weekends when necessary
• Ability to effectively present financial aid policies and information to students, families, and high school counselors during special events
• Commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and student-centered service

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance

Tagged as: Financial Modeling