Director of Student Financial Services (Financial Aid)
Company Description
For over 25 years, Gnomon has been a leading institution for educating top digital artists in the visual effects, animation, and games industries. Based in North Hollywood, CA, Gnomon offers a range of educational programs, including a bachelor's degree, certificate programs, individual courses, and a High School Summer Camp. Its 45,000-square-foot campus is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including computer labs, a green-screen stage, and the Gnomon Gallery. Recognized as one of the top U.S. colleges by Forbes in 2023, Gnomon is dedicated to empowering artists with the skills and expertise required to succeed in competitive creative fields.
Under the direction of the Executive Director of Operations, The Director of Student Financial Services (DSFS) provides strategic leadership, oversight, and administration of all student financial aid programs and student financing initiatives at Gnomon. This position serves as the institution's primary authority on Title IV compliance, California state financial aid programs, financial literacy initiatives, regulatory reporting, default prevention, and financial aid operations.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following areas:
Leadership and Oversight
- Direct and oversee all Financial Aid operations and student financing initiatives for the college.
- Develop departmental goals, service standards, performance metrics, and operational procedures.
- Supervise, mentor, train, and evaluate Financial Aid staff.
- Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and internal controls that support regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness.
- Provide strategic recommendations to institutional leadership regarding student financing, borrowing trends, and financial aid policy.
- Serve as the institutional subject matter expert regarding student finance regulations and best practices.
- Participate in institutional planning and provide recommendations that support student retention, persistence, and financial wellness.
Financial Aid Administration
- Administer all federal, state, institutional, scholarship, and private loans.
- Ensure compliance with all Title IV regulations and requirements.
- Oversee student eligibility determination, verification, awarding, packaging, and aid disbursement processes.
- Review and approve Professional Judgment requests, dependency overrides, and special circumstance appeals.
- Manage and oversee Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculations and required adjustments.
- Maintain annual student cost-of-attendance budgets.
- Ensure timely reconciliation of all federal and state aid programs.
- Manage entrance and exit counseling programs.
- Oversee Federal Work Study administration.
- Promote responsible borrowing practices and provide financial literacy education to students.
Compliance, Audit & Regulatory Oversight
- Maintain compliance with all applicable federal, state, accreditor, and institutional regulations.
- Monitor changes in regulations and implement necessary operational updates.
- Conduct regular internal audits of financial aid files, processes, and controls.
- Ensure audit-ready documentation and record retention practices.
- Coordinate institutional responses to Department of Education Program Reviews, accreditation reviews, state agency reviews, and annual compliance audits.
- Develop corrective action plans and monitor remediation efforts when compliance deficiencies are identified.
- Partner with the Registrar to ensure compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
- Maintain current knowledge of Title IV regulations, Federal Student Aid guidance, and California Student Aid Commission regulations.
Reporting & Institutional Financial Monitoring
- Prepare and submit all required financial aid and regulatory reports.
- Coordinate preparation of FISAP, IPEDS, NSLDS Transfer Student Monitoring and Enrollment Reporting, state grant reports, annual compliance audits, and other regulatory submissions.
- Monitor and report on institutional Cohort Default Rates (CDR) and develop default prevention initiatives.
- Analyze student finance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Develop management reports and dashboards to support institutional decision-making.
- Ensure accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of all student financial records and reporting.
Student Service & Financial Literacy
- Counsel prospective and current students and families regarding financial aid eligibility, financing options, borrowing responsibilities, and financial planning.
- Promote financial literacy and responsible borrowing initiatives.
- Resolve complex financial aid and student finance concerns.
- Ensure exceptional customer service throughout all student finance interactions.
- Support student retention efforts through proactive financial counseling and intervention strategies.
Institutional Collaboration
- Serve as liaison with the U.S. Department of Education, California Student Aid Commission, lenders, loan servicers, auditors, accreditors, and other regulatory agencies.
- Collaborate closely with the Director of Student Accounts regarding student financing, refunds, disbursements, tuition obligations, and student account impacts.
- Partner with Admissions, Registrar, Accounting, Academic Affairs, Compliance, and Executive Leadership to support institutional objectives.
- Participate in institutional committees, strategic initiatives, and special projects as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration within higher education.
- Minimum three (3) years of leadership or supervisory experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in Title IV administration, compliance, and regulatory reporting.
- Experience administering California state financial aid programs.
- Experience managing financial aid audits, reconciliations, and regulatory reporting requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Higher Education, Finance, or related field.
- Experience administering Veterans Affairs educational benefits.
- Experience in a private, nonprofit, or proprietary postsecondary institution.
- Experience preparing for Department of Education Program Reviews and accreditation reviews.
- Experience monitoring Cohort Default Rates and implementing default prevention initiatives.
- Experience with student information systems, financial aid management systems, and reporting tools.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Comprehensive knowledge of Title IV regulations, Federal Student Aid programs, verification requirements, R2T4 calculations, and compliance standards.
- Knowledge of California state financial aid programs and Veterans Affairs educational benefits.
- Strong understanding of regulatory reporting, audit preparation, reconciliation, and compliance management.
- Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to interpret and apply complex federal and state regulations.
- Ability to build effective relationships across departments and with external agencies.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting strict deadlines.
- Commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and student-centered service.
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