About the role#
The Director of Student Financial Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the College. You will manage the implementation of Title IV federal financial aid programs, ensure regulatory compliance, and oversee the accurate awarding and disbursement of aid. This role is responsible for building staff capacity and fostering a service-oriented environment that supports student access, affordability, and persistence.
What you'll do#
- Provide leadership and direction for the Student Financial Services office, including workflow design and staff development.
- Collaborate with College leadership to develop and execute financial aid and student accounts strategy.
- Serve as a key partner in the transition to full Title IV participation.
- Oversee student eligibility, packaging, awarding, disbursement, and reconciliation of financial aid.
- Ensure compliance with all Title IV requirements, including cash management, R2T4, and SAP.
- Monitor and administer federal, state, and institutional aid programs.
- Develop and enforce institutional financial aid and student accounts policies and compliance protocols.
- Promote proactive communication with students and families and resolve complex inquiries.
- Lead the installation, configuration, and management of financial aid and student account software.
- Coordinate the preparation and distribution of communications and disclosure materials.
- Serve as a liaison with Institutional Research and other departments for reporting.
- Work closely with Admissions, Registrar, Academic Advising, Student Affairs, and Residence Life.
- Collaborate across campus to support financial literacy and minimize cohort default rates.
- Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Student Financial Services staff.
What you'll need#
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field.
- Minimum of 9-10 years of professional higher-ed financial aid experience.
- 5+ years of experience supervising at a Title IV-eligible institution.
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations.
- Experience with financial aid management systems and automated student account platforms.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements.
- Student of Christian Science preferred.
- Master’s degree in higher education administration, finance, or a related field preferred.
- Experience supporting a new or expanding Title IV program preferred.
Location & details#
- Location: Elsah, Illinois, United States.
- Modality: On-site.
- Employment Type: Full-time.
- Term: Rolling.
About The Principia
The Principia is an educational organization founded in 1898. It operates a school and a college that combine academic instruction with character education based on Christian Science. The institution provides programs for students ranging from infancy through higher education. It maintains campuses in Town and Country, Missouri, and Elsah, Illinois.
How to get in at The Principia
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