Reporting to the Director of Financial Aid Operations, the Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Study Abroad Financial Services provides information, advice, and counsel to parents, students, and staff regarding financial aid regulations and programs, particularly how study abroad programs impact financial aid and invoices. Position develops policies and procedures regarding study abroad financial aid for the University. Responsible for collecting data and developing cost of attendance budgets for over 170 affiliated study abroad programs. This includes working with over 40 other colleges, universities, and organizations worldwide, as well as several Northwestern units facilitating study abroad opportunities (including Global Engagement Studies Institute, International Program Development, Global Learning Office, and Global Safety & Security). Position develops financial aid packages for prospective and current undergraduates and is primarily responsible for students interested or participating in study abroad programs. Position is responsible for counseling and preparing over 750 students for the financial implications of study abroad. Position helps to supervise and train one assistant director. In addition to responsibilities related to study abroad, position assists with the supervision of the customer service function of the office.

Please note: Some evening and weekend work is required.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Analyzes complex financial aid applications for students using federal and state regulations, as well as University guidelines for study abroad financial aid, which are developed and reviewed by the Senior Assistant Director with input from the Senior Associate Director and University Director and the study abroad offices. Specifically calculates aid for study abroad students with budgets from 170+ program offerings, and counsels these students regarding financial implications before and during study abroad.
• Supervises the scheduling and work of the Counseling staff. Trains staff to provide detailed information and advice on how aid eligibility is calculated, how aid impacts invoices, and how enrollment and academic performance interacts with federal, state, and University financial aid policies for students and parents, particularly prospective and admitted students
• Provides support and oversight to the Global Learning Office and Student Finance regarding invoices and accessing refunds. Educates and assists students with accessing refunds and cash advances, and processing third-party payments.
• Responsible for ensuring that The Global Learning Office, undergraduate schools, and other campus units remain in compliance for federal and state regulations and University policies.
• Reviews potential “study away” proposals and other international programs.
• Prepares print and web-based informational materials on policies and procedures pertinent to financial aid and billing for distribution to students and parents, and assists with information sessions and other campus events.
• Assists in the supervision of one assistant director, including providing training on study abroad policies, packaging, and appeals.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree;
• Two years' experience in a financial aid office or in higher education administration that involves budgeting and finance;
• Ability to understand and interpret financial statements and reports including reconciling financial records;
• Demonstrated ability to consistently display accuracy and attention to detail;
• Receptive to feedback, willing to learn and embrace continuous improvement;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively one-to-one, in small groups and in public speaking contexts;
• Ability to write precise, well-organized emails, letters and proposals while using appropriate vocabulary and grammar;
• Follows and teaches others to follow a process/method for problem solving;
• Effectively performs duties and responsibilities with attention to detail while demonstrating support for organizational policies;
• Experience managing financial assets responsibly with a focus on cost effectiveness and productivity;
• Demonstrated energy and desire to achieve and ability to take action that no one has requested to improve or enhance job results and avoid problems;
• Demonstrated ability to inspire people to follow the lead, obtain input from others, facilitate change, inspire confidence and optimism through a clear vision and by personal example;
• Ability to actively listen to others' opinions and ideas and to respect and seek to understand differences in opinions;
• Demonstrated ability to formulate realistic plans and contingencies and establish appropriate measurements of anticipated results;
• Ability to build collaboration by encouraging trust, mutual respect and shared purpose among various participants in an engagement.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree;
• Three to five years of financial aid or higher education administration experience;
• Experience with financial aid software systems;
• Willingness to facilitate open and effective communication, cooperation and teamwork within and outside of one's own team;
• Exhibits understanding of natural sources of conflict and acts to prevent or soften them;
• Ability and willingness to explore alternatives to existing products and services and identify opportunities to improve procedures and practices;
• Demonstrated logic, rationality and objectivity and ability to use all available information to make educated decisions;
• Ability to find common ground to accommodate the conflicting needs and wants of different stakeholders;
• Ability to setting clear expectations, review progress, provide feedback and guidance, and hold people accountable;
• Ability to devise and implement clearly defined strategies to achieve business objectives;
• Demonstrated ability to choose initiatives that have the greatest strategic impact for the organization and ability to anticipate changes that may impact department or school;
• Ability to achieve cohesive, positive, mutually supportive team climate by treating subordinates fairly, sharing credit and sharing information.