Director of Student Financial Services

Title: Director of Student Financial Services

Department/Location: College Financial Services/Elsah, IL

Position Type: Full-Time, 12-month

Summary

The Director of
Student
Financial Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the College’s Student Financial Services function,
including
the implementation of Title IV federal financial aid programs. This position is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance,
accurate
financial aid awarding and disbursement, effective management of student accounts, and the delivery of clear, compassionate, and
timely
financial guidance to students and families. Reporting to the Senior Director of College Business and Operations, the Director plays
a
critical role in establishing compliant systems, building staff capacity, and fostering a service‑oriented environment that supports
student
access, affordability, and persistence.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership &
Strategic Planning

• Provides leadership and direction for the
  Student Financial Services office, including organizational
  planning, workflow design, and staff development
• Collaborates with
  College leadership to develop and execute a financial aid and
  student accounts strategy aligned with institutional mission, enrollment
  goals, and compliance requirements
• Serves as a key
  partner in the College’s transition to full Title IV participation, ensuring
  systems, processes, and controls meet federal and state
  standards

Financial Aid
Administration & Compliance

• Oversees the
  determination of student eligibility, accurate packaging, awarding,
  disbursement, and reconciliation of financial aid in accordance with
  federal, state, and institutional regulations
• Ensures
  compliance with all Title IV requirements, including but not limited to cash
  management, Return to Title IV (R2T4), Satisfactory Academic
  Progress (SAP), verification, and reporting obligations, collaborating with
  Principia’s Compliance Program Manager
• Monitors and
  administers federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Federal
  Pell Grant, FSEOG, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work‑Study,
  state grants and loans, and institutional scholarships and discounts
• Develops, implements, maintains, and regularly updates
  policies and procedures related to financial aid and student accounts to ensure
  ongoing compliance and audit readiness.
• Stays
  current with regulatory changes and best practices and translates requirements into
  actionable institutional processes.

Student Accounts & Service
Excellence

• Promotes early, proactive, and transparent
  communication with students and families regarding financial aid,
  educational financing, billing timelines, and financial
  responsibilities
• Responds to and resolves complex student and family
  inquiries with professionalism, empathy, and clarity

Systems,
Reporting & Operations

• Leads the
  installation, configuration, and ongoing management of financial aid and student account
  software systems and related automated
  processes
• Coordinates the preparation and distribution of print and electronic
  communications, forms, and disclosure
  materials
• Serves as liaison with Institutional Research and other offices to ensure accurate
  and timely reporting, including
  FISAP, IPEDS, and other required federal and institutional reports

Collaboration
& Campus Integration

• Works closely with Admissions, Registrar, Academic Advising, Student
  Affairs, Residence Life,
  and other departments to ensure timely communication of enrollment changes affecting financial aid and student
  billing
• Collaborates across campus to support initiatives that improve financial literacy, reduce student loan indebtedness, and
  minimize cohort
  default rates

Staff Management

• Hires,
  trains, supervises,
  and evaluates Student Financial Services staff.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and
  service excellence
  through ongoing training and professional development

Core
Competencies

Principia values the unique strengths
each employee brings to their role. The following competencies are especially
important for success at Principia:

• Leadership: Inspires and guides others with clarity, compassion, and
  accountability;
  supports individual and team growth in alignment with Principia’s mission and goals.
• Culture & Team Building: Fosters a
  culture of trust, collaboration, and open
  communication; demonstrates genuine care for team members’ well-being and development.
• Resource Stewardship: Manages budgets, time, and resources responsibly and strategically to achieve
  departmental and institutional
  objectives.
• Continuous Learning &
  Expertise: Demonstrates mastery in your area of responsibility and seeks opportunities for
  professional growth and development.
• Accountability & Results Orientation: Manages
  time and priorities effectively, meets
  commitments, and consistently delivers high-quality outcomes.
• Problem Solving & Judgment: Approaches challenges thoughtfully,
  considers multiple
  perspectives, and makes sound, timely decisions that support institutional goals.
• Proactivity & Ownership:
  Takes initiative, anticipates needs, and drives projects forward with minimal
  supervision while taking responsibility for outcomes.
• Excellence & Attention to Detail: Produces accurate, polished, and high-quality work; continuously looks for ways to improve
  systems, processes, and results.
• Service
  Orientation: Builds positive, supportive relationships and responds promptly and
  professionally to the needs of students, colleagues,
  and other stakeholders.
• Collaboration & Collegiality: Works
  cooperatively across departments and teams; values input from others and contributes to a positive, respectful environment.
• Communication: Shares information clearly and concisely; listens carefully to
  others and adjusts communication style for different audiences
  and situations, with the ability to explain complex financial concepts
  clearly and compassionately
• Inclusion &
  Belonging:
  Demonstrates respect for all people; values diverse perspectives and fosters a culture of inclusion, belonging, and mutual
  respect.

Minimum
Qualifications

• Student of Christian Science
  preferred
• Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements as
  articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a
  related field
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive
  experience in student financial services at a Title IV‑eligible
  institution
• At least three (3) years of supervisory or leadership
  experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state,
  and institutional financial aid regulations, including Title IV
  compliance
• Experience with financial aid management systems and
  automated student account platforms
• Strong analytical
  skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, finance, or a related
  field
• Experience supporting a new or expanding Title IV program

The statements above describe the general nature and
level of
work, but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive starting salary range for this position:
$78,145 – $87,910 annually, commensurate with experience and
qualifications.

In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards
package includes:

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for
  part-time staff) for
  your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides
  a relocation reimbursement of up to 12% of your
  annual salary when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles.
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits:
  Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive
  health, dental, and vision plans, paid
  time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

Tagged as: Employment