GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Executive Director of Student Financial Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all financial aid, student accounts, and related student financial services at the College. The Executive Director plays a critical role in advancing enrollment, access, affordability, and student success while ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. As a member of the divisional leadership team, the Executive Director partners closely with Enrollment Management, Finance, and campus leadership to develop and implement financial strategies that support recruitment, retention, and institutional sustainability.

SCOPE, AUTHORITY & ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Serves as the College's chief financial aid officer, with institution-wide responsibility for the administration, compliance, and strategic use of all federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs.
• Exercises delegated authority to establish, implement, and enforce operational policies, procedures, and internal controls for financial aid, student accounts, and related student financial services functions, within applicable federal, state, and institutional regulatory frameworks.
• Provides executive-level leadership and decision-making authority for student financial services operations, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities related to enrollment management, access, affordability, and student success.
• Oversees and manages operating budgets and financial aid funds totaling approximately $7 million annually, including federal, state, and institutional resources, with responsibility for fiscal stewardship, forecasting, and compliance.
• Acts as the College's primary institutional representative to federal and state agencies, system offices, external auditors, and regulatory bodies related to financial aid and student financial services.
• Has authority to recommend policy changes and strategic financial aid initiatives to senior leadership in response to regulatory, funding, and enrollment-related changes.
• Leads innovation and continuous process improvement to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and student-centered focus of all financial aid and student financial services operations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:  Reports to the Vice President of Administration & Finance

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:  Supervises professional, classified and student employee personnel assigned to the Office of Student Financial Services.

STRATEGIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Strategic Leadership & Enrollment Impact

• Lead the development of financial aid strategies that support recruitment, retention, and completion
• Partner with Enrollment Management and Admissions to communicate MCLA's value and affordability
• Analyze enrollment, aid, and budget data to inform institutional decision-making
• Advise senior leadership on policy changes, funding shifts, and financial aid trends

B. Financial Aid Administration & Compliance

• Oversee all federal, state, institutional, and private aid programs
• Ensure full compliance with Title IV, state, VA, and audit requirements
• Direct federal and state audits and serve as institutional compliance lead
• Maintain institutional eligibility and certifications

C. Student Accounts & Bursar Operations

• Oversee billing, collections, cashiering, and third-party payments
• Establish and enforce tuition and fee collection policies with attention to student retention
• Ensure accurate reconciliation and financial controls across systems

D. Systems, Data & Reporting

• Provide leadership for Banner and related system enhancements
• Oversee data integrity, reporting, and regulatory submissions (IPEDS, CDS, HEIRS)
• Partner with Institutional Research and IT on analytics and system improvements

E. Team Leadership & Professional Development

• Supervise, evaluate, and develop professional and classified staff
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented, and student-centered team culture
• Promote continuous improvement and operational efficiency

F. Student & Family Engagement

• Ensure clear, accurate, and empathetic counseling and communication
• Oversee financial literacy initiatives and outreach programming
• Represent the College at recruitment, outreach, and community events

TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

While the Executive Director's primary focus is strategic leadership and oversight, the role maintains responsibility for ensuring the effective administration and integrity of core student financial services operations, including:

• Provide executive oversight for the College's student information and financial systems, including Ellucian Banner, ensuring accurate configuration, system upgrades, testing, and ongoing functionality related to financial aid and student accounts.
• Oversee the integration and use of state and federal financial systems, including MMARS, Great Plains Dynamics, and Department of Education platforms (e.g., Pell Payment System), ensuring compliance, data integrity, and timely reporting.
• Direct the administration, monitoring, and reconciliation of the Federal College Work-Study program, including tracking awards, payroll coordination, and compliance with federal guidelines.
• Oversee the administration of student health insurance enrollment and compliance processes, ensuring accurate billing, reporting, and coordination with external vendors.
• Provide oversight of auxiliary student financial programs, including meal plans and cash-to-card programs, ensuring accurate processing, reconciliation, and vendor payments.
• Establish and maintain internal controls and audit-ready processes related to cashiering, billing, disbursements, and third-party payments.
• Ensure accurate posting, reconciliation, and resolution of discrepancies across student account transactions and the general ledger.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Financial aid and student account operations that are efficient, transparent, and student-centered, with clear communication and timely processing.
• Strategic use of financial aid resources that effectively supports enrollment, retention, and completion goals, while maintaining compliance and fiscal stewardship.
• Strong audit outcomes for federal, state, and institutional reviews, with minimal findings and timely resolution of any corrective actions.
• Improved aid packaging strategies that maximize available resources, promote equity, and support access and affordability for diverse student populations.
• High levels of student and family satisfaction with financial services, reflected in responsiveness, clarity of information, and quality of counseling.
• Effective collaboration with Admissions, Enrollment Management, Finance, and campus partners to ensure consistent messaging around cost, value, and affordability.
• A well-trained, engaged, and high-performing staff, supported through ongoing professional development and clear performance expectations.
• Accurate, timely, and actionable data and reporting that informs institutional planning, budgeting, and policy decisions.
• Continuous improvement of systems and processes, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree: Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in student financial services, financial aid administration, or related higher education functions.
• Demonstrated experience designing, directing, and leading complex organizations, programs, or operational units.
• Proven experience leading or directing financial aid, student accounts, and/or regulatory compliance functions in a higher education environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of federal, state, and institutional scholarship and grant programs, including applicable compliance requirements and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience aligning financial aid strategy with enrollment goals, including recruitment, retention, and student success initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading organizations through regulatory, policy, or funding changes, with the ability to assess impact and implement effective responses.
• Experience managing cross-functional partnerships, particularly with enrollment management, admissions, finance, institutional research, information technology, and student services.
• Strong planning, organizational, and analytical skills, with the ability to make strategic projections using complex data sets.
• Ability to analyze financial, enrollment, and operational data and make evidence-based recommendations for strategic action.
• Strong customer-service orientation, with demonstrated experience providing high-quality, empathetic support to students and families navigating financial processes.
• Superior supervisory, managerial, and staff development skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with professionalism, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to streamline and enhance operations through the effective use of technology.
• Experience working with student information systems; Ellucian Banner experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a 4-year public higher education environment, including familiarity with state financial systems, public-sector reporting, and accountability requirements.
• Knowledge of equity-focused financial aid practices, including strategies that promote access, affordability, and student success for historically underserved student populations.
• Experience supporting enrollment management, institutional research, or strategic planning initiatives.

This is a full-time, permanent position within the APA Union. Salary for this position is $120,000-$130,000 per year. 

Employee Benefits:

Health Insurance: MCLA offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-type health insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire. Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage is effective immediately.

Retirement: The MA State Employee Retirement System provides eligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-year vesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligible employees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5% employer matching contribution.

Tuition Waivers & Discounts: eligible employees, including spouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA state colleges, community colleges, and universities.

Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.

Until further notice, in response to the Presidential proclamation, issued on September 19, 2025, imposing a significant fee on the entry of individuals with new H-1B visas, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should you need to request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of Human Resources. 

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed to fostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricular and employment opportunities for all applicants, students, and employees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that they operate, which extends to admission and employment.  

Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and other non-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both. 

Lucas Morrill

Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator 

375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247 

Telephone: (413) 662-5103

Titleix@mcla.edu 

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights  

33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424  

Telephone: (617) 289-0111; FAX: (617) 289-0150; TDD (877) 521-2172  

OCR.Boston@ed.gov