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Associate Director Financial Aid information

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$25K

$64.8K

$91.5K

How much do associate director financial aid jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate director financial aid in the United States is $64,837.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $55,000.00 and $74,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Associate Director Financial Aid vs Financial Aid Director?

AspectAssociate Director Financial AidFinancial Aid Director
CredentialsBachelor's degree; experience in financial aidBachelor's or master's degree; extensive financial aid experience
Work EnvironmentSupports financial aid operations, reports to directorOversees entire financial aid department, strategic planning
Employer & Industry UsageColleges and universities, financial aid officesColleges, universities, and higher education institutions

The Associate Director Financial Aid typically handles daily operations and reports to the Financial Aid Director, who manages the overall strategy and department leadership. Both roles require similar credentials, but the Director position involves broader oversight and strategic responsibilities.

What does an Associate Director of Financial Aid do?

An Associate Director of Financial Aid assists in managing a college or university's financial aid office. They oversee the administration of federal, state, and institutional aid programs, ensuring compliance with regulations. Their responsibilities include supervising staff, evaluating student eligibility, and developing policies to improve aid processes. They also collaborate with other departments to support student success and address financial concerns.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Director of Financial Aid, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Director of Financial Aid, you need expertise in federal and state financial aid regulations, financial analysis, and typically a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field. Proficiency with financial aid management systems (such as Banner or PowerFAIDS), student information systems, and compliance software is crucial. Exceptional leadership, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal communication skills help in managing teams and guiding students through complex processes. These skills ensure regulatory compliance, effective administration of aid programs, and positive student outcomes.

How does the Associate Director of Financial Aid collaborate with other departments to support student success?

The Associate Director of Financial Aid regularly partners with Admissions, Registrar, and Student Affairs to ensure students receive holistic support throughout their academic journey. This role often involves participating in cross-departmental meetings, developing joint outreach initiatives, and streamlining processes to assist students effectively. By fostering these collaborations, the Associate Director helps identify and address financial barriers, ensuring students have the resources and guidance they need to persist and succeed.
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Associate Director Financial Aid jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Director Financial Aid job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $64,837 per year, or $31.2 per hour.
Associate Director, Financial Aid

Associate Director, Financial Aid

Otis College of Art and Design

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Associate Director, Financial Aid
We are searching for an experienced Associate Director, Financial Aid at our Goldsmith Campus - Westchester campus.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
PRIMARY PURPOSE:
The Associate Director of Financial Aid provides strategic leadership over the determination of student eligibility and award processing in strict adherence to federal, state, and institutional regulations. This role manages essential federal data exchange processes, oversees the document tracking system, and monitors workflows for application processing, verification, and packaging. As the primary technical lead, the Associate Director troubleshoots departmental systems and coordinates with IT and outside vendors to resolve complex issues. Crucially, this position directly supervises, trains, and manages the performance of the Financial Aid Specialist team, ensuring they deliver expert counseling on federal and state aid, scholarships, grants, loans, and federal work-study. Vital to the strategic success, compliance, and operational efficiency of the office, the Associate Director reports directly to the Director of Financial Aid Compliance.
CORE DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
Veterans Benefits Administration & Compliance
• VA Program Oversight: Serves as the primary School Certifying Official (SCO); provides strategic leadership and administration of all VA education benefits (including Post-9/11 GI Bill and Chapter 31 VR&E), ensuring strict institutional compliance with Department of Veterans Affairs regulations and timely enrollment certifications.
Grant Management & Disbursement Operations
• State & Federal Grant Administration: Oversees the strategic management and compliance of the Pell Grant and Cal Grant programs; directs the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) roster upload, reconciliation, and reporting processes to ensure perfect alignment with state and federal funding requirements.
• Supervision of Dataload & Disbursement Audits: Directly manages and supervises the Financial Aid Specialist(s) responsible for daily batching, posting of funds, and processing origination/validation rejects within the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system.
• ISIR & Verification Management: Oversees the specialist running the electronic dataload ISIR process; provides high-level guidance on resolving complex C-codes, conflicting information, and file verifications to prevent packaging delays.
• Enrollment Changes & R2T4 Audits: Monitors financial aid adjustments for students with canceled or changed enrollment status; manages the review of late disbursements and signs off on Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculations to ensure audit readiness.
• Award Packaging & External Aid: Leads the manual packaging, file completeness reviews, and adjustment workflows for federal, state, and institutional aid, including the seamless integration of external scholarship awards.
Systems, Data Exchange, & Compliance Reporting
• Institutional Reporting Assistance: Collaborates with and assists the Director with mandatory federal, state, and institutional reporting, system setup, data auditing, and annual financial aid system configurations.
• Data Systems Authority: Acts as the central authority for all data-related processing and technology functions; administers secure data exchanges with the Department of Education (EdConnect, COD, NSLDS), Meadow, and private lenders.
• Vendor & IT Coordination: Serves as the primary technical lead for system integrations, managing relationships with outside vendors (e.g., NextGen, Dynamic Forms, Meadow Price Calculator) and collaborating with campus IT to troubleshoot and resolve enterprise issues.
Student Support & Cross-Departmental Collaboration
• High-Level Financial Counseling: Ensures the delivery of student- and family-focused counseling, providing advanced problem-solving strategies for families navigating college affordability, scholarships, federal work-study, and financial literacy initiatives.
• Interdepartmental Liaison: Works cross-functionally with Admissions, Student Accounts, and the Registrar to facilitate prompt disbursement processing, clear billing statements, and eliminate barriers to student access.
Other Duties:
Special Projects: Participates in and leads special projects aimed at process improvement, compliance auditing, and aid delivery enhancement as assigned by the Director.
Required Qualifications:
REQUIRED SKILLS and EDUCATION: (Non-negotiable; minimum requirements, skills, experience, certifications)
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education
• 8+ years of financial aid
• Solid knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs
• Knowledge of VA benefit programs
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to compile and analyze data
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Banner Financial Aid module proficiency
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation Type: Annual Salary
Salary Range: 76,627.00 - 86,146.00
Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

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