Saint Mary's University · 1 day ago
Financial Aid Systems Analyst: Systems and Automation
Minneapolis, MN
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$55K/yr - $65K/yr
5+ years expSaint Mary's University of Minnesota is seeking a Financial Aid Systems Analyst: Systems and Automation to serve as the primary technical leader for the Financial Aid Office. This role involves designing, configuring, and maintaining automated systems for financial aid awarding, ensuring compliance and efficiency in operations.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Serve as the institution’s technical expert for Jenzabar Financial Aid [JFA], including configuration, maintenance, workflow design, and optimization
Build, configure, test, and validate automated packaging logic, algorithmic rules, budget structures, and eligibility calculations for all academic years and student populations
Conduct system testing and quality assurance for awarding, disbursements, and communications prior to mass awarding
Design and maintain automated workflows, population selections, and batch processes to maximize efficiency and reduce manual intervention
Identify system improvements, coordinate enhancements with IT and Jenzabar, and lead implementation of new features or regulatory updates
Ensure accuracy of all financial aid–related data between SIS, JFA, COD, NSLDS, EdConnect, and other integrated platforms
Oversee the origination, disbursement, reconciliation, and reporting of Federal Direct Loans, Pell/TEACH Grants, State Grant programs, MN SELF, and private loans
Manage timely and compliant transmission of Direct Loan data files (COD), including troubleshooting rejected records and ensuring full reconciliation each term
Design and oversee the automated logic for R2T4 and SAP; provide high-level audit support to ensure system-generated outcomes match federal regulatory requirements
Conduct semester Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) processing and notifications
Partner closely with Information Technology to diagnose and resolve system issues, identify root causes, and implement long-term solutions
Act as the primary translator between Financial Aid policy and IT technical specifications, ensuring that IT-led projects (e.g., SQL server updates or API integrations) do not disrupt aid delivery
Collaborate with the Business Office, Registrar, Student Central, Academic Advising, and other departments to ensure seamless student support and operational alignment
Contribute to annual audits, compliance reviews, and reporting requirements
Provide high-level technical guidance to Financial Aid team members, particularly on system-driven processes, loan processing, and data corrections
Support staff in resolving complex loan-related questions, adjustments, or troubleshooting needs
Review financial aid application data (in context of system rules) and ensure awarding aligns with federal methodology and institutional policy
Occasionally counsel students regarding aid eligibility and financial planning, as needed
Participate in the Professional Judgment Committee when technical insight is required
Maintain current knowledge of federal and state regulations, especially as related to system and data compliance
Contribute to a student-oriented, process-efficient financial aid office
Perform other duties as assigned that support the mission and operational excellence of the Financial Aid Office
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree required
Minimum of 2 years of experience in student financial aid
Minimum of 5 years of higher education administration experience, including at least 2 years in financial aid system operations, technical processing, or aid automation
Demonstrated ability to configure algorithmic packaging rules, manage academic years, and troubleshoot backend errors in a financial aid system
Strong understanding of data structures, file transmissions, system integration concepts, and batch processing
Advanced proficiency in creating and managing Population Selections to drive batch processing and communications
Ability to write basic to intermediate SQL queries for data validation and custom reporting
High-level proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables and complex formulas
Solid understanding of federal and state aid regulations, loan programs, R2T4, SAP, and compliance requirements
Experience with federal systems including COD, NSLDS, EdConnect, and related platforms
Ability to serve as a trusted technical adviser to the Director and as a mentor to staff on system-related functions
Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical processes to non-technical colleagues
Ability to organize, prioritize, and independently manage multiple complex projects in a dynamic environment
Commitment to serving a diverse student population with professionalism and empathy
Preferred
Minimum of 5 years of higher education administration experience, including at least 2 years in financial aid system operations, technical processing, or aid automation
Experience with Jenzabar/JFA or another enterprise-level financial aid management system
Experience using data analytics to identify trends, test logic, and evaluate aid-leveraging strategies; familiarity with regression or predictive modeling is preferred
Benefits
Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
Flexible spending
Retirement pension plan
Undergraduate and graduate tuition remission plans
Company
Saint Mary's University
Saint Mary's University is an education institution that provides higher education courses and programs.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$1.8MKey Investors
Coastal Restoration Fund
2018-06-25Grant· $1.8M
Recent News
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2025-10-23
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2025-05-10
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