Northern Essex Community College · 1 day ago
Director of Student Financial Services
Haverhill, MA
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$105K/yr - $110K/yr
7+ years expNorthern Essex Community College is a community college serving about 5,000 credit students each semester. The Director of Student Financial Services provides strategic leadership and oversight for student financial operations, ensuring the delivery of accurate and compliant financial services that support enrollment and student success.
Higher Education
Hiring Manager
James DiGiuseppe
Responsibilities
Provide vision and direction for all Student Financial Services operations, including financial aid, billing, and collections
Develop long-term strategies that support institutional enrollment, retention, and student success goals
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery, efficiency, and compliance
Oversee the administration of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs
Ensure compliance with Title IV regulations, state rules, and institutional policies
Monitor awarding processes, verification, satisfactory academic progress (SAP), and return of Title IV funds (R2T4)
Maintain eligibility for federal and state aid programs through accurate reporting and audits
Direct all student billing, payment processing, refunds, and account reconciliation
Oversee tuition and fee assessment, payment plans, and third-party billing
Manage collection strategies that balance fiscal responsibility with student support
Ensure accurate and timely 1098-T reporting
Foster a student-centered service model that promotes financial literacy, transparency, and accessibility
Resolve escalated student concerns related to aid, billing, or student account issues
Maintain institutional compliance with federal, state, and accreditation requirements
Prepare and submit required reports (e.g., FISAP, IPEDS, state reports)
Coordinate internal and external audits and implement corrective actions
Ensure strong internal controls and data integrity across systems
Oversee the use and optimization of student information systems
Implement automation and workflow improvements to enhance accuracy and efficiency as needed
Collaborate with IT on system upgrades, integrations, and data security
Recruit, train, mentor and supervise SFS staff across financial aid, and billing
Establish performance expectations and provide coaching and professional development
Build a collaborative, service-oriented team culture
Partner with Enrollment Operations, Registrar, Finance, and academic units to support seamless student financial processes
Serve as the institution's subject-matter expert on financial aid and student finance policy
Participate in committees related to enrollment management, retention, and student success
Consider requests for tuition refund exceptions where a student is ineligible under our refund policy but believes that exceptional circumstances should result in a refund of tuition and fees
Manage departmental budgets and ensure responsible stewardship of institutional aid funds
Provide financial modeling and data analysis to support institutional planning as needed
Advise leadership on trends in aid, affordability, and student financial behavior
Develop, update, and communicate policies related to financial aid, billing, and student accounts
Ensure clear, accessible communication to students, families, and campus partners
Represent the institution at professional conferences and regulatory training events
Provide support to the respective office, as needed to attain student financial service goals and objectives
Safeguard and protect student information in accordance with federal requirements and university policy
Primary location will be Haverhill campus, however, one day per week on the Lawrence campus is required or more as needed
Ongoing professional development through organizations such as NASFAA, NACUBO, or regional financial aid and/or student account related associations is expected
Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field
7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in student financial services, financial aid administration, student accounts, or related higher education finance roles
3-5 years of supervisory or management experience leading teams in a complex, service-oriented environment
Demonstrated experience with Title IV federal aid regulations, state aid programs, institutional aid strategies, and compliance requirements
Proven track record managing student accounts, billing, collections, and tuition/fee structures
Experience with student information systems, platforms (e.g., Banner and NelNet) and financial systems integration
Evidence of successful cross-departmental collaboration with Enrollment Management, Registrar, Finance, and IT units
Experience developing and implementing policies, procedures, and process improvements to enhance efficiency and service quality
Strong background in data analysis, reporting, and audit preparation
Demonstrated commitment to equity, access, and student-centered service
Preferred
Bilingual (Spanish/English)
Experience working with and supporting a culturally diverse population
Benefits
Complete fringe benefit package including competitive health insurance
Dental insurance
Basic life insurance
Long-term disability insurance
Paid sick
Vacation and personal leave
Educational benefits for employee/spouse/dependents
Excellent retirement benefits
Company
Northern Essex Community College
NECC, the first Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$3.92M2023-07-01Grant· $3.92M
Leadership Team
Aaron Altman
Associate Dean PK12 Partnerships
Patricia Gauron
Executive Director, Employee Engagement/Chief People Officer
Recent News
24-7 Press Release Newswire
2025-03-24
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