Associate Director of Financial Aid Jobs
Associate Director of Financial Aid jobs are open across colleges, universities, and nonprofit institutions, at every level from assistant director to senior associate director, with specializations in need analysis, compliance, and federal aid administration. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 474+ Associate Director of Financial Aid jobs
Location: Westfield, MA
Category: Professional/Executive
Job Type: Full-time
Posted On: Thu Nov 12 2026
Campus Title: Financial Aid Counselor
State Job Title: Staff Assistant
Department: Financial Aid
Job Code: HA5600
FLSA Status: Exempt
Funding: 7115-0100
Bargaining Unit: APA
Job Type: Full-time Permanent
Timeframe: 52 Weeks
Shift: Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm with occasional nights and weekends
Regular Days Off: Saturday and Sunday
Supervision Received: The Staff Assistant/Financial Aid Counselor reports to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid.
Supervision Exercised: None
Salary: $60,000 to $63,000 Annually (commensurate with education and experience)
This is a fully in-person position at Westfield State University, with all duties performed on campus during the employee's regularly scheduled work hours to support direct engagement with students, colleagues, and the campus community, unless the position requires travel to perform said duties.
General Statement of Duties:
The Financial Aid Counselor assists in the planning and organization of the student financial aid programs offered at Westfield State University. This person is responsible for assisting with the processing of financial aid forms and completing verification on files for the undergraduate population. Additional responsibilities include managing the main Financial Aid email account and assisting with the coordination of Federal or State programs. Additionally, this position will be responsible for conducting outreach to current and prospective students and families on all aspects of financial aid.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties include but not limited to:
Essential:
- Manage student and parent calls, provide financial aid counseling, research and resolve account-specific issues, coordinate with appropriate offices, document actions, and complete necessary follow-up;
- Meet with and counsel all student aid applicants and their families on all aspects of financial aid including application procedures, processes, eligibility, costs, disbursements, and loan repayment;
- Responsible for outreach to community organizations and local high schools;
- Maintain and answer emails sent to the main Financial Aid email address;
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all outreach activities, including hosting in-person and online sessions with students and families and responding to campus-wide outreach requests;
- Promote FAFSA awareness and host completion events as well as reach out to students who have not filed a FAFSA;
- Serve as a primary point of contact for students enrolled in the LEAD Scholars program;
- Enter MASFA application information into BANNER and monitor eligibility for state aid programs for MASFA applicants;
- Serve as the back-up for FAFSA/ISIR dataload process for upcoming award year and perform primary dataload for current award year;
- Manage the Massachusetts State Grant Program (Mass Grant) including certification and fund reconciliation;
- Under the guidance of the Assistant Director, track and evaluate all first time SAP appeals and assist with SAP communications to students;
- Manage other State or Federal Financial Aid Programs as assigned by the Assistant Director or Director of Financial Aid;
- Develop and implement financial literacy programming for current and prospective students;
- Manage a caseload of enrolled and prospective students;
- Participate in verification of student financial aid files;
- Utilize Banner and other financial aid software platforms as needed to complete job responsibilities;
- Participate in open house programs and new student orientation;
- Responsible for special projects as assigned by the Assistant Director of Financial Aid or Director of Financial Aid;
- Attend training sessions and financial aid meetings to learn about regulations and best practices.
Job Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree
- Ability to accurately process a high volume of detailed work within specific time constraints
- Ability to quickly shift between tasks
- Knowledge of principles and methods of counseling
- Demonstrated commitment to customer service excellence
- Demonstrated commitment to supporting an environment of equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Ability to provide information to supervisors, co-workers, students, and their families by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Strong presentation, interpersonal, networking, and organizational skills
- Display adaptability, dependability, the capacity to work within a team as well as autonomously, and the ability to take initiative in the workplace
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
- Direct Financial Aid administration experience
- Familiarity with Federal Student Aid systems and regulations
- Experience with Ellucian Banner Software
Additional Information:
Salary:
Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the Department of Higher Education's webpage.
Employee Benefits:
Benefits are an important component of an employee's total compensation package.
- Health Insurance: Westfield State 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.
- Additional information regarding employee benefits is available on the University's Benefits & Wellness webpage.
Disability Accommodations
Westfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (413) 572-8809 or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.
Background Check
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.
Location: Westfield, MA
Category: Professional/Executive
Job Type: Full-time
Posted On: Thu Nov 12 2026
Campus Title: Financial Aid Counselor
State Job Title: Staff Assistant
Department: Financial Aid
Job Code: HA5600
FLSA Status: Exempt
Funding: 7115-0100
Bargaining Unit: APA
Job Type: Full-time Permanent
Timeframe: 52 Weeks
Shift: Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm with occasional nights and weekends
Regular Days Off: Saturday and Sunday
Supervision Received: The Staff Assistant/Financial Aid Counselor reports to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid.
Supervision Exercised: None
Salary: $60,000 to $63,000 Annually (commensurate with education and experience)
This is a fully in-person position at Westfield State University, with all duties performed on campus during the employee's regularly scheduled work hours to support direct engagement with students, colleagues, and the campus community, unless the position requires travel to perform said duties.
General Statement of Duties:
The Financial Aid Counselor assists in the planning and organization of the student financial aid programs offered at Westfield State University. This person is responsible for assisting with the processing of financial aid forms and completing verification on files for the undergraduate population. Additional responsibilities include managing the main Financial Aid email account and assisting with the coordination of Federal or State programs. Additionally, this position will be responsible for conducting outreach to current and prospective students and families on all aspects of financial aid.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties include but not limited to:
Essential:
- Manage student and parent calls, provide financial aid counseling, research and resolve account-specific issues, coordinate with appropriate offices, document actions, and complete necessary follow-up;
- Meet with and counsel all student aid applicants and their families on all aspects of financial aid including application procedures, processes, eligibility, costs, disbursements, and loan repayment;
- Responsible for outreach to community organizations and local high schools;
- Maintain and answer emails sent to the main Financial Aid email address;
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all outreach activities, including hosting in-person and online sessions with students and families and responding to campus-wide outreach requests;
- Promote FAFSA awareness and host completion events as well as reach out to students who have not filed a FAFSA;
- Serve as a primary point of contact for students enrolled in the LEAD Scholars program;
- Enter MASFA application information into BANNER and monitor eligibility for state aid programs for MASFA applicants;
- Serve as the back-up for FAFSA/ISIR dataload process for upcoming award year and perform primary dataload for current award year;
- Manage the Massachusetts State Grant Program (Mass Grant) including certification and fund reconciliation;
- Under the guidance of the Assistant Director, track and evaluate all first time SAP appeals and assist with SAP communications to students;
- Manage other State or Federal Financial Aid Programs as assigned by the Assistant Director or Director of Financial Aid;
- Develop and implement financial literacy programming for current and prospective students;
- Manage a caseload of enrolled and prospective students;
- Participate in verification of student financial aid files;
- Utilize Banner and other financial aid software platforms as needed to complete job responsibilities;
- Participate in open house programs and new student orientation;
- Responsible for special projects as assigned by the Assistant Director of Financial Aid or Director of Financial Aid;
- Attend training sessions and financial aid meetings to learn about regulations and best practices.
Job Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree
- Ability to accurately process a high volume of detailed work within specific time constraints
- Ability to quickly shift between tasks
- Knowledge of principles and methods of counseling
- Demonstrated commitment to customer service excellence
- Demonstrated commitment to supporting an environment of equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Ability to provide information to supervisors, co-workers, students, and their families by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person
- Strong presentation, interpersonal, networking, and organizational skills
- Display adaptability, dependability, the capacity to work within a team as well as autonomously, and the ability to take initiative in the workplace
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
- Direct Financial Aid administration experience
- Familiarity with Federal Student Aid systems and regulations
- Experience with Ellucian Banner Software
Additional Information:
Salary:
Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the Department of Higher Education's webpage.
Employee Benefits:
Benefits are an important component of an employee's total compensation package.
- Health Insurance: Westfield State 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.
- Additional information regarding employee benefits is available on the University's Benefits & Wellness webpage.
Disability Accommodations
Westfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (413) 572-8809 or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.
Background Check
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.
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Find JobsAssociate Director of Financial Aid Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education40
- Technology & Software1
- Government & Public Sector1
- Healthcare & Medical Services1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in associate director of financial aid jobs.
- Bachelor's degree required, master's degree in higher education or related field preferred
- Five or more years of progressive financial aid administration experience
- Working knowledge of Title IV federal student aid regulations and compliance requirements
- Proficiency with a student information system such as Banner, PeopleSoft, or Workday Student
- Experience supervising and developing financial aid counseling or processing staff
- Familiarity with needs analysis methodology, verification procedures, and professional judgment
Tips for Your Associate Director of Financial Aid Job Search
Tailor your resume to federal aid language
Hiring committees look for fluency with Title IV regulations, SAP policy, and COD. Use the exact terminology from the posting rather than paraphrasing, since many institutions screen applications through an ATS before a human ever reads them.
Highlight your supervisory scope clearly
Associate director roles almost always involve leading a team, so your resume should state how many staff you managed and what functions they owned. Vague phrases like 'assisted in managing' raise red flags for search committees expecting direct oversight experience.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists associate director of financial aid openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that match your system experience
Many institutions filter early for candidates who know their specific student information system, whether that's Banner, PeopleSoft, or Workday Student. If you have direct experience with the system named in the posting, make it visible in your first three bullet points.
Prepare a compliance scenario for every interview
Expect at least one question about how you handled a federal audit finding, a verification discrepancy, or a Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal. Walk in with a specific, outcome-focused example from your own caseload rather than a hypothetical.
Negotiate start date around aid cycle timing
Financial aid offices run on hard federal deadlines, so a mid-July start may be a dealbreaker if fall packaging is already underway. If you're asking for more time, propose a date before June 1 or after September 15 to avoid putting the office in a difficult position.
Associate Director of Financial Aid Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most associate director of financial aids?
The companies hiring the most associate director of financial aids right now include Keiser University, Unitek Learning, and City University of New York, with the largest share of openings in California, Florida, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Four-year universities and community college systems tend to post the most openings at this level.
How many associate director of financial aid jobs are remote?
About 42% of associate director of financial aid openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies by institution type. Functions like systems training, federal reporting, and policy development are most likely to be offered in a remote or hybrid arrangement, while roles that involve direct student counseling or in-person staff supervision typically require on-campus presence.
How do you become a associate director of financial aid?
Start by building a foundation as a financial aid counselor or advisor at a college or university, then move into a lead or assistant director role where you gain supervisory experience. Develop fluency in federal aid regulations, master a student information system, and pursue professional development through organizations like the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Most associate director positions expect several years of progressively responsible experience before you're considered.
How do you get hired as a associate director of financial aid with little experience?
If you're newer to the field, focus on roles at smaller institutions or community colleges where the associate director title sometimes covers a broader range of experience levels. Demonstrating deep knowledge of federal aid compliance, strong systems proficiency, and any supervisory experience, even informal team lead or training responsibilities, can offset a shorter overall timeline in ways that a generalist background cannot.
What does the associate director of financial aid interview process look like?
Most institutions run a multi-stage process that begins with a phone or video screen by human resources, followed by a panel interview with the financial aid director, peers, and sometimes student services leadership. Finalists are often asked to give a brief presentation on a policy scenario or compliance challenge. References are typically checked after the final round, and the full process from first contact to offer usually takes several weeks.
Where can I find and apply to associate director of financial aid jobs?
You can find and apply to associate director of financial aid jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from colleges, universities, and other institutions across the United States. Search for roles that fit your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each listing that matches what you're looking for.
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Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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