• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: Full Time
• Salary Range: $225,000.00-$260,000.00

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President, Finance and Controller, the Associate Vice President, Student Financial Services, is responsible for the overall administration, leadership, and operation of the departments which comprise centralized Student Financial Services functions for the University. The AVP is responsible for the management and delivery of fiscal services to the 32,000 students enrolled at the University in its various schools. The AVP serves as the central oversight role for financial aid and the bursar functions, leading fiscal operations related to the billing and collection of over $1.5 billion in tuition and student charges and the compliant awarding of over $800 million in institutional/federal financial aid.

The AVP has responsibility for a staff of 50 and an operational budget of over $8 million, and indirect oversight of school-based financial aid operations. The position collaborates closely with the University Registrar to ensure that the Student Service Center (reporting to the Registrar) is meeting the needs of the student population and is communicating accurate policies and practices. The AVP provides critical input to the VP, Finance and Controller and other constituents on relevant strategic initiatives and functionality requirements for student information systems.  

Responsibilities

• Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

   

  • Operations and Financial Management: The AVP is responsible for the coordinated management, development, and implementation of all SFS strategies, policies, and processes. The AVP ensures an efficient, student-friendly, and compliant student financial services environment. The AVP will work closely with stakeholders to identify the necessary resources for the continued delivery of exceptional student financial services across Columbia University.
  • Strategic Leadership: Leveraging data and KPIs, the AVP will architect data-informed measures and strategies. They will develop a methodology to assess the impact of SFS across the University, with a commitment to continual process improvement in order to achieve institutional goals and operational optimization. Working with both centralized and matrixed staff, the AVP will lead and influence a culture of excellence and ongoing collaboration.
  • Resource Management and Service Delivery: The AVP will navigate the evolving landscape of student finance systems and will develop processes and strategies to enhance operational efficiencies and customer service. As the University implements a new student information system, the AVP will embrace a service-oriented approach to technology as a method to further amplify the impact of SFS.
  • Financial Aid: In partnership with representatives of Columbia University schools and divisions, the AVP plans and implements financial aid strategies and processes for students across the 17 schools. The AVP oversees Columbia's aid policies, including need analysis methods and packaging procedures and the Federal Work Study program.
  • Compliance Oversight: Supported by the compliance team, the AVP develops systems, processes, and policies that mitigate risk in the context of the Student Financial Services portfolio at a premier research institution. The AVP ensures compliance with Title IV regulations, annual audit reporting, NCAA reporting mandates, and institutional policies as it relates to financial aid and student accounts.
  • Communication and Community Relationships: The AVP coordinates campus-wide communication regarding key initiatives and updates on behalf of the Student Financial Services team. They produce internally and externally facing reports and documentation regarding the SFS operations, student accounts, financial aid, and compliance for a diverse audience of stakeholders. The AVP is driven by the capacity to build meaningful partnerships with students, faculty, and staff in order to respond to challenges, while developing solutions with measurable deliverables to achieve resolution.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is required. 
• Ten= years related experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree strongly preferred.

Other Requirements

• A demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and lead team efforts required. Must be able to problem-solve, troubleshoot, and work independently in a dynamic environment.
• The ability to negotiate issues, resolve problems and have strong influencing skills.
• The ability to work well with all levels of management, both internally and externally, be flexible in nature, and have sound judgment with a collaborative style that fosters teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team to the broader organization.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and motivating a diverse, high-performing team, and experience with well-established management practices including staff development, organization, prioritization, and accountability.
•  Thorough understanding of the legal landscape and compliance relating to college and university financial aid policies and practices governing undergraduate financial aid and student financial services in a highly visible institution.
• Experience using both quantitative and qualitative data across a broad array of metrics; developing comprehensible data and analytics on financial aid and on-campus student employment.
•  A record of collegiality, collaboration, consultation, and fostering a spirit of teamwork among and between members of various departments.
• A high level of transparency, integrity, and discretion.
• Demonstrated understanding of recent technologies to design and maintain custom system integration for application and awarding systems, software, reporting functions, data interfaces, and all related IT issues.
• Experience with third party contract negotiations
• A passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

All applications will be reviewed by Koya Partners who are conducting this search.  Please use the link below to access the full job profile.

https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/columbia-university-avp-student-financial-services/

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.