Assistant Director of Student Financial Services

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Student Financial Services serves as a primary resource for students across nine MBA and Specialty Master’s programs. This role is responsible for providing clear, specialized guidance to a diverse population of graduate business students, helping them navigate their financing options and loan eligibility. Working in close partnership with the Director, this position also serves as one of the School Certifying Officials (SCO), ensuring the accurate delivery of VA and military education benefits. As a key member of the Jones Graduate School of Business Student Financial Services’ team, the Assistant Director helps to bridge the gap between admissions, student accounts, and federal compliance to ensure a seamless financial experience for every student.

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants, please attach a cover letter and resume in PDF format.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a student-focused, collaborative professional. We are especially interested in candidates with experience in areas such as Financial Aid, Veterans Affairs, the Registrar’s Office, Academic Services, or other student-facing administrative functions. Experience in these areas provides a strong foundation for the work, but we encourage candidates with transferable experience who are excited to learn and grow in student financial services to apply.

Schedule: This position may be offered as a hybrid role and may combine both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration.

Annual Hiring Range: $55,000 to 60,000 *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree 
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
• Two years of related experience (e.g., in Financial Aid, Veteran’s Affairs, Registrar, Academic Advising, etc.)  

Skills

• Proficient in aid packaging and the application of complex federal and institutional policies.
• Strong quantitative skills with a focus on accuracy, speed, and meticulous financial reconciliation.
• Skilled in one-on-one student advising on debt management and budgeting with high tact and discretion.
• Skilled in navigating enterprise-level systems, with a natural aptitude for learning specialized federal and veteran-focused platforms.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Must be detail-oriented with organizational and problem-solving skills and be able to manage deadline-oriented projects.
• Knowledge of multiple financial aid systems, document management systems, Windows-based environment, and office applications

Essential Functions 

• Deliver high-touch, consultative support to a diverse portfolio of graduate business students, providing expert interpretation of complex federal, institutional, and VA Educational Benefit policies. 
• Serve as a strategic student financial services advisor to prospective and enrolled students, providing high-touch, one-on-one counseling to navigate complex funding landscapes, scholarship opportunities, and compliance requirements for a seamless enrollment to student experience.
• Act as one of the School Certifying Official’s (SCO) for the graduate business school’s military-affiliated business students, accurately reporting enrollment data, applying and reconciling payments for seamless delivery of veteran benefits.
• Analyzes applications and completes need analysis for a high volume of financial aid applications.
• Monitor data integrity by reviewing reports between systems to identify and resolve conflicting data or system discrepancies.
• Processes aid for effective allocation of federal, state, veteran benefits, and institutional resources in financial aid packages by verifying and completing needs analysis for graduate business students.
• Works directly with students to facilitate solutions and resolve complex issues regarding their financial aid options, verification, satisfactory progress, or other financial aid concerns.
• Liaise cross-functionally with the Registrar, Bursar, and Admissions offices to streamline the student financial lifecycle and ensure the timely certification and processing of all funding sources.
• Designs and presents comprehensive financial literacy and aid briefings during recruitment events and student orientations.
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Preferences

• Familiarity with federal financial aid, student financial services, educational benefits, or related policies and processes
• Experience providing one-on-one guidance to students or customers regarding complex processes, policies, or financial matters
• Experience working with accounting, financial, or student information systems 

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at [email protected] for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.