LIFT Manager, Student Financial Services

POSITION PURPOSE
Manages the financial aid team and overall management of technical and data operations to enhance quality assurance, streamline processes, and maintain compliance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES

• Evaluates departmental processes to ensure efficiency and compliance and identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and Academy regulations.
• Conducts testing for system "patches," updates, and new releases.
• Oversees and recommends efficiency changes to all system-related operations of the Academy. 
• Works collaboratively with other members of the Academy to ensure the successful implementation of the Student Information System. 
• Develops and implements SIS stories, acceptance criteria while gathering, managing and prioritizing SIS product backlog.
• Tracks progress towards the release of the SIS product while working cross-functionally with LIFT department subject matter experts.

AWARDS, AUDITS, AND REPORTING

• Performs reviews of all financial aid offers and disbursements.
• Reviews packaging and repackaging of aid, managing student changes in status and determining student funding eligibility.
• Packages and awards financial aid for all students when necessary.
• Configures and audits the financial aid systems to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of SFS and SIS systems.
• Administers and conducts monthly, term, and yearly reconciliation of all federal and state financial aid programs.
• Develops reports to meet the data needs of the Academy.
• Prioritize SIS defect resolution and identifies improvement areas to better the student and associate experience.

POLICIES AND COMPLIANCE

• Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and other financial aid program regulations and institutional policies.
• Maintains knowledge of financial aid compliance and procedural requirements.
• Develops a deep understanding of and serves as the subject matter expert in all SFS and SIS policies and procedures. 
• Oversees all aspects of student accounts receivable processes for LIFT campuses including: determining student tuition totals based upon training start and sponsorship eligibility, creating customer contracts, generating invoices, receiving and applying payments to student accounts, monitoring late payments, initiating collections processes, and drafting and implementing payment plans.
• Creates, evaluates and continuously updates the policies and procedures of the Student Financial Services department in the LIFT Academy Operations Manual.   
• Supports SFS and SIS team with special projects, as necessary.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

PEOPLE LEADING

• Manages staffing through the appropriate hiring, firing, and disciplinary actions in collaboration with HR.
• Ensures and promotes the development of the area management team/succession planning through coaching, training, and leadership development.
• Develops strategies to promote team member adherence to company regulations and performance goals.
• Conducts team meetings to update members on best practices and continuing expectations.
• Actively seeks to resolve any concerns while adhering to the company policy and standards of behavior.
• Ensure company goals and objectives are being met by each employee and provide constructive feedback.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area preferred
• At least 2 years related experience.
• Expert knowledge of federal and state financial aid regulations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Acute attention to detail and a focus on efficiency and systems-building.
• Ability to rapidly learn new technologies and adapt to new policies and processes.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with an eye to equitable policy implementation.
• Entrepreneurial outlook and commitment to LIFT Academy’s mission to improve the student experience.
• Authorization to work in the U.S.   
• Knowledge with student information systems and interface documentation skills.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
            Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical
            procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and
            procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of
            managers, associates and the general public.

REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY
            Ability to define problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only
            limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral,
            diagram, or schedule form.

DECISION MAKING

Makes decisions daily on use of resources, performance and budgets.  Decisions require additional expenditure of resources if not sound decisions. 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Able to work both in a team setting and individually.  Able to prioritize multiple tasks in a stressful environment.  Must be able to communicate in an effective, calm and professional manner at all times.  Possess general computer and administrative skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Able to move about the work environment. 

Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an Associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Typically, not exposed to extreme environmental conditions.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

None.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, DISABILITY, AND VETERAN ACCOMODATIONS

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.