Tennessee State University Office of Financial Aid invites applicants for the role of
Associate Director of Financial Aid for Operations. The Associate Director of Financial Aid for Operations provides leadership and oversight for financial aid processing operations and serves as the functional owner of the Banner Financial Aid system.
This position ensures the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of federal, state, institutional, and private aid programs while leveraging Banner and related technologies to improve operational efficiency, data integrity, and student experience.
Job Responsibilities
Financial Aid Processing and Compliance:
- Oversee all aspects of financial aid processing, including FAFSA/ISIR intake, verification,
awarding, disbursement, reconciliation, and year-end closeout.
- Ensure compliance with Title IV regulations and all applicable federal, state, and institutional
policies.
- Monitor regulatory changes and coordinate the implementation of required updates to Banner
configurations, processing rules, and business procedures.
- Develop, maintain, and enforce documented policies, procedures, and internal controls
related to financial aid processing.
- Assist Director with financial aid audits, program reviews, and data requests; ensure timely and
accurate responses.
Banner Systems Leadership:
- Serve as the primary functional lead for Banner Financial Aid, including setup, configuration,
rule tables, population selection, and job submission.
- Lead annual rollover activities, new aid year setup, and ongoing Banner maintenance.
- Partner with IT and functional offices to manage Banner upgrades, patches, testing, and
implementations.
- Troubleshoot Banner processing issues, analyze errors, and implement corrective solutions.
- Ensure data integrity and alignment between Banner Financial Aid, Student Accounts,
Admissions, and other integrated systems.
- Develop and maintain Banner-based reports, queries, and extracts to support operational and
compliance needs.
Process Improvement and Automation:
- Identify opportunities to streamline workflows through Banner functionality, automation, and
third-party integrations.
Lead testing and validation of new processes, regulatory updates, and system enhancements
prior to production release.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on accuracy, efficiency, and service
delivery.
Leadership and Supervision:
- Supervise and mentor operations staff; provide training on Banner functionality, financial aid
regulations, and office procedures.
- Establish priorities, manage workloads, and ensure processing deadlines are met.
- Coordinate and provide scheduled and just-in-time training to staff in conjunction with the
Director and the Associate Director of Financial Aid for Student Engagement.
- Participate in staff performance evaluations and professional development planning.
- Serve as a member of the financial aid leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and
office initiatives.
Collaboration and Communications:
- Act as a subject matter expert for financial aid processing and Banner systems for campus
partners.
- Collaborate with Student Accounts, Registrar, Admissions, Institutional Research, and IT to
support accurate data exchange and reporting.
- Communicate complex regulatory and system changes clearly to technical and non-technical
audiences.
