Lead Financial Aid Technician

Lead Financial Aid Technician Western University of Health Sciences - 4.2 Pomona, CA Job Details Full-time $31.25 an hour 1 day ago Benefits Paid time off Retirement plan Qualifications Customer communication Compliance with loan regulations Banner Awarding federal financial aid Bachelor's degree Financial compliance audits Computer skills Educational compliance and regulation understanding Regulatory compliance analysis Title IV regulations Educational assistance administration Data analysis software Full Job Description The Lead Financial Aid Technician serves as the senior technical subject matter expert responsible for overseeing complex financial aid processing, mentoring technical staff, and ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness across Title IV, state, and institutional aid programs. This role also performs limited financial aid operational analysis, trend monitoring, and quality assurance reporting to support continuous improvement, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance. The position does not hold policy authority, system ownership, or final approval authority for disbursements or regulatory submissions. Analytical responsibilities focus on operational data validation, exception trending, workload forecasting, and internal control monitoring in partnership with leadership. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Ability to interpret regulations and apply them effectively in day-to-day operations. Strong focus on data accuracy and ensuring records are aligned and complete. Skilled in identifying issues and improving processes to prevent them from recurring. Clear and professional written communication and documentation skills. High level of attention to detail with a strong commitment to compliance. Ability to influence and guide others, even without direct supervisory authority. Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive matters. Adaptable and comfortable navigating change and evolving priorities. Demonstrate a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism.

Required Qualifications Education:

Bachelor's degree required.

Experience:

Minimum 5-7 years of progressively responsible financial aid processing experience in a Title IV environment. Demonstrated expertise in federal aid regulations including: Verification, SAP, R2T4, Enrollment reporting, Professional judgment, Packaging and recalculation logic Experience with Banner and/or Ellucian financial aid systems. Strong data analysis skills using Excel, reporting tools, and system queries. Proven ability to interpret regulatory guidance and apply operationally. Experience supporting audits, reconciliations, or compliance reviews.

Preferred Qualifications Education:

Major in Business, Finance, Accounting, Higher Education, or related field preferred. NASFAA credentials (FAAC®, CRPC®, etc.).

Experience:

Experience supporting system implementations or major process redesigns. Experience developing procedural documentation and training materials. Exposure to internal control frameworks and audit evidence management.

Essential Job Duties Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Advanced Processing:

Serve as lead technical resource for complex financial aid processing including: ISIR corrections and professional judgment documentation. Verification resolution and conflicting information review. SAP monitoring and appeals processing. Enrollment intensity, cost of attendance adjustments. R2T4 calculations and post-withdrawal disbursement processing. Packaging revisions and recalculations. Consortium agreements and special enrollment scenarios. Independently resolve escalated student account discrepancies involving aid eligibility, disbursement timing, and compliance interpretation. Provide daily operational guidance to Financial Aid Technicians; support onboarding and cross-training. Develop and maintain detailed procedural documentation, job aids, and workflow maps aligned with audit standards and institutional policy. Monitor queue management, aging reports, and processing turnaround times to ensure service level targets are met.

Key Responsibilities Operational Analysis & Reporting:

Generate recurring operational reports from Banner, Ellucian platforms, and related systems to support: Processing volume trends. Verification and SAP cycle times. ISIR correction patterns Disbursement exception monitoring. R2T4 volume and timeliness. Packaging completion rates. Perform data validation, reconciliation support, and variance analysis related to: Disbursement rosters. Aid eligibility changes. Enrollment census impacts. Return calculations and adjustments. Identify trends, error patterns, and workflow bottlenecks; provide actionable recommendations to leadership for operational improvement and automation optimization. Support audit preparation by assembling supporting documentation, control evidence, reconciliations, and response narratives under leadership direction. Assist with system testing validation during upgrades or vendor implementations by performing user acceptance testing and documenting outcomes.

Key Responsibilities Compliance, Quality Assurance & Internal Controls:

Conduct routine quality assurance reviews of processed files to ensure adherence to: Federal Title IV regulations. State aid requirements. Institutional policies and procedures. Department of Education guidance. Maintain compliance checklists and control tracking logs for assigned operational areas. Escalate compliance risks, data integrity concerns, or control gaps to leadership promptly. Participate in internal audits, program reviews, and external audit support activities as assigned.

Key Responsibilities Customer Service & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Serve as escalation point for complex student inquiries requiring advanced technical interpretation. Collaborate with Bursar/Student Accounts, Registrar, IT, and Academic Affairs to resolve eligibility, enrollment, billing, and disbursement coordination issues. Support training initiatives and change management during system enhancements and regulatory updates. Posting Details Continued Work Schedule Normal working hours- Monday-Friday 8 AM - 5 PM. Working at WesternU We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable. We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Additionally, Our faculty, staff, and administrators are 100% focused on student success. Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment. Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community. As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic self, and lead to the future with innovation in health sciences. WesternU's core value of humanism encourages all to bring their whole self in all that they do. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity, collaboration, and fun at all levels for all people! Expected Pay Scale Minimum $31.25 Hourly Maximum $31.25 Hourly Physical Demands Physical Demands Do the essential functions of this job require lifting? Yes If yes, list maximum weight and duration The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by any employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to operate a PC in the performance of job duties, and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to sit, and reach with hands and arms, and occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus. Describe Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties are normally performed in a typical office setting. The noise level in this setting is typically low to moderate. Posting Information Posting Number S01785 Posting Date 06/12/2026 Close Date 06/12/2027 Open Until Filled Yes Conditions of Employment - Background Check To secure employment, successful fulfillment of a background check, including a criminal records check, may be required. Western University of Health Sciences will extend a conditional offer of employment, subject to rescission if the background check unveils disqualifying information or if it is found that the candidate deliberately withheld or misrepresented information. Non-completion of the background check to satisfaction may impact the ongoing employment of a current Western University of Health Sciences employee who received a conditional offer for the position. Pay Transparency Act Pay Transparency Act- Western University of Health Sciences is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range considers various factors in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The Expected Pay Scale is defined as the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Placement within the Expected Pay Scale is determined by internal equity and relevant qualifications. Equal Opportunity Statement (EEO) It is the policy of Western University to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment as required by law without regard to age, race, color, national origin ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, sex or gender (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, disability (both physical and mental) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (which includes childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), age, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other applicable protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within WesternU including without limitation, hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoffs, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. WesternU makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merits, and business needs at the time. Applicant Documents Required Documents Resume Cover Letter Letter of Recommendation #1 Letter of Recommendation #2 Letter of Recommendation #3 Optional Documents Additional Applicant Document Required License/Certification