Director of Student Financial Services

The Director of Student Financial Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the College's Student Financial Services function, including the implementation of Title IV federal financial aid programs. This position is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, accurate financial aid awarding and disbursement, effective management of student accounts, and the delivery of clear, compassionate, and timely financial guidance to students and families. Reporting to the Senior Director of College Business and Operations, the Director plays a critical role in establishing compliant systems, building staff capacity, and fostering a service-oriented environment that supports student access, affordability, and persistence.

At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to educationblending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia's team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of alumni and friends.

Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow's leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued.

Primary Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategic Planning
• Provides leadership and direction for the Student Financial Services office, including organizational planning, workflow design, and staff development
• Collaborates with College leadership to develop and execute a financial aid and student accounts strategy aligned with institutional mission, enrollment goals, and compliance requirements
• Serves as a key partner in the College's transition to full Title IV participation, ensuring systems, processes, and controls meet federal and state standards
• Financial Aid Administration & Compliance
• Oversees the determination of student eligibility, accurate packaging, awarding, disbursement, and reconciliation of financial aid in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations
• Ensures compliance with all Title IV requirements, including but not limited to cash management, Return to Title IV (R2T4), Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), verification, and reporting obligations, collaborating with Principia's Compliance Program Manager
• Monitors and administers federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study, state grants and loans, and institutional scholarships and discounts
• Develops, implements, maintains, and regularly updates policies and procedures related to financial aid and student accounts to ensure ongoing compliance and audit readiness.
• Stays current with regulatory changes and best practices and translates requirements into actionable institutional processes.
• Student Accounts & Service Excellence
• Promotes early, proactive, and transparent communication with students and families regarding financial aid, educational financing, billing timelines, and financial responsibilities
• Responds to and resolves complex student and family inquiries with professionalism, empathy, and clarity
• Systems, Reporting & Operations
• Leads the installation, configuration, and ongoing management of financial aid and student account software systems and related automated processes
• Coordinates the preparation and distribution of print and electronic communications, forms, and disclosure materials
• Serves as liaison with Institutional Research and other offices to ensure accurate and timely reporting, including FISAP, IPEDS, and other required federal and institutional reports
• Collaboration & Campus Integration
• Works closely with Admissions, Registrar, Academic Advising, Student Affairs, Residence Life, and other departments to ensure timely communication of enrollment changes affecting financial aid and student billing
• Collaborates across campus to support initiatives that improve financial literacy, reduce student loan indebtedness, and minimize cohort default rates
• Staff Management
• Hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates Student Financial Services staff.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and service excellence through ongoing training and professional development

Core Competencies

Principia values the unique strengths each employee brings to their role. The following competencies are especially important for success at Principia:

• Leadership: Inspires and guides others with clarity, compassion, and accountability; supports individual and team growth in alignment with Principia's mission and goals.
• Culture & Team Building: Fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and open communication; demonstrates genuine care for team members' well-being and development.
• Resource Stewardship: Manages budgets, time, and resources responsibly and strategically to achieve departmental and institutional objectives.
• Continuous Learning & Expertise: Demonstrates mastery in your area of responsibility and seeks opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Accountability & Results Orientation: Manages time and priorities effectively, meets commitments, and consistently delivers high-quality outcomes.
• Problem Solving & Judgment: Approaches challenges thoughtfully, considers multiple perspectives, and makes sound, timely decisions that support institutional goals.
• Proactivity & Ownership: Takes initiative, anticipates needs, and drives projects forward with minimal supervision while taking responsibility for outcomes.
• Excellence & Attention to Detail: Produces accurate, polished, and high-quality work; continuously looks for ways to improve systems, processes, and results.
• Service Orientation: Builds positive, supportive relationships and responds promptly and professionally to the needs of students, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Collaboration & Collegiality: Works cooperatively across departments and teams; values input from others and contributes to a positive, respectful environment.
• Communication: Shares information clearly and concisely; listens carefully to others and adjusts communication style for different audiences and situations, with the ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly and compassionately
• Inclusion & Belonging: Demonstrates respect for all people; values diverse perspectives and fosters a culture of inclusion, belonging, and mutual respect.

Minimum Qualifications

• Student of Christian Science preferred
• Supportive of Principia's guiding statements as articulated here
• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in student financial services at a Title IV-eligible institution
• At least three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid regulations, including Title IV compliance
• Experience with financial aid management systems and automated student account platforms
• Strong analytical skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education administration, finance, or a related field
• Experience supporting a new or expanding Title IV program

The statements above describe the general nature and level of work, but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive starting salary range for this position: $78,145 - $87,910 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation reimbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles.
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and