Director of Fund Management & Analysis
Southern Methodist University Inc

Job Info

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Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, hands-on research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. The University offers a strong foundation in the humanities and sciences and undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs through eight schools.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is increasingly recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical leaders in their professions and communities. The University's entrepreneurial spirit lives in people from every academic discipline who see opportunities to create something new in the world - and work hard to bring their innovations to life. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for our students, faculty and alumni to make a global impact. On the most beautiful college campus in the country, SMU Mustangs are energized by unbridled opportunities - from teaching, learning and research to creativity, performance and athletic endeavor.

About the Department:

The Office of Student Financial Services and Financial Aid at Southern Methodist University is committed to serving students by providing services and resources to meet their educational goals and financial obligations to the university. Our staff offer personal attention to help explore a multitude of available scholarships, grants, loans, and payment options.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

Working closely with the Executive Director of Student Financial Services and other senior members of the enrollment staff, help plan strategies needed to achieve enrollment goals with a specific emphasis on the management of funds and data analyses.

Three main areas: 1. student employment/scholarship processing and advising; 2. research and analysis; 3. fund management. This includes developing and implementing scholarship awarding strategies; oversight of the student employment program; conducting analyses and managing various reports of financial data to internal and external constituents; financial modeling and budget monitoring of a variety of financial budgets; ensuring compliance with federal, state, institutional and private foundation policies; working with a multitude of campus and outside partners to lead and enhance the scholarship awarding and student employment processes; advise students and families on financial aid.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as a divisional representative to the Office of Budgets and Finance, University Decision Support, Development and External Affairs, Human Resources and Academic Departments. Maintain positive relationships to facilitate cooperation in University Enrollment initiatives and strategic goals, including goals related to access, equity, inclusion and student success.
• Monitor expenditures and develop the annual budget of federal, state, institutional, university loan, and all undergraduate gift and endowed financial aid funds ensuring available resources are fully expended by year-end while not exceeding these available resources. Ensure accurate and timely accounting of funds as they flow from financial aid disbursements to student accounts.
• Conduct monthly and year-end annual reconciliation of funds to ensure full expenditures and/or return of funds when appropriate. Work closely with the Executive Director to provide regular budget forecasting, predict potential budgetary shortfalls and excesses, and model/develop financial aid initiatives to support and enhance enrollment strategies and goals.
  
• Participate in the submission of financial aid data reports to internal and external audiences such as the Common Data Set Report, NACUBO, etc. Participate in the creation of new Financial Aid Dashboard reports for the Enrollment Division's leadership, to inform strategic decisions and goals for the University.
• Conduct ad-hoc data analyses such as enrollment trends, financial aid discount reports, average cost to recruit students, cost effectiveness of activities, etc. Creatively translate complex data for presentation and discussion.
• Perform annual review and on-going maintenance of financial aid item type set-up to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional awarding policies. This includes reviewing and updating appropriate fund access, messages to students, allowable expenditures, etc. Initiate requests for new gift and endowed funds, sub-departments, and financial aid item types.
• Draft Cost of Attendance budgets. Assist the Executive Director and collaborate with other members of the Student Financial Services/ Financial Aid staff in the development, management, and implementation of office-wide projects requiring major changes to or the creation of new policies and procedures regarding aid eligibility and awarding processes.
• Supervision and Leadership:
  • Scholarships Unit - three non-exempt staff; managing the timely and accurate awarding and reconciliation of institutional and private scholarships, and working with campus partners to ensure efficient and effective awarding of endowed scholarship funds.
  • Office of Student Employment - one non-exempt staff; creating a robust student employment program, managing funds, and coordinating strategies to provide student employment best practices to campus student employers.
• Other Duties: Various data analysis, research, modeling, presentations, and other duties as requested by the Executive Director of Student Financial Services, Enrollment Division leadership, or the Office of Budgets and Finance.
  
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree is required. Master's degree is preferred.

A minimum of five (5) years of experience involving planning, budget preparation and monitoring, and reporting is required. Candidate must have leadership experience including lateral leadership, in financial aid or student financial services in higher education.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate experience with SQL queries and Microsoft Excel (pivot tables). Candidate with experience creating and managing fund codes or items types for various funds is desired. Candidate must possess ability to explain complex data to a wide variety of people. Solid mathematical skills and general familiarity with accounting methods is required.

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Clear written and oral English communication ability is required. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Candidate must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills. Candidate with solid understanding of Microsoft Office Products, including Excel, Access and Word is required.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

Open until filled.

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by February 6, 2023.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

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