Assistant Vice President, Financial Aid
The University of Southern California (USC) seeks an experienced leader to serve as Assistant Vice President, Financial
Aid. This role provides oversight, direction, and coordination of all financial aid activities in support of the university’s
enrollment management strategy and commitment to student access and success.
Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment
Management, the Assistant Vice President is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive financial aid strategy, including
advanced modeling to support recruitment, retention, and graduation goals. This position works closely with Admissions and campus partners
to align financial aid practices with institutional priorities while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and university regulations.
The successful candidate will bring a data-informed approach to decision-making, a strong operational mindset, and a commitment to
delivering high-quality, student-centered services.
This is a hybrid position, reporting onsite at the University Park Campus.
For priority consideration, please submit materials by the priority deadline of May 31, 2026.
Key responsibilities will
include the following:
Leadership & Operations
- Provide leadership and oversight for the Office of
Financial Aid, ensuring effective day-to-day operations, including awarding, disbursement, and reconciliation processes. - Establish
and maintain policies, workflows, and service standards that support accurate, efficient, and compliant administration of financial aid
programs. - Ensure the effective use of systems and technology to support operational excellence and service delivery.
Strategy & Enrollment Alignment
- Develop and implement a sophisticated financial aid strategy aligned with
USC’s enrollment management plan. - Lead financial aid modeling efforts and partner with Admissions to support recruitment and
conversion strategies. - Translate institutional priorities into operational financial aid practices that support access, retention,
and student success. - Design and apply assessment tools to evaluate the effectiveness of financial aid strategies and
initiatives.
Compliance & Regulatory Oversight
- Ensure full compliance with Title IV, state aid
programs, and institutional policies. - Oversee audit preparation and responses, maintaining strong internal controls and quality
assurance practices. - Monitor regulatory developments and advise leadership on operational and policy implications.
Data, Analytics & Financial Stewardship
- Use data and analytics to inform operational decisions, workload
planning, and resource allocation. - Provide reporting and insights to Enrollment Management leadership to support recruitment and
retention goals. - Identify trends and recommend strategic adjustments to financial aid practices.
- Oversee the operating
budget and ensure responsible stewardship of federal, state, and institutional aid funds. - Prepare financial forecasts and support
divisional planning through accurate reporting.
Collaboration & Student Experience
- Partner with
Enrollment Management, Student Financial Services, the Registrar, and other campus stakeholders to ensure coordinated service delivery. - Support cross-functional initiatives and collaborate with Information Technology on system enhancements.
- Ensure delivery of
high-quality, student-centered counseling and support services that are accessible and responsive to diverse student needs. - Work
with Marketing and Communications to provide clear and timely financial aid information to students and families.
Organizational Leadership & Culture
- Supervise managers and professional staff, supporting hiring, training, coaching,
and professional development. - Foster a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture aligned with the USC Code of Ethics.
- Promote continuous improvement, accountability, and service excellence across the organization.
Minimum
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, organizational development, or related field
- Seven (7) years of
progressively responsible experience in financial aid administration - Strong knowledge of federal and state financial aid
regulations - Experience managing financial aid operations, awarding processes, and compliance programs
- Demonstrated
financial stewardship and budget oversight experience - Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into
operational practices - Strong written and verbal communication skills across diverse audiences
- Experience using data to
inform decisions and improve outcomes - Proven leadership experience supervising staff and developing high-performing teams
- Commitment to equitable access and student success
- Familiarity with financial aid systems (e.g., Oracle, Salesforce,
PowerFAIDS) - Experience with process improvement, automation, or change management
Preferred
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in business administration, finance, organizational development, or related field
- Ten (10) years of experience in financial aid, student financial services, or enrollment operations
- Understanding of cultural,
socioeconomic, and equity-related factors impacting financial aid and student success
Required Documents and Additional
Information
Both a resume and cover letter are preferred (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application
without these documents.
The budgeted salary range for this position is $224,701- $300,000. When extending an offer of employment,
the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work
experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant
funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides
benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future.
These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package.