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.
Tennessee State University is committed to excellence and has been consistently listed in the U.S. News & World Report’s “Guide to America’s Best Colleges” for more than a decade. Founded in 1912, TSU is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant institution in Nashville, Tennessee. The university has been served by seven presidents, including Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, who is currently serving as our eighth president.TWO CAMPUSESOur Nashville home offers two locations—the 500-acre main campus nestles in a beautiful residential neighborhood along the Cumberland River, and the downtown Avon Williams campus sits near the center of Nashville’s business and government district.