Financial Aid Specialist

Meridian University · Financial Services
Full-time · On-site · Los Angeles Campus (Santa Monica, CA) · Mon–Fri, 8:45am–5:15pm PT

About the Position
Meridian University is seeking a financial aid operator to run the day-to-day work that moves federal aid from eligibility to disbursement. In this role, you will own the operational cycle of financial aid across our graduate student population: verifying eligibility, coordinating disbursements, reporting enrollment to federal systems, and resolving student blockers and cases.

Meridian is a graduate-only institution operating on a quarter system. The right candidate understands the award cycle from the academic year and the quarter-by-quarter financial aid awarding. They bring a full understanding of Title IV regulations, federal financial aid systems, CRM, and student support.

Key Responsibilities

Eligibility & Awarding

- Review ISIRs, resolve comment codes and conflicting information, and complete verification in accordance with Title IV and institutional policy
- Determine eligibility and package federal Direct Loans and other aid sources for graduate students; confirm cost of attendance, enrollment status, and Satisfactory Academic Progress before each award Process loan origination and resolve origination and disbursement errors through COD
- Coordinate with Admissions and Financial Services on payment intentions so that incoming students arrive with aid in place.
- Conduct daily NSLDS checks and audits against Salesforce and 3rd party reports.

Quarterly Disbursement & Reconciliation

- Prepare, review, and execute each quarter's disbursement cycle in partnership with our third-party financial aid servicer and the financial aid team
- Maintain an accurate, current count of expected and actual disbursements; reconcile what was scheduled against what was paid, and close every discrepancy
- Track students whose enrollment changes mid-year (leaves of absence, status changes, withdrawals, and graduations) and adjust their aid accordingly
- Complete Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculations for withdrawn students and report adjustments within required timelines
- Monitor and resolve Title IV credit balances and refunds

Federal Reporting & Compliance

- Complete NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Roster (ERR) cycles accurately and on schedule; reconcile each roster against Meridian's records before submission
- Support annual Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) reporting and other federal data submissions
- Process VA education benefit certifications in coordination with Financial Services
- Maintain complete, audit-ready student files and documentation; support FSA audit preparation and program reviews
- Stay current with changes to federal student aid regulations and bring forward their operational implications

Student Support & Process Development

- Serve as a responsive, knowledgeable point of contact for students navigating loans, disbursements, and eligibility questions; resolve financial aid cases with clarity and care
- Maintain accurate financial aid records in Salesforce and Meridian's internal platforms; flag data gaps and help close them
- Document the processes you run, improve them, and hold the standard for how the work gets done
- Collaborate with Student Services, Registrar, and Financial Services to keep enrollment and aid data aligned

Mindset & Approach

- Precision — You treat every number as a commitment to a student. You check your work, reconcile before you report, and do not let a discrepancy sit unresolved.
- Ownership — You own the cycle end to end. You manage your own deadlines, surface issues early, and close loops without being asked. Self-manages well.
- Student care — You understand that behind every disbursement is a person depending on it. You explain complex rules in plain language and resolve issues with both accuracy and kindness.
- Systems thinking — You are not satisfied with working a list by hand each quarter. You look for the root of recurring problems and help build the tracking and automation that prevents them.Innovation — You consistently find ways to improve systems, uplevel current processes, and collaborate with the team to close the loop on improvements.

Required Qualifications

- Eligibility to access federal financial aid and department of education COD, NSLDS, and FPS/ISIR systems
- At least two years of experience administering federal Title IV aid at a college or university
- Working knowledge of Title IV regulations, including verification, R2T4, SAP, and Direct Loan processing
- Understanding and experience implementing OB3 financial aid changes
- Hands-on experience with federal systems such as COD, NSLDS, and FPS/ISIR processing Demonstrated precision with data: reconciling records, catching errors, and maintaining audit-ready documentation
- Strong written communication skills; ability to explain financial aid clearly to students and colleagues
- Self-management capabilities: independent ownership of deadlines, visible systems, and proactive issue resolution

Preferred Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree or higher
- Financial aid experience at a graduate institution or a school operating on a quarter or non-standard term calendar
- Experience completing NSLDS Enrollment Reporting and FVT/GE reporting
- VA School Certifying Official experience
- Experience working with a third-party financial aid servicer
- Experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM; comfort with Excel and data validation
- NASFAA credentials or ongoing professional development in financial aid administration
- Experience in a fast-moving, startup-style environment

Alignment with Meridian's Core Values
Success in this role requires genuine embodiment of Meridian's core values: Humility, Kindness, Self-Management, Engagement, Productivity, Accountability, and Innovation. Team members at Meridian are self-starters who manage their responsibilities well, work with a focus on accountability, and continually look to improve the processes they are responsible for.

Compensation & Benefits

Health Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance — 100% of employee premiums covered Retirement 401(k) Time Off PTO + 6 sick days/year + 8 paid holidays Wellbeing Spotify, Calm, and Audible subscriptions Meals Weekly catered team lunches + coffee & snacks stipend

About Meridian University
Founded more than 30 years ago, Meridian University enrolls students globally in its unique, hybrid and 100% online graduate degree, certificate, and public programs. The University offers master's and doctoral programs in Psychology, Education and Business with diverse concentrations available within each of these programs.Meridian graduates engage in varied professional contexts that include coaching, psychotherapy, organizational development, facilitation, social healing, social entrepreneurship, and transformative leadership. The University's integrated, innovative curriculum is designed to be experiential and transformative.

Meridian University's facilities include the Los Angeles Campus, San Francisco Bay Area Center, and additional centers outside of California.

Application & Onboarding Process
Select applicants are invited to a 15-minute initial interview, followed by a 30-minute second interview. Final candidates proceed to a mutual diligence stage, which may include assessments tailored to the role. Candidates who advance are offered a paid, multi-week project-based contract prior to any full-time offer. Full-time team members complete a structured four-week onboarding process with a dedicated onboarding manager.

How to Apply
A cover letter and resume are required. In your cover letter, please address:

- Your alignment with Meridian's vision, mission, and core values
- Your experience administering Title IV aid, including the federal systems you have worked in directly
- A specific example of a discrepancy you found in aid, enrollment, or disbursement data: how you caught it, how you resolved it, and what you changed to prevent it from recurring
- How you have supported a student through a complex financial aid situation that required both accuracy and care

Please do not call, email, or drop in regarding your application. Due to application volume, we are unable to respond to all candidates.

Meridian is committed to diversity across all criteria-of-difference in its staff, faculty, and students. We do not consider race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status in hiring or admissions decisions.