CAP Assessment Consultant – Financial Aid (Project-Based)

Are you an experienced financial aid leader passionate about optimizing operations, ensuring compliance, and improving the student experience? 

College Aid Services is seeking CAP Assessment Consultants to join our Comprehensive Assessment Program (CAP) team on a project basis.  In this role, you will leverage your expertise in financial aid to perform detailed evaluations of client operations, focusing on staff performance, regulatory compliance, and system optimization. You will provide actionable recommendations that strengthen compliance, streamline processes, and improve the student experience.  You’ll join a team of experts, each bringing specialized knowledge in areas such as compliance, technology optimization, and other key aspects of financial aid operations. 

This is an opportunity to collaborate with higher education leaders, influence meaningful change at institutions across the country, and stay at the forefront of financial aid best practices and technology. 

If you have a proven track record in financial aid and a passion for delivering impactful improvements, we invite you to apply! 

Primary Responsibilities Include (vary based on specialization and team): 

• Client Engagement: Execute assigned project scopes to meet client goals, including interviews with staff and leadership, file/documentation review, and process analysis. 

• Compliance Evaluation: Assess institutions’ adherence to federal, state, and institutional regulations and requirements. 

• Business Process Review:
  Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of financial aid processes, policies, and financial controls. Assess how student information systems are utilized, identify gaps, and recommend strategies to optimize efficiency and accuracy. 

• Student Services Enhancement:
  Ensure compliance and recommend improvements in student communications, enrollment management, and service delivery. 

• Organizational Assessment: Evaluate office structure, interdepartmental collaboration, and workflow efficiencies. 

• Technical & Operational Support:
  Analyze institutional financial aid processing setups—including annual configurations, packaging rules, ISIR imports/exports, loan setup, Pell and Direct Loan reconciliation, and SAP processes. Provide recommendations to strengthen compliance, streamline workflows, and maximize system performance. 

• Report Writing: Prepare comprehensive reports and debriefs summarizing findings and recommendations for institutional leadership. 

• Collaboration: Work as part of a team of specialists to deliver high-quality, consistent CAP assessments. 

Qualifications: 

Education 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, higher education administration, or a related field (advanced degree preferred but not required). 
  

Experience 

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in higher education, with at least 5 years focused on financial aid operations. 

• Proven expertise in compliance assessment, staff performance evaluation, business process improvement, or system optimization and utilization. 

• Demonstrated ability to deliver constructive recommendations that drive institutional effectiveness and student success. 
  

Skills 

• Strong organizational and leadership capabilities with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex findings clearly to diverse audiences. 

• Active listening and collaboration skills to engage effectively with institutional teams. 

• Strategic and analytical thinker with effective problem-solving abilities. 

• Adaptability to diverse institutional environments and changing regulatory landscapes. 

Additional Qualifications 

• NASFAA Credentials or related certifications
  a plus. 

• Experience with multiple SIS/ERP systems (e.g., Banner, PeopleSoft, Colleague). 

• Active participation in financial aid professional associations. 

Assignment Commitment   

Each CAP assignment typically requires 80–100 hours, with approximately 40 hours on-site over the course of one week and the remaining hours completed remotely. CAP Assessment Consultants are usually assigned multiple projects per year, with the flexibility to choose which assignments they accept. 

About College Aid Services, LLC 

Established in 2002, College Aid Services is a trusted leader in providing customized solutions for higher education institutions, helping them overcome challenges, streamline processes, and achieve operational excellence.  Our experienced team partners with admissions, financial aid, student accounts, and enrollment management offices to deliver strategic expertise and innovative support that drive institutional success. Our robust suite of services includes Interim Staffing, CAP – Comprehensive Assessment Program, Remote Verification, Technology Optimization & Support, Title IV Compliance Support, Enrollment Modeling and Analytics, Staff Training, and Executive Coaching.
At College Aid Services, we are dedicated to empowering institutions with the tools, insights, and expertise they need to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of higher education administration. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

College Aid Services, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. College Aid Services participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.