Amanda Pennington
Hendersonville,TN
Summary
Experienced corporate professional skilled in driving strategic initiatives and achieving operational excellence. Known for fostering a collaborative environment that promotes teamwork and delivers tangible results. Exhibits strong leadership and strategic planning skills, continually adapting to meet the changing needs of the business.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Corporate Director of Financial Aid
Lincoln College of Technology
11.2023 - 03.2025
- Lead a team of FA managers and advisors at several campuses to ensure financial aid was administered accurately and on time
- Integrated new financial aid software (CampusIvy) for the entire financial aid department
- Facilitated training for all campuses new software integrations and rollouts
- Initiated and directed an audit and file regeneration project of over 20,000 student files
- Reported directly to the VP of financial aid and COO on all financial aid process and procedure decision points and streamlining initiatives
- Collaborated with the DOE, VA, and State agencies to ensure all campuses were in full compliance
- Lead ALL finance audits, compliance audits, and risk assessment audits with 98.8% accuracy throughout all campuses
- Negotiated high-value contracts with vendors, securing favorable terms that benefited the organization's bottom line.
- Negotiated high-value contracts with vendors, securing favorable terms that benefited the organization's bottom line.
Director of Financial Aid
Lincoln College of Technology
09.2021 - 11.2023
- Worked closely with the Director of Admission to complete student enrollment process, and support student success from entry to graduation
- Certify federal aid funding to school with DOE, VA and private lenders, maintain and ensure proper student tracking and documentation
- Partnered with off campus housing companies to assist with student move-in and rent payments through financial aid
- Handled all student and parent complaints
- Ensured compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations and accreditation standards governing financial aid, maintain a working knowledge of guidelines and regulations related to financial aid
- Administered Lexus/Nexus financial aid systems, update and audit student progress, grades, and financial aid electronic records
- Lead ALL finance audits, compliance audits, and risk assessment audits for the Nashville campus
Director of Financial Aid
Paul Mitchell The School Nashville
08.2019 - 03.2020
- Certify federal aid funding to school with DOE and private lenders, maintain and ensure proper student tracking and documentation
- Ensure compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations and accreditation standards governing financial aid, maintain a working knowledge of guidelines and regulations related to financial aid
- Partner with admissions department to complete student enrollment process, and support student success throughout
- Maintain and utilize FAME, and FREEDOM financial aid systems, maintain and audit student progress reports
- NACCAS, DOE, and Veterans Administration, and regulatory accreditation, TN State Board testing Administration, direct and participate in ALL finance audits, compliance audits, and risk assessment audits
- Established effective communication channels between relevant parties involved in the distribution of funds such as the Bursars office, Admissions, and students.
- Established effective communication channels between relevant parties involved in the distribution of funds such as the Bursars office, Admissions, and students.
Front Desk Manager
Morris Orthodontics
02.2019 - 08.2019
- Responsible for the daily non-clinical operations of office including patient satisfaction, non-clinical team selection, performance, development and other business-related functions
- Scheduling patients, insurance verification and patient engagement, new patient coordination and orientation
- Office payroll processing and administration, bonus and incentive coordinator
- Provided superior patient service demonstrating responsiveness and sensitivity to patient needs with urgency to resolve any patient dissatisfaction in accordance with patient needs
- Implemented company policies and procedures, government regulations and dental board standards
Financial Aid Advisor
SAE Institute of Technology
10.2018 - 02.2019
- Meet with all students to discuss tuition options, conduct exit and entrance counseling sessions
- Partner with admissions department to complete student enrollment process
- Communicate to unsatisfactory students’ progress and improvement plans, maintain and ensure proper student tracking and documentation
- Ensure compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations and accreditation standards governing financial aid
Officer AML Risk Analyst II
Citi Bank
11.2016 - 06.2018
- Analyzing alerts and investigating transactional activities to detect any suspicions of money laundering or terrorist financing activity
- Conduct enhanced due diligence investigations in support of policies and procedures related to FINRA and SEC regulations
- Perform operational risk analysis, specializing in anti-money laundering, wealth holding vehicles, and multiple account holder products for U.S
- Based consumers and commercial banking
- Develop basic and expert level programs and business process for initial anti-money laundering protocols, executed these process’ for U.S
- Based consumers and commercial banking divisions
- Report, analyze and identify process gaps across functional groups including Compliance, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Legal, and Operational Risk Control
- Create and maintain data mapping policies, update current inventories and link existing policies
Financial Aid Director
Paul Mitchell The School St. Louis
02.2008 - 11.2016
- Certify federal aid funding to school with DOE and private lenders, maintain and ensure proper student tracking and documentation
- Ensure compliance with federal, state and institutional regulations and accreditation standards governing financial aid, maintain a working knowledge of guidelines and regulations related to financial aid
- Partner with admissions department to complete student enrollment process
- Maintain and utilize FAME, and FREEDOM financial aid systems, maintain and audit student progress reports
- NACCAS, DOE, and Veterans Administration, and regulatory accreditation, Mo State Board testing Administrator, direct and participate in ALL finance audits, compliance audits, and risk assessment audits
Education
NASFAA UNIVERSITY CREDENTIALED -
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ADMINSTRATORS
Nashville, TN01.2020
MANAGEMENT FOR EDUCATION -
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Nashville, TN01.2020
TITLE IV ADMINISTRATION CERTIFIED -
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Nashville, TN01.2020
FINANCIAL AID MANAGEMENT FOR EDUCATION -
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
St Louis, MO01.2016
INSTRUCTORS LICENSURE PROGRAM -
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF BEAUTY ARTS
St Louis, MO01.2007
ADVANCED COSMETOLOGY -
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF BEAUTY ARTS
St Louis, MO01.2004
Skills
- Operational Leadership
- Effective Leadership
- Effective Communication
- Effective Problem Resolution
- Administrative Reporting
- Accreditation Strategies
- Accurate Financial Reporting
- Student Support Services
- Team Leadership Development
- Workforce Development Programs
- Regulatory Compliance Audits
- Networking Expertise
- Effective Presentation Skills
- Human resources management
- Customer service
Timeline
Corporate Director of Financial Aid
Lincoln College of Technology
11.2023 - 03.2025
Director of Financial Aid
Lincoln College of Technology
09.2021 - 11.2023
Director of Financial Aid
Paul Mitchell The School Nashville
08.2019 - 03.2020
Front Desk Manager
Morris Orthodontics
02.2019 - 08.2019
Financial Aid Advisor
SAE Institute of Technology
10.2018 - 02.2019
Officer AML Risk Analyst II
Citi Bank
11.2016 - 06.2018
Financial Aid Director
Paul Mitchell The School St. Louis
02.2008 - 11.2016
NASFAA UNIVERSITY CREDENTIALED -
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ADMINSTRATORS
MANAGEMENT FOR EDUCATION -
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
TITLE IV ADMINISTRATION CERTIFIED -
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
FINANCIAL AID MANAGEMENT FOR EDUCATION -
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
INSTRUCTORS LICENSURE PROGRAM -
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF BEAUTY ARTS
ADVANCED COSMETOLOGY -
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF BEAUTY ARTS
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