Financial Aid Counselor I

The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment (FASE) is a central administrative student services department within the Division of Enrollment. Our overarching purpose is opportunity and affordability - we provide/coordinate financial resources which create access and opportunity in alignment with Cornell University's motto and founding principle - any person, any study.

The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment is dedicated to helping students navigate the complex financial aid and higher-education funding landscape - we work closely with the Office of the University Registrar, Undergraduate Admissions Office, the Office of the Bursar, academic Schools and Colleges, and many other University stakeholders to support Cornell's diverse, world-class students and their success.

The Opportunity

The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment has a Financial Aid Counselor I position open on its Counseling and Outreach team.

Reporting to the Assistant Director, Counseling and Outreach and collaborating closely with other members of the FASE team, FASE leadership, and colleagues across the Enrollment Division, Financial Aid Counselor (Financial Aid Associate I) responsibilities include:

• providing clear, accurate, and personalized support to help students and families navigate complex aid application processes, policies, and timelines.
• engaging frequently with students and their families via in-person and virtual appointments, email, and other electronic communication channels.
• providing focused and timely support as well as proactive outreach to ensure excellent student experiences.
• assisting students and families through annual aid application and documentation processes.
• meeting with students and parents to discuss financial aid application, award, and disbursement process, including how aid packages are prepared, aid eligibility requirements, how other resources (such as outside scholarships) are incorporated into aid awards, student loan and work options, financial wellness concepts, satisfactory academic progress requirements, and address a variety of college financing questions and concerns.
• evaluating aid application materials and supporting documentation.
• providing timely outreach and advice regarding specific document requirements or other information necessary to establish eligibility for various federal, state, and institutional student aid programs.
• maintaining up-to-date knowledge/skills/training, utilize appropriate professional judgement, and support team-oriented goals.

This position is a hybrid role based in Ithaca, NY

What We Need

We seek a dynamic, collaborative professional who enjoys thinking innovatively, enjoys the challenges and rewards of team-oriented, remote-friendly work, and who can function exceptionally well within a large complex, world-class University. Creative thinking, self-motivation, accuracy, organization, and attention to detail are all critical in this position along with the ability to work efficiently toward team goals and challenge the status quo when appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• Associate's degree and at least 4 years relevant experience in a customer service or similar professional setting or equivalent combination.
• Must be self-motivated, well-organized, and attentive to details.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to manage multiple assignments in a proactive manner.
• Experience working effectively with moderately complex systems and business processes.
• Proven ability to analyze requirements and meet deadlines.
• Must be able to continuously expand knowledge of technology/tools supporting effective business processes.
• Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it's ok if you don't.

• Bachelor's degree.
• Knowledge of federal financial aid programs and regulations, or institutional need analysis concepts.
• Experience using PeopleSoft, ImageNow, IDOC, or Workday.
• Fluency in English and a second language.

Rewards and Benefits

Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.