Post Award Associate II

Cornell University; City of Ithaca (NY); Hybrid; USD 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care options

Retirement contributions

Wellness programs

Employee discounts

Floating holidays

Tuition benefits

Education benefits

Job summary

Cornell University on the Ithaca campus in New York is seeking a Finance Specialist II to support post-award financial management for a diverse portfolio. The role collaborates with faculty and finance colleagues to ensure budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and compliance across sponsored and non-sponsored activities.

The position emphasizes proactive financial stewardship, data-driven decision making, and cross-functional teamwork in a dynamic research environment.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field and 2-4 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial analysis, budgeting, accounting principles, and financial stewardship.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills with data-driven decision support.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Office applications.
• Experience with enterprise financial, purchasing, payroll, and HR systems.

Responsibilities

• Advise Institute leadership on financial matters, including policy interpretation and decision-support tools.
• Prepare monthly and ad hoc financial reports and forecasts for a complex portfolio.
• Assist in annual budget process with expense forecasts and data entry into the budget system.
• Monitor and close sponsored/non-sponsored accounts ensuring compliance.
• Perform purchasing functions focused on capital assets and service agreements.
• Manage funding sources including gifts, endowment income, sponsored awards, and allocations.
• Process payroll-related transactions including graduate appointments and salary costs.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Accounting principles

Excel proficiency

Education

Associate degree in accounting/finance

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Excel

Job description

This position is located on the Cornell University Campus in Ithaca, New York. You will be expected to work in Ithaca, although you may be permitted to perform a portion of your work remotely.

Note: No Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

The Opportunity:

The Division of Budget and Planning supports Cornell's academic mission through budgeting, financial planning, resource allocation, and institutional analysis. Within the division, the Research & Innovation (RI) team partners with research facilities, laboratories, institutes, and centers to provide financial leadership, budget oversight, reporting, and compliance support. The team supports both complex sponsored research awards and specialized research facilities, helping ensure the financial stewardship and operational success of Cornell's research enterprise.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Post Award Finance, the Post Award Associate II will primarily support the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology (WICMB) and, other facilities, laboratories, institutes, and research centers as needed. In this highly collaborative role, you will partner with faculty, institute leadership, and finance colleagues to provide expert post-award financial management and analytical support for a diverse portfolio of sponsored and non-sponsored activities.

As a trusted financial partner, you will help drive sound fiscal stewardship through budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, account monitoring, and compliance oversight. This position plays a key role in ensuring the effective management of research resources while supporting informed decision-making, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a proactive, customer-focused approach to supporting a dynamic research environment.

In this role you will:

• Advise Institute leadership on financial matters, including policy interpretation, data-driven decision-making, and tools that support effective financial management.
• Prepare monthly and ad hoc financial reports and forecasts for a complex portfolio of sponsored research and administrative funds.
• In collaboration with the Director of Administration, play a key role in the annual budget process by preparing expense forecasts, interpreting institutional guidelines, completing budget submissions, and entering data into the university's budget system.
• Monitor, maintain, and close sponsored and non-sponsored accounts in partnership with faculty, Sponsored Financial Services (SFS), and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), ensuring compliance with sponsor and Cornell policies.
• Perform a variety of purchasing functions, with a focus on capital assets and related service agreements.
• Manage a diverse portfolio of funding sources, including gifts, endowment income, sponsored awards, and institutional allocations.
• Process payroll-related transactions, including graduate student appointments and financial aid; faculty summer salary and salary recovery for endowed and contract college faculty; effort costing; and retroactive salary expense transfers for Institute personnel.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Additional information about the Division of Budget and Planning and the University Budget Office is available at Division of Budget and Planning website.

Required Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field and 2-4 years of relevant experience in accounting, finance, business administration, or sponsored research administration, including post-award financial reporting, budget management, expenditure monitoring, and account reconciliation; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial analysis, budgeting, accounting principles, and the financial stewardship of sponsored and non-sponsored funds.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to analyze financial data, identify issues, recommend solutions, and support informed decision-making.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications, including the ability to work with complex financial data and reporting tools.
• Experience working with enterprise business systems, including financial, purchasing, payroll, and human resources systems, and the ability to learn and apply new technologies and tools.
• Experience working in a medium to large complex organization with established financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Strong customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with faculty, staff, students, other stakeholders, and community members.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively while exercising sound judgment.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
• Positive, adaptable, and service-oriented approach with a commitment to continuous improvement and teamwork.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance accounting, or another related field.
• Significant experience with Cornell or other university policies, procedures, and systems related to financial management, sponsored projects, travel, payroll, and human resources. Experience processing faculty salary transactions for both Contract College and Endowed units is preferred.
• Experience providing administrative support in a natural sciences research environment.

Benefits and Perks:

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability. Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions, we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.

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

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

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EEO Statement

Cornellwelcomes 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 seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage 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.

University Job Title:

Finance Specialist II

Job Family:

Fin/Budget/Planning

Level:

E

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$66,663.00 - $77,473.00

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Sarah Oliveira

Contact Email:

[e-mail]

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.