About WISE
WISE Women's Business Center is a dual-designated SBA Women's Business Center and NYS Entrepreneurial Assistance Center hosted by the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. Established in 2006, WISE serves more than 500 unique entrepreneurs annually across a seven-county region in Central New York: Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, and Oswego counties.
While our primary focus is women entrepreneurs, we welcome and serve all entrepreneurs seeking support. Our clients represent every industry, every stage of business, and every background. WISE provides no-cost one-on-one counseling, cohort-based training, and access to capital resources. This role sits at the heart of that work.
About the Role
WISE is seeking a skilled and passionate business counselor to join our team. This is a meaningful role that calls for a specific combination of strengths.
The right candidate brings genuine technical expertise – particularly in small business financial management – alongside the curiosity and coaching instincts it takes to meet entrepreneurs where they are. WISE serves business owners from all walks of life, at every stage, and our counselors need to be as comfortable helping a startup founder build her first cash flow projection as they are working through a growth challenge with an established business owner.
What sets our team apart is a shared commitment to serving every client with the same level of care and without judgment. That culture is something we protect, and it is something we look for in everyone who joins us. Technical skills matter and will be evaluated. What is harder to find – and equally important – is a counselor who brings authentic passion for this work, a genuine belief in the people they serve, and the self-awareness to guide rather than prescribe.
Hours & Compensation
Rate: $65 per hour
Hours: Up to 10 hours per week
Actual hours will vary week to week based on client demand and program activity.
Responsibilities
Services are delivered virtually, by phone, or in person at the preference of the client. In-person services are held at the WISE WBC, Equitable Tower I, Madison St., Syracuse, NY 13202.
Counseling services may address:
- Business strategy and planning
- Marketing strategy and customer acquisition
- Small business financial management, including cash flow projections and financial statement analysis
- Access to capital, including loan readiness, SBA programs, CDFIs, microloans, and other public and private resources
- Business resilience and operational planning
The counselor will be expected to:
- Conduct one-on-one counseling sessions with clients as assigned
- Maintain accurate and timely client records in accordance with WISE reporting requirements
- Participate in team meetings and check-ins with the Director as scheduled
- Represent WISE professionally in all client interactions
- Adhere to confidentiality standards with respect to all client information
Qualifications
Required:
- Strong background in small business financial management, including cash flow analysis and financial projections
- Experience in small business strategy and marketing
- Familiarity with access to capital resources, including public and private funding options
- Familiarity with the Syracuse and Central New York entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and comfort working in virtual environments
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse clients across industries, backgrounds, and stages of business ownership
Preferred:
- Coaching certification
- Recent experience as a small business owner
- Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English
- Comfort with AI tools and an ability to guide business owners in applying them to their work
- Experience instructing or facilitating group business training or workshops
What Sets the Right Candidate Apart
Genuine enthusiasm for working with entrepreneurs, with a particular passion for supporting women in business
Curiosity and a non-judgmental approach to clients across all industries and backgrounds
Strong coaching and listening skills – the ability to ask the right questions and help clients find their own path forward
Self-awareness and the ability to adapt communication style and approach to each individual client
Creative thinking and comfort working through ambiguity
Long-term perspective and investment in client success beyond the immediate conversation
Job Type: Contract
Pay: Up to $65.00 per hour
Expected hours: No more than 10.0 per week
Location:
- Syracuse, NY 13202 (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Syracuse, NY 13202 (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Syracuse, NY 13202