This position works within UWSC’s Bold Goal of Financial Empowerment, to help low to moderate income families boost earnings, reduce expenses, and make appropriate financial decisions that lead to asset building through an integrated service model approach. The Financial Empowerment Centers provide individuals and families with services across two critical and interconnected areas: financial coaching and access to income supports. The financial coach provides direct services too low to moderate-income individuals who are enrolled as Financial Empowerment Center participants. Financial counseling and coaching involve an ability to engage and motivate clients, a strong understanding of personal finances, and the ability to teach that knowledge to others. The financial coach is responsible for assisting clients in developing plans of action that are intended to help the client reach their goals and achieve financial stability. The financial coach is expected to focus services in a one-on-one counseling format.
70% Provide one on one financial counseling/coaching:
- Teach clients about the value of their services and engage the client in a long-term relationship.
- Assist clients in resolving current financial situations, while providing a wide lens on their financial health to shift the approach to proactive financial management.
- Work with clients to complete a detailed financial assessment, document a budget and provide strategies for budget improvements, assess credit scores and provide strategies for credit building, document the client’s balance sheet and provide strategies for increasing net worth, develop plans of actions and provide tools, resources, and accountability to the client to help them meet their goals, understand other services offered by the agency, such as employment services and income supports counseling, and connect the clients to these other services.
20% Outcome tracking and reporting:
- Track the stories and successes of program participants.
- Use FECBOT, a client management system, to document and reflect the outcome of clients accurately and in a timely manner.
- Completing Combined Financial Assessment (CFA) for financial counseling clients. Work with the entire FEC team to ensure that any changes to the client’s CFA (new job, new benefit, change in credit score) is properly documented.
- Assist in the convening and development of community level data systems measuring progress in the area of Financial Empowerment.
- Oversee assessment and data collection on an on-going basis.
10% Assist with FEC programs and outreach initiatives:
- Attend IRS volunteer certification, prepare taxes, assist with outreach initiatives and other financial empowerment programs as needed.
JOB RELATIONSHIPS WITH: Director, Financial Empowerment, Associate Vice President of Community Impact, Vice President of Community Impact, Community Impact Department, Bank On Coalition, Director, Diversity & Inclusion, City and County officials, Corporate and Community Engagement staff, partner agencies.
- Experience with United Way preferred.
- Prefer candidate with knowledge in financial service industry or direct client service.
- Candidate must demonstrate a passion for assisting individuals who are unbanked and/or underbanked.
- A strong understanding of personal finances, particularly in the areas of budgeting, asset building, and credit building.
- Competent in MS Office products.
- Interest in the improvement of the Summit County community.
- Previous work experience with the FEC’s target population, and/or the ability to provide financial counseling/coaching services in a culturally sensitive manner.
COMPETENCIES:
- Public Speaking
- Self-directed learning
- Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and as part of a high-performing team
- Willingness to work a non-standard work schedule including as needed (evenings and weekends)
- Organized, able to prioritize, strategically plans, and meets deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with staff, community partners, stakeholders, volunteers and clients
- Strong interpersonal and conflict management skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Commitment to excellence and passion for the mission of United Way of Summit County
- Commitment to maintaining an awareness of best practices within the United Way Worldwide Network and other Cities for Financial Empowerment Communities
PHYSICAL/OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Work hours will be outside of the standard 8:00 am-4:30 pm work day. (i.e. Saturdays or until 8pm).
- Position is primarily a normal office setting, requiring long periods of sedentary work at a desk and computer.
- Ability to routinely travel throughout multi-floor office, walking, climbing stairs.
- Must be able to sit, stand, reach with hands and arms, bend and stoop.
- Minimal lifting up to 25 pounds occasionally.
- After-hours event attendance occasionally.
- Valid driver license and proof of insurance.
- Access to reliable insured automobile to be used for work-related travel in Summit County area.