Financial Empowerment

Job Details

Description

POSITION TITLE: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT & HOUSING COUNSELOR

REPORTS TO: Director of Community Services

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

Pay Range: to

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY: The Financial Literacy/Home Ownership Counselor is responsible for providing one‐on‐one counseling sessions to agency clients consistent with the organization’s vision and in compliance with regulatory/funding requirements. The Counselor ensures counseling service quality by adhering to agency policies and departmental procedures, managing related data collection, and reporting, and fostering continuous improvement. The Counselor also effectively supports integrated programs as assigned.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Counselor performs the following duties on a regular basis: Complies with all Federal and State regulations, including funding source requirements. Provides financial/housing counseling to clients Manages client caseload, which includes: Developing strategies for addressing financial objectives. Interacting with clients, in a professional, responsive, helpful, and positive manner, within scheduled appointments as well as in follow‐up calls, correspondence and contacts. Providing additional consultation /guidance on finance/ housing issues. Advocating to creditors, attorneys, benefit providers, and other resources on behalf of clients. Ensuring client files are complete, including appropriate information releases, file documentation, proper computer database entry, and related correspondence regarding HUD compliance. Manages monthly counseling schedule to ensure appointment availability. Conducts client sessions for Financial and Credit Counseling, Budget Development, Debt Management Programs, Housing Counseling, Foreclosure Intervention, Pre‐homeownership counseling, Bankruptcy Counseling, Credit Report Reviews, and Student Loan Counseling. Staffs “Counselor on Call” and provides information, advice, and referral to consumers who call‐in with questions. Directs callers to make full counseling appointments when appropriate. Participates in staff and counselor meetings and training as scheduled. Interacts with staff, board, clients, and others in a professional, helpful, and positive manner. Conducts agency educational and community awareness programs and presentations as needed. Assists in the facilitation of Payment Plus sessions under the direction of the FEP Manager and in partnership with Duke Energy to complete the classes and ensure timely delivery of bill credits to customers when appropriate Assists in the facilitation of VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, under the direction of the FEP Manager, each tax filing season to deliver VITA services at all rural Neighborhood Center Locations Represents agency at events, seminars, networking functions, as needed Other duties or special projects as assigned

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS/DESIRED SKILLS:

High School Diploma required Strong organizational skills Ability to work with people of diverse and varying socio-economic backgrounds in a crisis Proficiency with Microsoft Office & web-based databases Experience with computer appointment systems, data entry, and business writing Ability to work on projects independently with strong personal organization Ability to work some weekends and early evening hours Ability to travel to and work from the satellite offices of NKCAC and attend events outside of the office, both of which require the ability to travel from place to place within the service area. Ability to prepare reports Ability to present information to diverse audiences Ability to obtain the following training and certifications within the first 24 months of employment: Neighborworks Counseling Certification—within first 24mos HUD Housing Counselor Certification—within first 24mos or within time established by HUD regulations Rental Counseling— established by HUD regulations

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree Bi‐lingual (Spanish language fluency) Current Housing counseling certification and/or credit counseling certification Financial/Housing Counseling experience Experience using client/customer data management systems

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to lift and/or carry up to 10lbs up to 10% of the time Ability to sit at, read, and enter data on computer for prolonged periods of time up to 75% of the time.

*NKCAC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We strongly encourage people of Color, people with disabilities, women, bilingual people, and former or current recipients of public assistance to apply for available positions.

NKCAC IS A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

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