Empowerment Counselor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

POSITION TITLE:  FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT COUNSELOR

REPORTS TO:   Senior Director, Community Resilience and Engagement

STARTING PAY: $20.00

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY:

The Financial Empowerment Counselor helps individuals and families gain the knowledge, skills, confidence, and resources needed to improve financial stability and build long-term economic mobility. Through one-on-one coaching, financial education, and referrals to agency and community resources, the Counselor works with individuals and families to set financial goals, address barriers, reduce household expenses, increase savings, strengthen financial capability, and develop practical plans for financial success.

As part of NKCAC’s Whole Family Approach, the Financial Empowerment Counselor works collaboratively across the agency to ensure families have access to the full range of resources and opportunities available to them. The position plays a key role in helping individuals and families move beyond crisis and short-term stability toward long-term self-sufficiency.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide individualized financial coaching and education designed to help individuals and families identify financial goals and develop actionable plans for achieving them.
• Build trusting, strengths-based relationships with individuals and families and use a coaching approach that encourages individuals and families to take an active role in setting goals, making financial decisions, and measuring their progress.
• Help individuals and families develop practical financial skills in areas such as:
  • Household budgeting and cash-flow management
  • Savings and emergency fund development
  • Credit education and credit improvement
  • Debt reduction and management
  • Banking and access to safe financial products
  • Tax preparation and tax credits
  • Benefits and resource utilization
  • Household cost reduction
  • Energy efficiency and utility affordability
  • Financial planning for short- and long-term goals
• Manage an assigned caseload and maintain regular communication with individuals and families through scheduled appointments, follow-up calls, correspondence, and other appropriate contacts.
• Work with individuals and families to develop individualized Financial Empowerment Plans that establish measurable goals, action steps, timelines, and strategies for overcoming barriers to financial stability.
• Monitor and document client progress toward financial goals, including outcomes such as increased savings, improved credit, reduced debt, decreased household expenses, increased income, improved budgeting practices, and greater financial stability.
• Collaborate with NKCAC staff across the agency to support coordinated, whole-family service delivery and ensure individuals and families are connected to resources that address both immediate needs and longer-term goals.
• Provide advocacy and navigation assistance with creditors, financial institutions, benefit providers, utility companies, community partners, and other organizations when appropriate and with client authorization.
• Develop and facilitate engaging financial education workshops, classes, presentations, and community outreach activities for individuals, families, agency staff, and community partners.
• Coordinate and facilitate Duke Energy Payment Plus financial empowerment sessions and Assurance 16 sessions, ensuring eligible customers complete program requirements and that applicable utility bill credits are processed accurately and timely.
• Facilitate the coordination and delivery of NKCAC’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program during tax filing season, including expanding access to free tax preparation services through Neighborhood Centers and other community locations.
• Participate in community events, outreach activities, seminars, networking opportunities, and presentations to increase awareness of NKCAC’s Financial Empowerment Program and recruit eligible participants.
• Maintain accurate and timely client records, program data, case notes, outcome documentation, and reports in accordance with agency, funding source, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain knowledge of current financial empowerment practices, community resources, benefits, tax programs, energy-efficiency strategies, consumer protections, and other resources that may benefit individuals and families.
• Comply with all applicable federal and state regulations, funding requirements, agency policies, confidentiality requirements, and program procedures.
• •  Perform other duties and special projects that advance NKCAC’s mission and Financial Empowerment Program as assigned.

REQUIRED 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
  • Rental Counseling— established by HUD regulations
  •  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Bilingual (Spanish language fluency)
• Financial/Housing Counseling experience
• Experience using client/customer data management systems
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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