Financial Counselor, Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center

Starting at $22/hour

Job Overview:

The Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) is a collaboration between the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, and Home HeadQuarters that aims to improve the financial stability of City of Syracuse households by providing free, one-on-one, professional financial counseling and education.

The FEC Counselor’s primary purpose is to provide financial counseling, education, and support to individuals and families. The individual in this position will go through comprehensive financial counselor training and help clients manage their finances and achieve their financial goals. The FEC Counselor will develop a rapport with the individuals they are working with and will provide case management and community referrals as necessary to help them become financially independent. It is expected that the FEC Counselor will focus services in a culturally competent, one-on-one counseling format.

The FEC Counselor will report directly to the Financial Empowerment Center Program Manager. This is a non-exempt position. This position will work out of the Onondaga County Department of Social Services.

Major Responsibilities:

  • Assess client needs and develop individualized goals and service plans with each client;

  • Provide one-on-one financial counseling sessions (including both initial and follow-up sessions) to achieve client outcomes;

  • Make appropriate community referrals and integrate other wrap-around supports (e.g., benefits, tax preparation, and legal services) into counseling to achieve greater results;

  • Engage in ongoing follow-up with clients;

  • Collect, track, and report required data using a client management database;

  • Support the creation of new workshops in budgeting, banking, and credit;

  • Participate in initial trainings and ongoing professional development trainings as directed;

  • Follow required protocol and program requirements; and

  • Successfully complete and pass financial counselor training.

Job Requirements:

  • Two years of relevant work experience with some background in finance, financial education, counseling, coaching, or social service delivery;

  • Associate degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and training;

  • Dynamic, committed individual with strong interpersonal skills and a passion for supporting people with low incomes to build greater financial stability;

  • Excellent interpersonal skills: the ability to work effectively with partners and colleagues in a cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment;

  • Solid organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple tasks, set priorities, effectively manage time, and meet deadlines;

  • Excellent writing and verbal communication abilities;

  • Preferred: Bilingual (Spanish, English, or Other);

  • Demonstrated success in program coordination and achieving programmatic goals and outcomes;

  • Highly organized self-starter with demonstrated success in managing multiple and diverse priorities, as well as balancing competing deadlines and projects;

  • Strong computer skills: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; and

  • Attention to detail and production of quality work, along with the ability to work quickly and under pressure.

 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; and

  • Commitment to excellence and passion for the mission of the FEC.

Physical/Other Requirements:

  • Position is primarily a normal office setting, requiring long periods of sedentary work at a desk and computer;

  • Minimal lifting up to 10 pounds occasionally;

  • After-hours event attendance occasionally;

  • Ability to travel throughout the service delivery (via a personal, insured vehicle or via public transportation); and

  • Work hours that may be outside of the standard workday (e.g., Saturdays or until 8:00pm).

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, describing their salary requirements and qualifications, with their resume and three professional references to info@homehq.org. Please, no phone calls. 

Home HeadQuarters is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Housing Counselor

Job Description – Housing Counselor

The Housing Counselor will help residents of Syracuse and Central New York acquire the critical skills, knowledge and confidence to buy, maintain homeownership and/or prevent foreclosure in accordance with HUD Counseling Program guidelines (HUD Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1 REV-5) and the National Industry Standards for Home Ownership Education and Counseling. The Housing Counselor is responsible for conducting homebuyer education, financial fitness and foreclosure prevention workshops, provides housing counseling (pre-purchase, post-purchase and foreclosure) and credit counseling services. The Housing Counselor will become HUD certified within 3 months of the hire date. Must be comfortable presenting to small groups on related topics. Ability to speak Spanish desired.

 SUPERVISION: This position reports to the Deputy Director and is a non-exempt position.                                                           

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Foreclosure Prevention Counseling

  • Conduct workshops in Home HeadQuarter’s service area

  • Provide Foreclosure Prevention counseling services

  • Develop individualized action plans to address foreclosure issues

  • Assist with budgeting and credit repair

  • Follow-up with clients who are assigned tasks

  • Advocate on behalf of customers as needed

  • Work collaboratively with lenders, lawyers etc. to assist clients

  • Maintain complete and accurate client and program files in the CMS

Homebuyer Education and Housing Counseling

  • Conduct homebuyer education and financial education workshops

  • Provide pre and post purchase housing counseling services

  • Assist with budgeting and credit repair

  • Develop individualized action plans

  • Follow-up with assigned clients

  • Advocate on behalf of customers as needed

  • Maintain complete and accurate client and program files in the CMS

  • Work collaboratively with lenders, realtors, and lawyers etc. to assist clients

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Ability to multi-task, three years of banking, financial literacy or related experience required. 

TO APPLY:

Interested parties should submit a cover letter, describing their salary requirements and qualifications, with resume and 3 professional references to: info@homehq.org. No phone calls please.

Marketing and/or Planning Intern

Seeking part-time marketing and/or planning intern to assist non-profit staff in the creation and development of marketing and planning materials including neighborhood maps, housing data graphs and maps, customer stories and testimonials, funder reports, program brochures and flyers and social media content. The marketing and/or planning intern will also help coordinate events and surveys highlighting resident outreach, housing characteristics maps, funder outreach and more. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, arcGIS and Microsoft Office Suite preferred.

Send resume and cover letter to: info@homehq.org