Bilingual Financial Counselor (English/Spanish)

Clarifi - Philadelphia, PA

Full-time - Entry Level

Philadelphia, PA

Publishing Industries

About the position

Clarifi is a regional nonprofit dedicated to driving financial justice for economically marginalized communities in the Greater Philadelphia region. We believe in creating opportunities for individuals and communities to achieve their financial goals and lead empowered lives. As we continue to expand our impact, we are seeking passionate and dedicated Financial / Housing Counselors to join our team! As a Financial/Housing Counselor, you will engage with individuals and families across a spectrum of financial activities, including budgeting, credit building, savings, debt reduction, first-time home ownership, mortgage issues, and home equity. Your Responsibilities include discussing and delivering options, making recommendations on debt, credit, assets and banking issues. Additionally, counselors seek to build awareness in communities at risk for predatory products, increase assets to sustain future financial shocks, and perform eligibility screening or referrals for community programs aligned with client goals. The counselor will document and deliver a realistic action plan for clients to achieve their goals with continued support of their changing financial circumstances and goals. Through effective communication, the counselor will help each client understand the role he or she plays in the success of the plan. This role requires an individual with a passion for and commitment to social service, especially for individuals with low income and experiencing financial distress.

Responsibilities

• Perform budgeting, credit, debt, banking, and asset counseling by evaluating all possible solutions against client goals to chart a personalized course toward financial stability or housing success.
• Represent benefits of Clarifi counseling and programs to the client, including effective communication of an individual financial action plan, recommendations, program requirements, and client role and responsibilities necessary for their own success.
• Identify community resources, make appropriate referrals, and integrate other supports into client action plan such as public benefits, legal assistance, and tax preparation.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients by demonstrating empathy, providing exceptional service and actionable information appropriate to situation.
• Engage in timely follow up with clients post-counseling to complete applications as needed, evaluate effectiveness of action plan and client's success.
• Document client success through client stories or client challenges to support program development.
• Mentoring counselors and navigators to share knowledge and improve the overall level of service clients receive.
• Proactively manage workload, calendar and client appointments to help meet the goals of the organization.
• Maintain counselor certification by earning, documenting and tracking required number of Professional Development Units annually.

Requirements

• MUST BE FLUENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
• College degree or a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience is required.
• Participate in intensive substantive coaching and counseling training in financial management, personal finance, credit, and homeownership.
• Obtain Credit Certification from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling within 30 days of hire.
• Additional certifications from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and NeighborWorks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling may be necessary.

Nice-to-haves

• Strong personal finance competencies are preferred, but not required.
• Interest in learning about, and building proficiency in, personal and consumer finance.

Benefits

• Projected Salary $46,725.
• Bilingual incentive for Spanish-speaking employees.
• 19 paid days off during the first year of employment, in addition to 10 company-paid holidays per year.
• 403b contributions available immediately.
• 401(a) Profit Sharing Plan with monthly contributions after one year of employment.
• Qualified employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• Paid Maternity and Paternity benefits.
• Up to $2,500 in tuition reimbursement per year.