Bilingual Financial Counselor I

Southern Bancorp

Elaine (AR)

On-site

USD 50,000 - 70,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Employee stock ownership plan

Discounted home mortgage rates

Dental and vision insurance

Employer-paid life insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid holidays and time off

Bonus plan

Job summary

A financial institution focused on community development is looking for a Bilingual Financial Counselor I in Elaine, Arkansas. The role will involve providing comprehensive financial counseling and education with an emphasis on increasing savings and reducing debt. Candidates should hold a Bachelor's degree and possess certifications in financial counseling. This position offers a dynamic environment for professionals skilled in financial services, emphasizing community outreach.

Qualifications

Minimum of five years of experience in a credit or financial counseling role or related field.
HUD housing counselor certification required within six months.
Accredited Financial Counseling certification required within sixty days.

Responsibilities

Provide one-on-one financial counseling to customers.
Analyze current financial conditions and build action plans.
Conduct group learnings on financial skills.

Skills

Fluent in English and Spanish

Strong customer relations skills

Strong oral and written communication skills

Analytical ability

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management tools

CRM systems

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the Bilingual Financial Counselor I role at Southern Bancorp.

Southern Bancorp is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that combines traditional banking and lending services with financial development tools and public policy advocacy to help families and communities grow stronger. The mission is to be wealth builders for everyone in the communities we serve, with a focus on low-wealth and un(der)banked populations and an emphasis on Black and Brown individuals.

Who We Are: Southern Bancorp is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) focused on underserved communities and wealth-building through banking, lending, and financial development services.

Job Summary

Work in SBCP’s Asset Development Department to provide comprehensive financial counseling, coaching, and education with a focus on consumer goals of increased savings, decreased debt, improved credit, and access to capital/credit. The financial counselor will assist in recruiting for and facilitating SBCP’s Wealth Building programs. The role requires a highly skilled financial services professional with national certification in complex financial counseling and is central to SBCP’s wealth-building products and services.

Key Responsibilities

Provide one-on-one financial counseling to customers to identify and achieve financial goals using in-person or digital tools.
Provide prompt, efficient, and friendly service with emphasis on problem-solving and solution-building.
Analyze and assess current financial conditions of consumer customers and build outcomes-based action plans for customers and third-parties to reach identified goals.
Maintain significant product knowledge for both SBB and SBCP financial products.
Assist customers in accessing SBCP and SBB financial products to advance their goals.
Provide group learnings online and in-person on financial skills to empower prudent financial decisions.
Build relationships with the community to position SBCP in the market to attract targeted customers for SBCP services.
Develop new clients and partners through active community outreach to raise awareness for SBCP lending products and financial development services.
Employ business development techniques to build a customer base for asset development services and lending products.
Execute a reciprocal referral network with SBCP and SBB lenders.
Use digital platforms to collect and track data, KPIs, and report metrics for strategic decision-making.
Assist with and/or produce accurate grant and certifier reporting as needed.
Complete required training and continuing education for certifications.
Performs other related duties as required, including assisting with wealth-building programs.

Qualifications / Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum of five years of experience in a credit or financial counseling role or related field.
HUD housing counselor certification required. Employees must obtain certification within six months of hire.
Must have Accredited Financial Counseling certification through the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education or begin coursework for certification within sixty days of start date.
Ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines and work independently.
Strong attention to detail, recall ability, and organizational skills.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
High degree of analytical ability.
Strong customer relations skills.
Ability to anticipate problems and use sound judgment to resolve them.
Must be able to travel within markets and possess a valid driver’s license and vehicle with appropriate insurance.
Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office, project management tools, and CRM systems.
Ability to speak fluently in English and Spanish.

Physical/Sensory Requirements: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What we offer our employees

Benefits and compensation

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to support employees’ health, financial security, and well-being.

401(k)/Roth plan with immediate eligibility and employer match up to 6%
Employee stock ownership plan
Discounted rate on primary home mortgage
Credit and housing counseling as well as free financial education tools available to customers and employees

Benefits to improve your health

No deductible medical insurance plan
Dental and vision insurance
Employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts

The opportunity to nurture your well-being

Paid holidays and paid time off
Bonus plan
Opportunity for merit raises
Employee reward and recognition programs
Community service opportunities

Equal Opportunity

Southern Bancorp is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. We also encourage applications from diverse communities.

Seniority level