Business Advisor Muskogee, Ok

SE; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

SE in the United States is seeking a Small Business Management Advisor. This role involves providing one-on-one counseling, conducting group training, and managing a diverse client portfolio including startups and existing businesses. The advisor will develop financial analyses, assist in strategic planning, and work closely with community lenders.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in Business, has three years of related experience, and possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills. A solid knowledge of small business principles and financial management is crucial for success in this position.

Qualifications

• Three years of small business ownership or business management experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of accounting and financial statements.
• Ability to lift 40 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide counseling and training to small business owners.
• Manage a portfolio of clients using a database.
• Deliver workshops and seminars for community outreach.

Skills

Business management principles

Financial analysis

Excellent communication skills

Client satisfaction

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

QuickBooks

Job description

Summary

The core responsibility of the position is to provide small business management counseling and technical services to existing small business owners and to new entrepreneurs. The advisor will provide individual counseling as well as group training on topics such as business management principles, business finance, and marketing. Other responsibilities include identifying problem areas in a small business, developing outreach assistance programs, and developing relationships with area lenders and others providing support services to small businesses.

The advisor will be responsible for developing a diverse client portfolio to include existing small businesses poised for growth and expansion and startups and preventure clients. The advisor will demonstrate knowledge of accounting processes and financial statements and will provide financial analysis for the small business client to include cash flow management and business ratios. The advisor will be responsible for developing a network of lenders and funding partners within the assigned region to assist small business clients with business capitalization.

All work conducted by the advisor is strictly confidential and the advisor will be required to sign a Code of Professional Conduct and Conflict of Interest and Ethics Policy annually. Work is performed independently. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, and availability of funds.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages the portfolio of clients through the management information system database, currently Center IC, by ensuring the integrity of the data including but not limited to current contact information of the client, entering narratives of client sessions on a timely basis, collecting and reporting impact from clients, and updating client business status.
• Provides management consulting which includes business plans for strategic planning and financing, marketing, accounting, finance, production, and facilities management for existing and prospective businesses.
• Performs one-on-one confidential client consultation and works on attaining individual consulting goals set forth by the State Director as directed by SBA. Client consulting can take place face-to-face, via email or technological means, or by phone.
• Delivers training in workshops and seminars designed to enhance one-on-one consulting efforts.
• Works with the Training Manager in outreach consultation and training for small communities within the assigned region.
• Partners with state-wide network team to develop best practices.
• Prepares required reports for all counseling cases, training activities, monthly department reports, and all other paperwork required for program documentation as required by SBA.
• Works with the State Office to develop and implement promotional and advocacy strategies to create awareness of the SBDC and its services throughout the business and financial community. Such marketing efforts are conducted in alignment with SBDC branding guidelines and in consultation with the State Office staff.
• The advisor will travel throughout assigned regional‑county areas to provide SBDC services and occasionally throughout the state to attend or deliver training at conferences, meetings, or workshops.
• Develops a diverse client base to include existing business clients poised for growth, startups, and preventure clients and does so with sensitivity to ethnic, social‑economic, and educational level diversity.
• Actively engages in a wide variety of professional development activities to maintain and grow professional knowledge and meet the required number of hours of professional development.
• Meets or exceeds all assigned goals and impact metrics, including but not limited to clients served, business starts, capitalization, and jobs supported.
• Must have an excellent command of the English language including vocabulary, grammar, and organization of expression required for documenting client files, client correspondence, program promotion and advocacy.
• Advisor will maintain a high‑level working relationship with clients, colleagues, partners, and the public.
• The advisor will have well‑developed interviewing skills including the ability to listen to clients, elicit appropriate information, relate, and evaluate information and analyze and interpret information to develop and recommend solutions to business challenges.
• The advisor will have the ability to read, understand, and apply a variety of interrelated instructions, such as those found in guidelines, regulations, policies, and management directives.
• Ability to establish priorities according to relative organizational importance, manage time effectively, meet deadlines, and achieve goals.
• A 40‑hour workweek is considered minimal for exempt staff. The advisor will be expected to work more than 40 hours per week when the workload requires additional hours to include some evenings or weekends.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Additional Performance Responsibilities

• Attendance and Dependability: The employee can be depended upon to report to the assigned duty station at the scheduled time and to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner.
• Communication and Contact: The employee communicates effectively and professionally both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside of the University.
• Relationships with Others: The employee works effectively and relates well with others including superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the University. The employee exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others and works to maintain a constructive working environment.
• Safety: Employee works safely, attends safety training offered/required, and follows appropriate safety rules and regulations. In relation to level of NIMs training completed, participates in incident management preparation and performs incident duties as assigned.
• Skills: Computer proficiency and writing tests may be required. Demonstration of presentation skills may also be required.

Minimum Education, Training, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related discipline.
• Three years of small business ownership or business management experience.
• Knowledge of the principles and requirements of starting and operating a successful small business in Oklahoma.
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service and client satisfaction.
• Excellent communication skills, including oral, written, and/or nonverbal.
• Proficient with personal computer capabilities, using the Internet, and the Microsoft Office Suite especially Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Attention to detail with ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet deadlines.
• Professional appearance and interpersonal demeanor.
• Intermediate knowledge of commercial lending, business capitalization, including financing, funding and loan sourcing with the ability to develop a network of lenders and funding partners for client referrals.
• Demonstrated knowledge of accounting processes, financial statements, financial analysis, cash flow management and business ratios.
• Demonstrated expertise in a specialty which may include International Trade, Financial Analysis or Commercial Lending, Technology Commercialization, Marketing, Government Contracting, Human Resources, etc.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to lift 40 pounds.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Business Management or other closely related discipline.
• Five years of business ownership or management experience to include financial and operational management, payroll, accounting, marketing, knowledge of QuickBooks.
• Experience as a loan officer or other similar business lending background.
• Experience in economic development.
• Experience with advocacy at the local or state level.
• Knowledge of the business counseling and consulting process.
• Fluency in Spanish or other language in addition to English.

Employment is contingent upon the results of a national criminal and sex offender background check. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. SE participates in E‑Verify.

SE is an AA/EEO employer committed to multicultural diversity.