Financial Counselor

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota; Brainerd (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Alive Workplace

Job summary

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is seeking a Financial Counselor to guide individuals and families toward financial wellness. Services include budget counseling, debt repayment, and housing counseling through in‑office, phone, or online formats.

The role also involves conducting financial education sessions, coaching, assessments, and referrals to support clients in crisis and maintain long-term financial stability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or significant equivalence in experience.
• Minimum two years related work experience in human services, financial industry, credit or collections.
• Must complete certification for Consumer Credit Counselor through NFCC within two months after being hired.
• Strong computer skills including internet, email, MS Office and database applications.
• Knowledge of consumer credit trends and NFCC standards and Minnesota debt prorate and credit regulations when working with and recommending actions to clients.
• Knowledge of banking, mortgage, consumer lending, sub-prime services.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Ability to deal with clients in financial crisis.
• Related counseling skills including empathy, listening, clear verbal and written communication with diverse populations
• Time management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with clients, community and professional contacts.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills when working with clients and creditors on debt repayment and budgeting issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial counseling to individuals, couples, and families seeking financial wellness goals.
• Assist with budget counseling, debt repayment, credit report review, student loan counseling and housing counseling in‑office, by phone, or online.
• Deliver community financial education presentations, financial coaching, assessments and referrals.

Skills

Budget counseling

Debt repayment

Credit report review

Student loan counseling

Housing counseling

Financial coaching

Empathy and active listening

Clear written and verbal communication

Time management

Negotiation and conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor’s degree or significant equivalence

Tools

MS Office

Database applications

Internet & Email

Job description

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is a dynamic social service organization serving children, youth and families, people with identified needs, older adults, and military veterans. Trustworthiness is a value and strength shared by our employees and recognized by the communities we serve. We offer an Alive Workplace (Supportive, Positive and Fun) and careers that challenge, energize, and reward employees.

As a Financial Counselor you are responsible for providing financial counseling to individuals, couples, and families seeking to reach their financial wellness goals. These services may include budget counseling, debt repayment, credit report review, student loan counseling and housing counseling through in‑office, telephone, or online modes. The position may also provide community financial education presentations, financial coaching, assessments and referrals.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s (BS or BA) degree or significant equivalence in experience
• Minimum two years related work experience in human services, financial industry, credit or collections
• Must complete certification for Consumer Credit Counselor through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling within two months after being hired.
• Strong computer skills including ability to use internet, email, MS Office products and database applications
• Knowledge of consumer credit trends and laws, National Foundation for Credit Counseling standards and state of Minnesota debt prorate and credit regulations when working with and recommending actions to clients.
• Knowledge of financial industry complexity including banking, mortgage, consumer lending, sub‑prime services.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Ability to deal with clients in financial crisis
• Related counseling skills including empathy, listening, clear verbal and written communication with diverse populations
• Time management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with clients, community and professional contacts.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills when working with clients and creditors on debt repayment and budgeting issues.