Financial Counselor-DC Financial Empowerment Initiative

United Planning Organization Inc; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental/MetLife, all employees paid

Vision/VSP, all employees paid

401k, Safe Harbor Match

Sick Leave

Vacation Leave

2 Personal Days

Paid Holidays

Job summary

United Planning Organization seeks a Financial Counselor to provide client-centered financial coaching and stabilization planning to low- and moderate-income DC residents. You will assess needs, create action plans, and guide clients through budgeting, debt reduction, savings, and banking access.

Role requires strong data entry, collaboration with community resources, and reporting outcomes to support DC Financial Empowerment Initiative goals.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and 4 years of experience.
• CFE certification completed within 30 days of hire.
• Bachelor’s degree in financial management, banking, accounting or related field.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of clients and document counseling sessions and outcomes.
• Conduct financial assessments and develop individualized stabilization plans.
• Provide budgeting, credit improvement, debt reduction and savings coaching.
• Assist with public benefits enrollment and referrals to community resources.
• Coordinate housing/utility stabilization referrals and eviction prevention support.
• Support integrated financial empowerment programming and workshops.
• Maintain accurate client records in the organization’s system.

Skills

Financial Counseling

Coaching

MS Office

Bilingual Spanish

Education

High school diploma or GED

CFE certification

Bachelor’s degree in finance or related field

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Full Time Regular Full-Time Washington, DC, US

Salary Range: $55,000.00 To $60,000.00 Annually

The United Planning Organization (UPO) is the designated Community Action Agency for Washington, District of Columbia, and has served the residents of the District since 1962. Our Vision for the future is “UPO’s Washington: A city of thriving communities and self-sufficient residents”; our Mission is “Uniting People with Opportunities.”

The Community Reinvestment Division is seeking an energetic and experienced individual to join our dynamic team as a Financial Counselor. The ideal candidate must be a self-starter able to work in a fast paced, ever changing work environment, a team player and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

UPO is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse staff who will enhance our engagement and service in our communities.

OFFICE/DIVISION: Community Reinvestment Division

BULLETIN No: 08082026

ANNUAL RANGE: $55,000 - $60,000(Commensurate with experience)

OPENING DATE: November 22, 2023

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Provides individualized, client-centered financial counseling to help low- and moderate-income District residents stabilize their finances, address immediate financial challenges, and build pathways toward long-term financial security. As part of UPO’s DC Financial Empowerment Initiative, the Financial Counselor conducts financial assessments, develops individualized stabilization and goal plans, and provides ongoing coaching in budgeting, credit improvement, debt reduction, savings, banking access, benefits navigation, and financial protection. The Counselor also connects clients to UPO and community resources that address housing instability, income disruption, and other barriers to financial well-being, while documenting client progress and measurable outcomes throughout the engagement.

MAJOR DUTIES

Manage a caseload of at least 60 clients per year, meeting with each at least once monthly for at least one-half hour. Record, track, and retain records of counseling meetings and provide data, as required. Provide financial counseling services to clients including, but not limited to, developing financial health assessments and service plans, conducting regular follow up counseling sessions, and making referrals to wrap-around services to other UPO divisions or to community partners. Provide other resources that will assist customers in sustaining and maintaining their financial needs. Coordinate with customers to prepare an individualized financial goal statement plan. Follow up with the customers concerning meeting their financial goals and needs. Attend outside meetings with collaborating agencies. Assist with special projects assigned by the Tax and Financial Literacy Program Manager and/or senior management.

• Conduct comprehensive financial assessments and rapid financial triage to identify each client’s immediate financial risks, income and expense challenges, debt obligations, banking status, credit concerns, benefits needs, and financial priorities.
• Develop and manage individualized financial stabilization plans , including 30-, 60-, and 90-day action steps and longer-term financial goals designed to help clients move from financial crisis toward stability.
• Provide ongoing one-on-one financial counseling and coaching in budgeting, cash-flow management, credit building and repair, debt reduction, savings, banking access, consumer protection, and other financial capability topics.
• Support clients with benefits and income stabilization , including screening for available public benefits and safety-net programs, assisting with enrollment navigation, and making appropriate referrals to UPO and other community-based resources.
• Assist clients experiencing housing and essential-service instability by coordinating referrals for eviction prevention, rental or utility assistance, landlord mediation, repayment planning, foreclosure prevention and HUD-approved housing counseling services.
• Help clients establish and strengthen safe financial relationships by supporting access to affordable banking products, reviewing credit reports, addressing credit barriers, and helping clients develop strategies to reduce reliance on high-cost or predatory financial services.
• Maintain accurate and timely client records and outcome data in UPO’s financial counseling management system, documenting assessments, counseling sessions, referrals, financial goals, action plans, follow-up activities, and measurable client outcomes at required intervals.
• Support integrated financial empowerment programming across UPO , including financial literacy workshops, community outreach activities, VITA tax-season financial coaching, client referrals, and collaboration with program staff and external partners to ensure coordinated service delivery and achievement of DC Financial Empowerment Initiative outcomes.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Financial Counseling & Coaching – Translate complex financial concepts into practical, individualized strategies that help clients improve budgeting, credit, debt management, savings and banking access
• Client-Centered Case Management – Demonstrated ability to assess financial needs, develop individualized stabilization and goal plans, monitor progress, and provide consistent follow-up while maintaining client dignity, confidentiality and trust.
• Crisis Intervention & Problem Solving – Ability to identify urgent financial risks, prioritize immediate needs, and connect clients to appropriate benefits, housing, utility, legal and community resources.
• Data Management & Outcomes Tracking – Strong attention to detail in documenting services, referrals, financial goals, client progress, and measurable outcomes in UPO’s case management and reporting systems.
• Collaboration & Community Resource Navigation – Ability to work effectively with UPO programs, financial institutions, housing and benefits providers, nonprofit partners and other community resources

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or GED and 4 years of experience. Complete requisite CFE and other trainings within 30 days of hire. Excellent working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and ability to use/learn electronic time-keeping program. Must be able to work sensitively and effectively with individuals of diverse educational, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds .

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in financial management, banking, accounting or another related field. CFE certified with at least four years of working experience with background in finance, financial education, counseling/coaching or social service delivery. Expertise in one of the following areas: financial services, financial planning, mentoring, teaching or other related fields. Possesses highly effective organizational and profressional communication skills, both written and verbal. Prior experience in a non-profit organization. Bilingual/Spanish .

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

In the event that an offer is extended, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a criminal background check and/or FBI fingerprinting, and pre-employment drug screening as applicable for the position.

• Dental/MetLife, all employees paid
• Vision/VSP, all employees paid
• 401k, Safe Harbor Match-5.5% given as a benefit, will match 1% of staff contribution
• Sick Leave 4.5 Hours Every Pay Period
• Vacation Leave 4.5 Hours Every Pay Period
• 2 Personal Days
• Paid Holidays

POSITION ELIGIBLE

FOR TELEWORK : X - YES (limited based on UPO Telework Policy, position duties o NO

& Program requirements)

ESSENTIAL POSITION

NO

UPO designates an employee as essential if s/he is required to work during a business closure (e.g., federal/District holidays, snow closures, pandemic) in order to meet operational requirements.

This position IS in the collective bargaining unit of the CWA Union.

UNION/FLSA STATUS

Union /Non-Exempt