Financial Empowerment Coordinator

Spirit League; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 56,005,000 - 75,790,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Action Partnership Orange County (CAP OC) is seeking a Financial Empowerment Coordinator to advance financial stability for residents through coaching, education, and collaboration with partners across Orange County.

The role emphasizes bilingual communication, program planning, data collection, and delivering workshops using a standardized curriculum to empower families toward long-term financial independence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business Administration, Social Work, Public Administration, Human Services, Education, or related field preferred.
• Experience providing financial education, coaching, case management, workforce development, or community outreach to diverse populations.
• Knowledge of budgeting, credit, debt reduction, savings, and financial goal setting.
• Financial coaching, counseling, or VITA tax-related experience is a plus.
• Familiarity with Your Money, Your Goals curriculum and delivering financial education.

Responsibilities

• Promote and educate with financial stability messages using the Your Money, Your Goals curriculum for adults, youth, and older adults.
• Provide financial coaching one-to-one or in small groups to help clients set goals and track progress.
• Assess clients' financial empowerment needs and connect them with resources.
• Develop and maintain multi-sector contracts; plan and implement outreach to families and communities.
• Complete and submit program reports on a scheduled basis; other duties as assigned.

Skills

Financial literacy

Budgeting

Debt reduction

Savings strategies

VITA tax knowledge

Financial coaching

Public benefits knowledge

Data tracking

Trauma-informed approach

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance or related field

Job description

OUR EXCITING OPPORTUNITY

Community Action Partnership has an exciting opportunity for

Financial Empowerment Coordinator

In this role, the Financial Empowerment Program Coordinator will assist with the development and implementation of program procedures and ensure that requirements are aligned to build sustainable support in impacting the lives of hundreds of residents; playing a critical part in the work and dedication of Community Action Partnership of Orange County’s initiatives. It’s leadership with a cause and the rewards are immeasurable!

Who We Are

Born out of the War on Poverty more than 50 years ago, Community Action Partnership Orange County (CAP OC) is a trusted resource for Orange County community members who face obstacles such as food insecurity, unemployment, economic turmoil and more. We walk alongside the people we serve, and we act to meet immediate needs without delay. Our programs help empower people to improve their lives and their communities. We see poverty as an unacceptable reality for our neighbors and rally with key partners to help facilitate change.

CAP OC hires professionals who support and embody the following EPIC values:

Going above and beyond in every interaction and activity we undertake. We strive for EXCELLENCE in service, keeping a pulse on the most up to date innovations within our industry. Together we continually assess and improve the way to work and enhance the strategies we utilize to meet the needs of our community.

Reaching our goals by working collaboratively with each other and our community. We are working to do the things that have not been done: empowering families and individuals to financial independence, breaking the cycle of poverty, creating financial equity, combating food insecurity, and establishing healthy and energy-efficient living conditions for all through social innovation. All of this takes PROACTIVENESS, and an intrinsic motivation that drives us to go above and beyond to create cutting-edge trends and program designs. We have the will and the energy and won't stop until the needs of our underserved community no longer exist.

We are a team of high INNOVATION. We value the work we do; the people we serve; and treat each other with respect and kindness. We also have an environment of engaging in social economic justice by sharing of ideas and not afraid to try new things that increases our educational capacity. We think outside of the box, and challenge prevailing assumptions about issues of poverty.

Reaching our goals by working in partnership with each other and our community. The work we do is deeply rooted in the COLLABORATION we have with our community and its citizens. We care about the legacy of community action partnership and go above and beyond to ensure we support each other in bringing forth the services and resources that will positively change generations forever.

We have remained true to our mission “We seek to end poverty by stabilizing, sustaining and empowering people with the resources they need when they need them. By forging strategic partnerships, we form a powerful force to improve our community.”

Values

Leadership

We are guiding critical shifts in how people think and act to address the root causes of poverty

Collaboration

We bring together all capable partners to achieve transformative results

Trust

For over 50 years, the community has counted on us to empower those in need

Compassion

We treat each person we serve respectfully and with great care

Justice

We are passionate about advocating for those living in poverty and creating equity throughout the region

WHAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH IN THIS ROLE

Primary duties are to promote and educate with financial stability messages using primarily the Your Money, Your Goals curriculum serving adults, youth and older adults; provide financial coaching and other activities to support healthy financial behaviors and change; establish and maintain multi-sector contracts as well as planning, scheduling and implementing outreach and education to families, neighborhoods, and organizations. Other duties outside of the Financial Empowerment Program may be assigned.

Desirable to have selected candidate be bilingual in English/Spanish in both written and oral forms. Bilingual English/Vietnamese acceptable.

The rate for this position is $23.00 per hour.

This is an onsite position stationed at our three Family Resource Centers in Anaheim, Orange, and Santa Ana. Services are provided at our FRCs and throughout Orange County.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understand, implement and deliver financial education programs in using the Your Money, Your Goals curriculum to increase financial knowledge, skills and resources for clients, community residents and community groups.
• Conduct financial coaching through one-to-one or small group sessions to provide support to clients to set financial goals and track financial empowerment progress.
• Assess and determine the client’s most pressing financial empowerment problem and the area(s) where the client expressed an interest in getting more financial knowledge and support.
• Work with and manage working relationships with multiple staff members, partners, and clients.
• Evaluate, measure and record financial empowerment program outcomes in data reporting systems through notes, attendance and participation, and pre and post surveys.
• Complete and submit program reports on a scheduled basis or as needed.
• Other duties, and other program duties outside of the Financial Empowerment Program, as assigned.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE HAS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN

• Knowledge of financial literacy, financial stability and poverty issues.
  Presenting, teaching and training using a prescribed curriculum to effectively present information and respond to questions from individuals, groups, and managers.
  Working both independently and collaboratively within a team.
  Analyzing and interpreting various materials to make recommendations, understand and apply program rules, regulations and procedures.
  Mentoring for leadership development, peer-to-peer education models, and engagement.
  Creating and administering pre and post surveys to measure knowledge, skills, and behavioral change.
  Providing one-on-one financial guidance, including budgeting, debt management, credit building, and savings strategies
  Experience with VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) tax preparation, including knowledge of IRS guidelines and compliance requirements
  Demonstrated ability to support clients in setting realistic financial goals and developing actionable plans to achieve financial stability
  Experience educating clients on the importance of savings, asset-building strategies, and long-term financial planning
  Ability to clearly communicate financial risks, including debt accumulation, predatory lending, and lack of emergency savings
  Experience facilitating financial education workshops, group trainings, or community presentations
  Knowledge of public benefits, financial products, and community resources that support economic mobility.
  Experience tracking client progress, maintaining accurate case notes, and utilizing data systems to measure outcomes
  Ability to build trust with clients from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds using a trauma-informed and strength-based approach

IDEAL CANDIDATE MUST BE

• Customer service oriented: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with CAP OC’s staff and representatives of other organizations.
• Ethically Focused: Understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure own behavior and the behavior of others are consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Inclusive: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational and program effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
• Work focused: Being detailed oriented while working accurately and efficiently on a consistent basis without assistance. Strong organizational skills. May require working weekends/ evenings/ holidays when/if needed to meet client/production demands. Workdays and hours of work are subject to change.
• Language skilled: Fluently speak, read, and write a second language, Spanish preferred, but Vietnamese acceptable.
• Mathematical: In a timely manner correctly create, compose and complete mathematical equations on a computer or to complete forms for reports and/or presentations. Compile numbers, statistical data, and obtain other information for forms, reports and presentations.
• Computer literate: Competently use the Internet, Web based databases, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Publisher and Access) and other applications. Experience with virtual communication platforms. Use a variety of computer databases to ensure that client records, statistics and reports are completed.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business Administration, Social Work, Public Administration, Human Services, Education, or a related field preferred. Equivalent combinations of education, training, and relevant experience will be considered.

• Experience providing financial education, coaching, case management, workforce development, community outreach, or related services to diverse populations.

• Experience facilitating workshops, training, presentations, or educational activities for adults and/or community members

• Knowledge of personal finance topics such as budgeting, credit, debt reduction, savings, and financial goal setting.

• Financial coaching, counseling, VITA, or related certifications are a plus but not required.

TRAVEL

Possess a valid California Driver’s License with a driving record that meets minimum standards established by CAP OC insurance carrier, proof of vehicle insurance, access to a vehicle and willingness to drive/travel when required.

Typically, travel is local during the business day to/from CAP OC locations, and other locations throughout Orange County. Incumbent will use personal vehicle. Possible travel may be during evening hours, out-of-the-area and/or overnight travel.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The work environment for this role is both indoors in an office environment and outdoors in varying temperatures and weather conditions with prolong sitting and/or standing. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to bend, stoop, reach, pull, push, stand, kneel, sit, twist, turn, stand, walk, bend at the waist, talk and hear, vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, ability to adjust focus, prolong manual dexterity of wrist and fingers, and moderate to prolong computer work. Employee will experience prolong periods of both sitting and/or standing in an office environment. The employee must regularly lift and/or move objects up to thirty (30) pounds.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND BACKGROUND CHECK

A medical examination is required of each new employee whose physical condition must meet the minimum requirements prescribed for the position. In addition, prospective employees must pass a pre-employment physical, drug screen, Live Scan and background check. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

THE PROMISE OF COMMUNITY ACTION

Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.