Financial Coach

Requisition ID: req37273

Job Title: Financial Coach

Sector: Economic Recovery & Livelihood

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: USD 25.00 - 26.25 Hourly

Location: Seattle, WA USA

Job Description

IRC Background: The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has a presence in over 40 countries and 27 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC opened an office in Seattle in 1976 and provides a continuum of services including intensive case management, employment and economic empowerment services, immigration assistance, health and wellness programming, and education support to refugee and immigrant families in Washington State. IRC Seattle is committed to providing trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible services and maintaining and evolving a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace.

Job Overview: The Financial Coach will provide coaching and counseling services to refugees, immigrants, and other individuals who are enrolled in the Economic Empowerment program, specifically new arrivals in their first year in the country. Financial counseling and coaching involve an ability to engage and motivate clients, a strong understanding of personal finances, an understanding of the U.S. financial system, and the ability to transfer that knowledge to others. The Financial Coach is responsible for assisting clients in developing plans that help clients reach their goals and achieve financial stability. The Financial Coach is expected to focus on services in a one-on-one counseling format but will also provide group instruction in workshop settings. The Financial Coach will work with the IRC Economic Empowerment team and other direct service staff to ensure that clients are receiving financial education and assistance across these service areas. This position will also assist clients in completing applications for targeted loan products including credit-building, business, auto, and immigration loans, as well as helping clients access local safe banking products.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

One-on-one financial counseling/coaching:

• Assist clients in resolving current financial challenges, while providing a wide lens on their financial health to shift the approach to proactive financial management.
• Providing assistance in understanding IOM payment obligations and helping negotiate any changes required by the families' situations.
• Build rapport with clients and support them to identify financial goals for their families.
• Develop plans of action and provide tools and resources while promoting client accountability to reach financial goals.
• Work with clients to provide strategies for budget improvements through personal budgets and detailed financial assessments.
• Understand other services offered by the IRC, such as employment, career development and microenterprise services.
• Work with external mainstream financial institutions to understand the needs of the community and assist with products and services that meet the identified needs. Providing avenues to access safe banking products.
• Other duties as assigned.

Workshop and training delivery:

• Develop workshop materials or tailor existing materials to meet the needs of the community. Workshop topics should be relevant to the community, and may include topics such as: budgeting, saving, banking products, credit building, taxes, orientations on IOM loan repayment, and identity theft.
• Schedule and deliver workshops and trainings. Ensure that proper interpretation resources are available if needed.

Consumer lending:

• Coordinate with the IRC's Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) to administer consumer loan program and ensure applications (credit building, business, vocational education, auto, immigration) are compiled and submitted in a timely manner.

Outcome tracking:

• Use Efforts to Outcome (ETO), a client data management system, to document and reflect the outcome of clients' progress in an accurate and timely manner and in alignment with funder objectives.
• Complete a Financial Capability Scale for all classroom attendees and record the score in ETO.
• Complete a Family Budget, including net worth worksheet, and pull a credit report and score for financial counseling clients. Record these baseline metrics in ETO.
• Ensure that follow-up outcomes metrics, stated above, are recorded in ETO at approximately 6-8 months from the baseline metrics. Follow the guidance provided by IRC's Senior Program Officer, Data, for missing data entries or follow-up metrics.
• Capture client success stores.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Economic Empowerment Program Manager

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Primarily with Economic Empowerment and Employment staff, works with all departments and teams within IRC Seattle

External: Financial institutions, partners, service providers, agencies, etc.

Job Requirements:

• Relevant degree or equivalent professional and/or lived experience
• Lived experience as a refugee or immigrant is preferred
• In lieu of lived experience, experience working with refugees and/or immigrants; cross-cultural or overseas experience accepted
• A demonstrated understanding of personal finances, particularly in the areas of budgeting, asset building, and credit building is required
• Professional experience in a financial-counseling setting is strongly preferred
• 2+ years' relevant experience including personal finance or banking, individual counseling, case management, or coaching required (experience with low-income and/or immigrant communities strongly encouraged)
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• Previous work experience with the IRC's target population, and/or the ability to provide financial counseling/coaching services that are culturally responsive
• Demonstrated skills with reporting and tracking information in a database
• Commitment to anti-racism and ongoing learning
• Access to a reliable transportation to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area (driver's license, insurance, and access to vehicle preferred)

Working Environment:

• Standard, professional office environment (flexible remote and in-office)

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC's duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, participants, and communities, IRC requires candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

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