Financial Coach

Description

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Indian River Habitat for Humanity develops housing solutions guided by the needs of its family partners and the community.

POSITION SUMMARY:

As an integral part of the Housing Solutions Team, the primary responsibility of the Financial Coach will help households become financially prepared to qualify for homeownership. The Certified Credit Counselor/Financial Coach will provide one on one financial counseling and coaching services to individuals and families seeking to improve their financial well-being. The ideal candidate will assist clients in managing debt, improving credit, creating sustainable budgets, and achieving financial goals such as homeownership, savings, and asset building. The role is vital in promoting long-term financial stability through education, accountability, and personalized guidance.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide accurate, relevant, and helpful information to assist individuals in developing solutions for money management, assist in credit-related issues, housing issues, and prepare future homebuyers for lender readiness either on the open market or for Habitat’s Affordable Housing program. 
• Remain educated on all market options for all housing trends (purchase and/or rentals) and refer qualified candidates that have completed the housing counseling program successfully to the appropriately identified market. 
• Conduct in-depth financial assessments to evaluate credit reports, debt load, income, and expenses. Develop action plans tailored to clients’ unique financial situations and track progress over time. Follow up every 30-60 days. 
• Stay connected with emergency housing organizations to be able to assist individuals needing immediate assistance prior to identification of rental and/or purchase options. 
• Provide individualized counseling to help clients understand and improve their credit, manage debt, and establish achievable financial goals 
• Prepare and maintain counseling files. Maintain accurate documentation of counseling sessions, progress notes, and required reporting in compliance with agency standards. 
• Assist families with all applications for housing and make sure that all applications are complete, and all requirements are met prior to application to the Habitat Homebuyer Services Program. 
• Assist families with the application process for other market options and afford them the same assistance to provide a complete packet to a lender or property management. 
• Facilitate HUD first time homebuyer education workshops for Habitat future home buyers. 
• Facilitate workshops and seminars on financial topics, including budgeting, credit building, savings, and debt management for families working with IRHFH. 
• Assist clients with disputing credit inaccuracies, understanding credit scoring, and building a positive credit history. 
• Refer clients to appropriate external resources, including housing counselors, legal aid, and public benefits when needed. 
• Be available to help mentor and meet with selected future Habitat homebuyers upon request to ensure they complete partnership requirements and remain eligible for the loan and remain on track for mortgage readiness. 
• Uphold the highest standards of client confidentiality and professional ethics. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

OTHER DUTIES:

Please note that this position description is designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the associate for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice. 

COMPETENCIES:

• Experience in mortgage services, banking, accounting, lending, or financial services is preferred. 
• Must have a passion for working with numbers and helping solve financial issues. 
• Must demonstrate the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency. 
• Must always demonstrate compassion and respect to everyone. 
• Must be committed to helping others achieve financial stability. 
• Must possess strong organizational and teamwork skills. 
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
• Must be a self-starter and be willing to learn quickly and follow all processes and procedures. 
• Must understand the challenges facing lower-income and/or housing insecure families. 
• Must possess integrity and a strong sense of work ethic. 
• Must have the ability to maintain a professional, unbiased, and equitable attitude. 
• Must be willing and available to adapt to a changing and growing program. 
• Must have an understanding and appreciation of the mission of Habitat for Humanity. 
• Must always act in a manner that represents and honors our core values. 

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred  
• Bi-lingual – English/Spanish preferred 
• Housing counseling experience preferred but not necessary 
• Strong understanding of personal finance principles with the ability to coach/mentor clients 
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) and have the willingness to learn and use software 
• Valid Florida Driver’s License 
• Must satisfactorily complete counseling-related training as assigned 
• HUD Housing Counseling Certification is preferred but not required 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THIS JOB:

• Regularly spend hours sitting and using office equipment and computers 
• Regularly spend hours standing 
• Regularly work on repetitive tasks 
• Regularly see details of objects that are less than a few feet away 
• Frequently bend to file and maintain files 
• Regularly lift 5-20 pounds 

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS:

• Majority of the day working in an office setting 
• Occasional outdoor activities that include walking through Habitat communities 

CERTIFICATION, LICENSES & REGISTRATIONS:

Must have a valid Florida driver’s license, a clean driving record, and must be a legal resident of the United States.