Financial Coach

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

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.

• Develop long-term relationships with clients around 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 to 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 PQI’s Senior Program Officer, Data, for missing data entries or follow-up metrics.

• Capture client success stores.

• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Work Experience:

• Relevant professional experience in human services field required; minimum of 2 years’ experience strongly preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• Demonstrated understanding of U.S. business climate and systems, business development, budgeting, asset building, and credit building, with experience in business counseling strongly preferred.

• Previous work experience with the IRC’s target refugee and immigrant population and/or with populations affected by trauma is strongly preferred.

• Ability to provide financial coaching and coaching services in a culturally sensitive manner.

• Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.

• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.

• Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.

• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; proficiency in language(s) spoken by client group is desired.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.

• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.

Working Environment:

• A combination of standard office environment and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.

• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

US Benefits:

The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.