Financial Counselor-DC Financial Empowerment Initiative

United Planning Organization • Washington, DC

9h • $55,000 - $60,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The United Planning Organization (UPO) is seeking an energetic and experienced individual to join their Community Reinvestment Division as a Financial Counselor. This role is part of UPO’s DC Financial Empowerment Initiative and focuses on providing individualized, client-centered financial counseling to low- and moderate-income District residents. The goal is to help clients stabilize their finances, address immediate financial challenges, and build pathways toward long-term financial security. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, able to work independently and in a fast-paced environment, and deliver a high level of customer support. UPO is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse staff.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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 professional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Prior experience in a non-profit organization.
• Bilingual/Spanish.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Benefits

• Health/Kaiser, 70/30 split
• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED