SBDC Business Advisor

Texas A&M University System•Victoria, TX

About The Position

The SBDC Business Advisor provides professional business consulting and training services to business owners and entrepreneurs across an 11-county area. The role analyzes client and industry information in finance, marketing, management, and operations; develops financial analyses, business and marketing plans, and loan proposals; and counsels small business clients on start-up and expansion. The advisor also prepares and teaches seminars and workshops, maintains relationships with regional economic and business organizations, collaborates with government officials on economic and rural development initiatives, and reports client economic impact and operational feedback to the director. Extensive travel throughout the region is required, and the position may require availability by phone or Internet outside normal working hours. The role reports to the Director, Small Business Development Center and has no subordinates.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field.
Three years of related experience.
Make satisfactory progress toward earning Certified Business Advisor status, Levels 1–4.
Broad knowledge of business management and thorough understanding of management, marketing, finance, and financial analysis.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to deliver speeches and workshops and interact with regional business and government leaders.
Ability to counsel business owners and managers, identify their concerns, and recommend appropriate actions.
Excellent analytical skills, including analyzing business operations and financials and developing courses of action, loan proposals, and marketing plans.
Excellent written communication skills and ability to draft proposals, correspondence, and reports.
Excellent organizational skills for compiling proposals and plans for presentation to business owners.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment and make decisions within delegated authority.
Proficiency with PC software applications in a Windows environment.
Extensive travel throughout the region is required.
May be required to be available by phone and/or Internet outside normal working hours.

Responsibilities

Analyze clients’ business and industry data in finance, marketing, management, and operations.
Calculate and interpret historical and projected financial ratios, prepare pro forma financial statements, and conduct cash flow feasibility studies.
Interpret and apply government regulations to clients’ businesses and industries.
Research and analyze client data to develop business plans, marketing plans, and loan proposals.
Counsel small business clients individually on start-up and expansion, research techniques, plan development, record keeping, and related business issues.
Demonstrate financial analysis methods and recommend courses of action concerning marketing, management, and loan applications.
Prepare and teach small-business seminars and workshops.
Initiate and maintain contact with assigned Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Corporations, and Main Street Coordinators.
Collaborate with local, state, and federal officials to promote economic and rural development programs under the director’s supervision.
Consult with government agencies on programs and related changes under the director’s supervision.
Select and attend training courses to stay current with business trends and developments.
Collect and compile individual client economic-impact information for the director’s reports to state and federal agencies.
Provide the director with information and feedback about operations, expenditures, and economic and rural development initiatives.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.