Credit Counselor - Providence, United States - Skills for Rhode Island's Future

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    Description
    Credit Counselor (Small Business) Job Description

    Organization

    Skills for Rhode Island's Future (SkillsRI) is a nonprofit workforce intermediary working to break down barriers to economic opportunity by connecting unemployed and underemployed Rhode Islanders to jobs with socially responsible, civic-minded employers through a proven demand-driven approach.

    SkillsRl's multi-faceted approach focuses on providing a continuum of career services to help those who face barriers to employment succeed in the workplace.

    Diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the heart of the SkillsRI model and we have proven to be incredibly effective at recruiting and placing individuals with barriers into employment.


    Additionally, SkillsRI manages the RI Small Business HUB, designed to provide supportive, coordinated services for small business enterprises, as well as entrepreneurs looking to start and grow their businesses.

    The Hub provides access to several critical areas such as technical assistance, leadership development, professional services, and support to new and developing small businesses.


    Our Mission:
    Create demand-driven solutions for employers to get the unemployed and underemployed back to work.

    Our Vision:
    Transforming lives through meaningful employment and economic mobility.

    Our Values:
    Collaboration, Excellence, Integrity, Innovation, Respect

    Position Summary

    The Credit Counselor will advise and educate small business owners in multiple areas surrounding credit, including understanding loan requirements, managing debt, providing budgets, etc.

    This position will operate within the RI Small Business HUB and will report directly to the Small Business Hub Director.

    This is an in-person position located in Providence, RI.


    The RI Small Business HUB aims to facilitate the growth and development of women, veteran, people with disabilities, and minority-owned businesses by supporting small businesses become long-term, qualified entities capable of competing and growing.

    Responsibilities
    Assess small business owners' financial situations by reviewing income, assets, debts, expenses, credit reports, and other financial information.
    Assist small business owners in developing debt management plans.
    Prioritize small business owners' debt repayment to avoid critical consequences.
    Advise on financial strategies such as borrowing money through loan programs, declaring bankruptcy, or enrolling in debt management plans.
    Advise and educate small business owners on the subject of acquiring and managing debt.
    Provide guidance regarding loan types, including requirements and restrictions.
    Explain financial and credit services to small business owners.
    Provide small business owners with estimated timelines for debt repayment.
    Recommend alternate solutions to bankruptcy or foreclosure when applicable.
    Maintain and update records of small business owner account activity.
    Keep abreast of industry knowledge and trends by conducting continuous research.
    Perform other duties as assigned.

    Candidate Profile
    The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following experience, skills, and personal attributes:
    Passion for the mission of SkillsRI and the Hub
    Detail-oriented with an extreme sense of urgency
    Motivation to help small businesses thrive
    Comfortable visiting small businesses, communicating via phone, and working well in a high-energy environment.
    Proven exceptional customer service and case management skills
    Data collection and documentation of targets and metrics
    Excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills, relationship-building skills, customer service, empathy, and resilience
    Computer proficiency required; SharePoint, knowledge of CRMs, strong typing skills, and the ability to leverage technology to identify, research, and solve customer issues
    Excellent attention to detail
    Ability to organize and prioritize work while accomplishing goals under tight time constraints
    Ability to communicate professionally across a broad range of constituent groups
    Strong interpersonal skills including relationship building, customer service, empathy, and resilience
    Strong documentation skills, and able to make connections between similar problems
    Willingness to work hard, maintain a positive attitude, and overcome challenges
    Solution-oriented problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize according to business goals
    Conviction, integrity, honesty, and maturity in all situations
    Able to take specific notes to update candidate profiles
    Must possess excellent judgment to prioritize work, handle multiple projects at once, and meet objectives.
    Work in a fast-paced, highly accountable work setting.
    Ability to communicate professionally across a broad range of constituent groups
    Ability to work in-person and be available for nights and weekend meetings/events.

    Qualifications
    2-3 years of related job experience
    Bachelor's degree preferred
    Demonstrated experience cultivating and maintaining community engagement in a professional setting
    Demonstrated experience working with people of different backgrounds and experiences
    Bilingual (Spanish or other languages) a plus

    Compensation
    Salary is commensurate with experience.


    Benefits:
    100% of individual health, dental, and vision insurance
    Life insurance
    401k employer contribution
    Parking
    Paid Time Off
    15 paid holidays

    The Credit Counselor is a grant-funded position. Should there be a substantial reduction in funding or should funding cease, this position may be eliminated by SkillsRI.

    For more information about Skills for Rhode Island's Future, please visit