Financial Empowerment Specialist - LEO Inc

TITLE: Financial Empowerment Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Community Services

REPORTS TO: Assistant Director of Community Services

FLSA STATUS: NON-EXEMPT

Position Description

The Financial Empowerment Specialist provides free financial coaching, education, and tax preparation services to low and moderate income households in LEO's service area through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Financial Empowerment programs. The role of the Specialist is to administer all aspects of Financial Empowerment and VITA programming including: client screening, scheduling, financial education, case management, tax preparation, and IRS compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

Income Tax Assistance:

• Coordinate with the IRS and the state-wide community action agency association program lead on all aspects of VITA program requirements, compliance and e-file administration
• Act as the e-file administrator, file tax returns with the IRS within required timeframes, resolve rejected returns in a timely manner, and conduct a quality review on returns prepared by volunteer tax preparers
• Maintain volunteer records and ensure volunteers are trained and complete the required certification to accurately file tax returns
• Oversee tax appointment screenings and services and provide tax site administration, including the collection of required IRS forms, ensure IRS Code of Conduct and Confidentiality Regulations are practiced and all required records and documentation is properly maintained
• Monitor data and report deadlines and follows up with relevant parties to ensure compliance
• Assist with outreach and marketing activities to raise awareness about the program and to identify eligible community residents

Financial Empowerment:

• Provide financial education in a group and/or individual setting utilizing both in-person and virtual platforms
• Provide case management to clients on a regular basis or as needed by client, including developing individual financial goals and assisting with specific issues regarding financial/credit management
• Provide information and assist in applying to agency and community services as needed
• Perform intake and data collection as per all funding source requirements
• Review, analyze, and translate client credit reports

General Duties

• Present a professional and positive image as a representative of LEO to clients and visitors
• When remote work is available, complete all required tasks
• Represent agency programs at outreach events as needed
• Occasionally travel to and perform work off-site
• Assume other duties as assigned (filing, processing mail, answering phones, etc.)

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree and 2 years of relevant experience. Additional experience in lieu of education to be considered
• Experience and/or knowledge of financial education principles, tax preparation, and/or IRS tax regulations preferred
• Required to pass online IRS certifications in Basic, Advanced, and Health Savings Account within 90 days of hire
• Ability to take part in certification programs that include Financial Social Work and Credit Counseling
• Strong organizational and computer skills, including Microsoft Office, ability to learn additional agency systems required
• Excellent customer service with a confident and compassionate attitude
• Ability to ensure consistent and accurate data entry and application review; a strong attention to detail is essential
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to relate and communicate effectively with diverse groups of individuals and stakeholders
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish)

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.

The employee frequently lifts and/or moves binders of printed material. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.