Financial Counsellor

Position Title / Financial Counsellor
Lismore District Financial Counselling Service Inc.
Location / Lismore
Level / SCHCADS Level 4 - 5
Reports to / 1. Senior Financial Counsellor
2. LDFCS Service Manager
3. LDFCS Management Committee
Role purpose / 1. Provision of information, options, support and advocacy to enable clients to develop skills, knowledge and confidence to take control of their own financial situation;
2. Provision of face-to-face and telephone financial counselling, including at outreach locations;
3. Development and implementation of strategies for addressing credit
issues.
Relationship scope
Key internal relationships / 1. LDFCS Service Manager, Senior Financial Counsellor, other staff and volunteers
2. LDFCS Management Committee
Key external relationships / 1. Existing and potential service users
2. Government departments and agencies
3. Non-Government organisations
4. Industry Associations
5. Contractors and consultants
Position delegation
Financial, human resource and operational / 1. As defined by the Management Committee
2. As per the LDFCS Delegations Manual
Key tasks and responsibilities
Casework / 1. Provision of financial counselling (face-to-face and telephone) to clients of the service in accordance with funding guidelines;
2. Assist clients to advocate and negotiate on their own behalf and, where
requested, undertake advocacy on their behalf;
3. Participation in casework discussions with LDFCS financial counselling colleagues to ensure that clients are provided with comprehensive information and relevant options.
Referrals and partnerships / 1. Maintain current knowledge of relevant community resources/services;
2. Ensure appropriate referrals and partnerships are conducted in accordance with funding requirements.
Social action, consumer advocacy, community development and community education / 1. Provision of support and assistance to community based initiatives;
2. Effective distribution of information (debt, credit and financial issues) to the community;
3. Identification and documentation of issues arising from casework, and development of strategies to deal with them;
4. Engagement with media outlets only under the direction of Manager or Management Committee;
5. In consultation with other LDFCS financial counsellors, develop,
implement and evaluate community education programs that promote
consumer awareness.
Professional development, training and supervision / 1. Accredited Member status with the Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW or equivalent;
2. Attendance at monthly financial counselling supervision sessions;
3. Attendance at additional supervision sessions in consultation with the Manager or where directed;
4. Participation in relevant professional development and training opportunities, such as campaigns, working groups, meetings and conferences.
Reporting / Provision of written reports to Manager, Management Committee and funding bodies, where required.
Other / Performance of other duties as directed by the Manager or the Management Committee, appropriate to the responsibilities of the position.
Organisational competencies
Generic / Lismore & District Financial Counselling Service Inc. Enterprise Agreement
Financial Counselling / 1. As per requirements of funding agreement
2. As per accreditation requirements of Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW or equivalent state body.
Person specification – Selection criteria (qualifications, abilities, experience)
Essential
1.Demonstrated effective communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills;
2. Accredited member status with the Financial Counsellor’s Association of NSW or equivalent;
3. Experience as a financial counsellor;
4. Demonstrated knowledge of financial counselling funding guidelines (State and Commonwealth);
5. Ability to travel in the region to deliver outreach services and education.
Desirable
1. Diploma in Financial Counselling.

Individual position descriptions will be reviewed annually in accordance with Staff Development policies and procedures.