Financial Counselor

Join to apply for the Housing & Financial Counselor role at The Up Center
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As one of the largest non‑profit providers of HUD certified Housing and Financial Counseling in our region, we serve approximately 10,000 children and adults each year. We have a deep understanding of how financial literacy impacts a family’s ability to thrive. We work daily to transform our services and the system of care in our community, and we have clear strategic goals to champion this need and increase our capacity to provide critical services.

• Meet individually with clients to provide financial and housing counseling, using HUD's housing counseling Rules and Regulations as a guide.
• Perform home‑buyer client intake, counseling, and follow‑up on spending plan, credit, savings, and home purchase and financing process in accordance with the National Industry Standards for home ownership counseling.
• Maintain timely client tracking via Counselor Max database; training provided.
• Participate in local community outreach (presentations, fairs, etc.).
• Acquire and maintain the Train‑the‑Trainer Certification for Virginia Homebuyer Education.
• Develop referral sources by building relationships with lenders, Realtors, and others in the housing and finance industry.
• Attend trainings to obtain and/or maintain certifications.
• Actively participate in quality and process reviews to improve the effectiveness of housing counseling services.
• Arrange and teach financial literacy workshops within the community.
• Remain professional and maintain confidentiality of participants’ information.
• Assist with establishing and updating processes for the delivery of counseling services.
• Act as an application agent for Accessibility grants – training provided.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Strong customer service, teaching, and communication skills; effective in working with people from a variety of backgrounds.
• Ability to initiate contact with community groups for financial literacy education; comfortable with “cold calling.”
• Demonstrated mastery in computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, Teams, etc.
• Ability to use Counselor Max database; training provided.
• Ability to engage with clients served and maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Self‑confidence in decision making and problem‑solving; strong work ethic.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with strong presentation skills.

• Associate degree from an accredited college or university in finance or human services related field or equivalent work experience.
• Must have HUD Housing Counselor Certification or be prepared to take and pass it within 60 days of hire. The Up Center will support the candidate in preparing for the exam and cover the cost of the exam.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must have and maintain a working cell phone.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and meet background check requirements.