Financial Literacy Adviser

Hours: 37 hours per week (Flexible working options will be considered)

Salary: £23,929 per annum pro rata

Location: Sandwell & Walsall

Contract: Fixed Term until 31st March 2025

Closing date: 12th December at 5pm

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Provisional Interview date: 23rd December 2024

Reports to: Service Manager

Role Overview

The Numbers for Life partnership will bring Public and Voluntary sector partners together to provide a collaborative programme of support for Sandwell Residents.

The Numbers for Life project will work with residents who are employed but are affected greatly by the cost-of-living crisis. They may be on low incomes, on in-work benefits or working irregular hours (Zero Hours Contract). We will help them develop their knowledge and understanding to improve financial literacy and numeracy outcomes in their daily life. This will enable them to better manage their money, develop the foundations for further education and could support future career progression. Learners will build confidence and skills innumbers, through guided learning, online learning 1-1s and group work.

Job Description

• To plan, deliver and facilitate financial literacy sessions to employed people over a ten week period following a scheme of work - Numbers for Life. This may be structured sessions, drop in sessions or independent learning tasks.
• To complete required paperwork with learners to the agreed format and submit within the timeframes given
• To provide basic financial education to help learners make better budgeting, borrowing, saving and banking decisions, encouraging them to manage their finances more effectively and help them take control before they reach a crisis point.
• To prepare and distribute learner resources
• Support learners to become more digitally literate in using relevant govt sites, comparison sites and money saving apps
• Research and explore options with learners so they are able to make informed decisions.
• Maintain all learner records for information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.
• Build and promote good internal/external partnership links to encourage referrals into the service and signposting clients where required.
• To encourage good teamwork and lines of communication between members of the Number for Life team and wider staff
• To attend and participate at meetings for staff and volunteers.
• Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training.
• Participate in structured supervision and support sessions.
• To carry out other tasks within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
• To conform to health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for your own safety and that of learners and colleagues.
• To endorse the aims, policies and principle of the CA service

Interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills in order to allow clients to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities.

Person specification

Experience

• Experience of delivering training and completing learner paperwork
• Experience of IT systems and packages.
• Experience of working in a customer facing role.

Knowledge

• Ability to commit to and work within the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service.
• A good up to date understanding of equality and diversity and its application to the provision of advice.
• Knowledge of the issues faced by people due to the cost of living crisis.

Skills and Attributes

• Ability to use sensitive listening and questioning skills to get to the root of the issues and empower learners, whilst maintaining structure and control of meetings with them.
• A good standard of written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to interpret information and present options to learners, thereby assisting, not serving them.
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.
• A commitment to continuous professional development, including a willingness to develop knowledge and skills in financial advice topics.

In accordance with Citizens Advice policy we may ask the successful candidate to be screened by the DBS. However, a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to your being able to take up the job.

What we give our staff

We value all our people and can offer a supportive culture within a charity setting that is committed to social justice. All of the roles below attract a rewarding remuneration package with excellent terms including:

• A flexible 37 hour working week
• Pension scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement (26 days per year in addition to bank holidays)
• Refer a friend/family member incentive scheme
• Annual pay reviews

Please click apply to receive an application pack by email.