Financial Coach

Financial Coach PositionOur MissionWe are on a mission to provide system-impacted youth with a pathway from survival to self-actualization.Our VisionWe envision a world where housing is more than just a roof over your head, but a classroom for life for all young people.Our members are navigating real financial challenges, often for the first time and without family support. The Financial Coach plays a vital role in helping them build the money skills, habits, and emotional relationship with finances they need to thrive — both inside SHP and long after they leave.Position OverviewCompensation: $60.00/per hourThe Financial Coach is a part-time contractor who provides individualized financial coaching, group workshops, and team collaboration to support member financial wellness across all stages of the SHP Life School program. This role blends practical money management skills with a deep understanding of the psychology of money — helping members not only know what to do financially, but understand why they feel and respond the way they do around money.This is a relational, trauma-informed role. The right candidate brings warmth, lived experience, and the ability to meet young people where they are while holding them to high standards of growth.Core Responsibilities1. Individual Financial Coaching SessionsProvide one-on-one financial coaching sessions with assigned members. Sessions should be consistent, goal-oriented, and tailored to each member's program stage and personal circumstances.Custom Budget DevelopmentBuild a personalized monthly budget for each member based on their current income, program membership fees, and living expensesEnsure the budget reflects the member's real life — not a generic template — and accounts for their specific goals, stage of program, and savings milestonesRevisit and update the budget regularly as income, expenses, or goals changeDevelop a transition budget for life after SHP — projecting housing costs, utilities, food, transportation, and other independent living expensesAlign budget planning with the Path to Stability savings match program and program advancement requirementsBudget Accountability & Follow-ThroughHold members accountable to their budget goals through regular check-ins and progress reviewsReview spending and savings activity with each member — celebrating wins and troubleshooting gaps without judgmentHelp members develop self-accountability habits and the ability to self-correct when they fall off trackDocument budget adherence and flag consistent barriers that may require additional team supportCustom Credit-Building PlanAssess each member's current credit situation — including credit score, credit history, open accounts, and any derogatory marksCreate an individualized credit-building plan with clear, actionable steps and measurable goalsGuide members through tools like secured credit cards, credit-builder loans, becoming an authorized user, and on-time payment strategiesHelp members review their credit reports, understand what's on them, and dispute any inaccuraciesSet short- and long-term credit score targets tied to housing and financial independence goalsCredit-Building AccountabilityMonitor each member's progress toward credit goals through regular check-insReview credit score changes, new account activity, and payment history on a consistent basisAdjust the credit-building plan as needed based on member circumstances or progressEducate members on how their daily financial behaviors connect directly to their credit healthInvestment & Long-Term Savings Planning (Advance Goals)Develop a personalized savings and investment plan for each member that extends beyond program exitIntroduce foundational investment concepts: compound interest, index funds, retirement accounts (Roth IRA, employer 401k), and long-term wealth buildingHelp members understand the difference between saving (short-term security) and investing (long-term growth)Set tiered savings goals: emergency fund first, then longer-term investment vehicles as income and stability increaseConnect investment planning to each member's life vision and Purpose Map — making it feel relevant, not abstractIntroduce age-appropriate platforms and tools members can use independently (e.g., Acorns, Fidelity, CUNA, etc.)Tax Filing Education & SupportEducate members on the basics of filing taxes: what forms they need, how income is reported, and what deductions or credits may apply to themGuide members through the tax filing process — including use of free filing tools (IRS Free File, VITA sites, Cash App Taxes, etc.)Help members understand their refunds and how to use them intentionally — aligned with their savings and investment goalsClarify tax implications for different income types: W-2 employment, gig work, stipends, and program-related incomeEnsure members understand deadlines, extensions, and what to do if they owe taxesConnect members to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites or trusted resources when professional support is needed2. Psychology of Money & Emotional Financial CoachingGo beyond the numbers. Help members understand the emotional and psychological dimensions of their financial behaviors:Explore each member's personal money story — the beliefs, messages, and experiences around money they carry from childhood and past experiencesIdentify emotional triggers around money (anxiety, avoidance, shame, impulsivity, scarcity mindset) and introduce tools to recognize and respond to them constructivelyPractice reframing financial decisions through a growth mindset and asset-based lensConnect financial patterns to broader healing and purpose work happening in therapy and life coachingNormalize money conversations — creating a judgment-free space where members can be honest about their financial reality3. Case Conference Participation & Team CollaborationThe Financial Coach is an active member of the SHP care team. Responsibilities include:Attend and contribute to case conference meetings — providing updates on each member's financial goals, progress, and areas of concernShare observations about a member's relationship with money relevant to their overall case plan (e.g., avoidance behaviors, high stress, meaningful progress)Identify and flag patterns of growth or challenge across the caseload — noting where financial stress may be intersecting with housing stability or program engagementCollaborate with the Case Manager, and staff to align financial goals with each member's broader program stageContribute to member advancement reviews — affirming readiness based on savings milestones, budget consistency, credit progress, and overall financial skill development4. Group Financial Wellness WorkshopsIdentify and facilitate group workshops based on collective needs observed across the member community. Workshop topics may include:Budgeting basics and building a spending planUnderstanding and building credit from scratchSavings strategies — why it feels hard and how to make it stickIntroduction to investing: making your money work for youBanking, financial products, and avoiding predatory servicesThe psychology of money: money scripts, emotional spending, and scarcity vs. abundance mindsetTax filing 101: what every young adult needs to knowPreparing financially for independent housingFinancial goal-setting and vision mappingThe Financial Coach is expected to observe themes across members and proactively propose workshops that meet the community's current, collective needs.5. Documentation & Progress TrackingMaintain session notes and financial progress records for each memberTrack key milestones (savings amounts, credit score changes, budget completion, investment accounts opened) in SHP's tracking systemsProvide input for quarterly member assessments and annual evaluations as requestedWhat Members Will LearnBy working with the Financial Coach, SHP members will develop the following knowledge and skills:Money Management & BudgetingHow to create, maintain, and adjust a personal monthly budgetHow to track income, expenses, and discretionary spendingHow to set and meet savings goals — short-term and long-term