Financial counselor jobs can vary depending on the job environment, but the basic job is to provide financial advice. Some financial counselors provide basic financial assistance, teaching such skills as checkbook balancing, making budgets and basic money management. Sometimes debt consolidation organizations have financial counselor jobs. These professionals help people plan budgets and finance schedules to reduce their debts. More professional positions in this field might include work with tax and investment advice, planning for retirement. The education requirements vary by the type of finance counselor position.
Financial counselors offering the most basic services may teach people basic personal finance skills, such as composing a budget or reconciling a checkbook. These financial counselor jobs are common on college campuses, military installations, and through community assistance organizations. Church organizations and government offices often have financial counselor positions as well. These financial counselors attempt to give people the basic knowledge to manage their money and generally do not sell additional financial products to the clients they counsel. These positions typically require some accounting background and usually basic accounting certifications, which will vary by jurisdiction.
Many types of debt-reduction organizations hire financial counselors as well. These financial counselor jobs involve teaching people how to follow a specific plan in order to get out of debt. These financial counselors commonly start out by paying a fee to learn the process of teaching a company's particular program. The advice offered by these financial counselors is often limited to the tenants of the program. Many companies hire these financial counselors with no previous experience or education, as the training typically is provided in-house; those with some background in accounting or those who have completed some accounting classes may have a better chance of landing a job, however.
Professionals offering advice regarding investments, taxes, and retirement often work in financial counseling positions as well. These positions usually require certifications and degrees that allow them to offer financial advice that other financial counselors may not be qualified to offer. Even a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) might find work as a financial counselor. The difference is the CPA can offer tax advice that some other people within financial counselor jobs cannot.
Financial counselors also may find work in hospitals and other medical organizations. Medical care can be quite expensive, and patients may have to find ways to pay costs that aren't covered by medical insurance. Counselors in these positions can help people set up payment plans that work within their budgets to help them pay the bills in a timely fashion and avoid any negative credit repercussions. These positions typically require candidates to have a minimum of a high school diploma, but some institutions may require an associate's degree or even a bachelor's degree, depending on the specific nature of the work.