THE ROLE

Within the Regional Small Business Support Program (funded by the Australian Government via the National Recovery and Resilience Agency), we are seeking to appoint a Small Business Financial Counsellor in Toowoomba. This role forms part of our South East QLD Hub and shall work collaboratively with our established Rural Financial Counsellors throughout this region, focussing on Toowoomba, Southern Downs and Surrounding Regions. For further information, please visit our careers page at www.rfcssq.org.au/SBcareers

The focus of this role is to utilise a case management approach to:

• assist eligible small businesses impacted by drought, COVID-19 or bushfires to understand their financial position and identify options and implement plans to improve the viability of their enterprise
• ensure clients exit the service having taken steps to make positive changes that improve their financial position within the program period.

Eligible clients for the Regional Small Business Support Program are small businesses who:

• employ 19 or fewer people
• are, in the opinion of the Financial Counsellor, experiencing or at imminent risk of financial hardship
• are located in a rural area that is also defined as ‘MM2’ to ‘MM7’ on the Department of Health’s Modified Monash Model rurality classification.

In undertaking their role, a Small Business Financial Counsellor shall help clients to:

• understand their financial position
• understand the benefits and drawbacks of different options to manage financial issues
• develop budgets and cashflows
• negotiate with creditors
• access dispute resolution services
• understand their rights and access broader professional advice and support, and
• access government and community grants, programs or schemes.

Small Business Financial Counsellors do not provide financial advice, family, emotional or social counselling or prepare business succession plans but do provide referrals to appropriate professionals.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

To be successful in the role of Small Business Financial Counsellor, knowledge of the following shall be required or need to be rapidly obtained:

• cashflow budgeting and financial analysis
• business and enterprise planning
• small business issues and challenges in the current economic climate
• small business viability assessment
• succession planning options for businesses
• loan structures and small business lending practices
• banker/creditor negotiation
• current class C driver licence
• Microsoft Office (required) and Salesforce (desirable) applications.

In addition, a Small Business Financial Counsellor needs to be equipped with a professional and empathetic outlook, combined with proven communication and interpersonal skills. Counsellors also need to be able to work autonomously whilst remaining part of a small and close-knit team. Undertaking outreach and associated activities to promote the Service to potential clients is also a requirement of the role.

DIPLOMA OF FINANCIAL COUNSELLING

All Small Business Financial Counsellors need to either hold or be prepared to obtain a Diploma of Financial Counselling. Applicants who already hold this diploma shall be highly regarded. If not held, applicants must be prepared to commence study towards the diploma within three months of starting employment and obtain the diploma within two years. Diploma costs shall be met by Rural Solutions Queensland Inc.

REMUNERATION

Base salary of $88,920 for a full-time position (without diploma) OR $92,722 once the Diploma of Financial Counselling is attained, plus superannuation. As a not-for-profit, all employees have access to salary sacrificing of up to $15,600 p.a. including rent and living expenses via AccessPay. A work vehicle is also provided with the option of discounted paid personal use available.

Four weeks annual recreation leave are included in the package, plus four additional days (one per quarter) of professional, health and development leave (PHD leave). Further information on the Small Business Financial Counselling Service and the role of a Financial Counsellor is located at www.rfcssq.org.au/business.

TO APPLY

Click "Apply Now" and follow the instructions. Or contact our team on 1300 732 777 for further information.

Note: Applications without selection criteria shall not be considered.

Selection Criteria

• Detail your experience and ability to conduct detailed financial analysis of a small business client’s position, including viability assessments, cashflow analysis, forward budgeting and documented business plans.
• Detail your ability and preparedness to undertake case management support to clients to develop their financial literacy and overall business management capacity for the client to improve or regain control over the financial affairs of their enterprise.
• Provide an overview of your prior experience in negotiating on behalf of and/or advocating for the rights of small business clients with creditors, banks and other parties.
• Summarise your experience in planning and managing your own workflow to achieve set outcomes whilst working as part of a dispersed team. Please also detail your understanding of the OH&S requirements of operating autonomously in a rural/remote area.
• Detail your experience in undertaking outreach activities to raise awareness of the Small Business Financial Counselling Service to clients and amongst industry stakeholders (e.g. holding seminars and info sessions, participating at field days, conducting stakeholder engagement).