Community First Financial Center Director position available

Community First Financial Center
Position open: Director
Location: Washington, DC metropolitan area
Start date: August 20, 2009
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Interested candidates should send resume and coverletter to Annie Betancourt Lord at alord01@yahoo.com

The Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) has created a social enterprise designed to meet the financial liquidity needs of low- and moderate-income families: Community First Financial Center (CFFC). CFFC’s mission is to provide low- and moderate-income customers with transparent, reliable financial services that they need to support themselves and their families, at home and abroad. CFFC will achieve that mission by offering quality check-cashing, remittances, and other related services. As a for-profit subsidiary of LEDC[1], and located in the storefront adjacent to LEDC’s office in Wheaton, CFFC will also provide its customers with immediate access to LEDC’s comprehensive wealth-building services (including financial literacy education, homeownership counseling, and small business loans and technical assistance), which can help them meet their longer-term financial needs.

CFFC will meet low-income consumers where they conduct their financial business; it will provide transparent and reliable liquidity-based services valued by customers; and, in partnership with LEDC, it will provide customers with access to longer-term wealth-building services.

CFFC’s Management Board seeks a Director to lead the business toward profitability and the successful achievement of its mission.

For the CFFC Director, customer satisfaction will be one of the most important goals of the job. We are looking for a friendly, outgoing person who likes meeting and talking with new people in Spanish and English. Marketing through direct connection with the community will be critical to this job. In addition, the Director will have to be flexible. Running this business will be a dynamic task, and each day will be filled with a variety of duties, including talking with customers and making them feel comfortable, managing a staff, completing company reports, training and assisting the tellers with their duties, and supervising the day-to-day store operations. You will likely spend time outside of the store visiting business and community partners and seeking input from the community on needed products and services. The Director will be responsible for increasing the business’s profitability through growth while insuring customer satisfaction and fulfillment of the mission.

This is an exciting opportunity to participate in the cutting-edge field of social entrepreneurship in the equally evolving financial services industry. The Director should think from his/her first day about innovative products and services to provide in addition to check cashing and remittances, provided they further its profitability as well as its mission. The Director will also be responsible for setting the tone in the store, so that customers feel comfortable and trust that they are receiving transparent, secure, and efficient services.

Responsibilities
The Director will be responsible for:
· Marketing the CFFC to attract customers and earn community goodwill
· Implementing the grand opening of the CFFC
· Managing the day-to-day operations of the CFFC, creating a friendly atmosphere while providing transparent, secure, efficient service.
· Managing at least one full-time teller and possibly several part-time tellers
· Completing in a timely fashion all corporate and financial record-keeping
· Ensuring the proper legal and ethical provision of services
· Consulting and reporting to the Management Board regularly and whenever concerns arise

Required Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree from accredited 4-year college, with degree in business, finance, or related field
· 1 year experience with check cashing or remittances services industry
· Experience in customer service
· Experience in marketing and advertising
· Prior management or supervisory experience
· Strong organizational skills
· Fluent speaker and writer in Spanish and English
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills
· Strong knowledge of business accounting and financial statements
· Ability to work weekends and accommodate a fluctuating schedule
· Must be able to multi-task in a fast paced professional environment
· Excellent work ethic
· Good computer skills
· Reliable transportation to be used daily
· Professional experience and conduct

Preferred Qualifications
· Masters in Business Administration or related graduate degree
· Commitment to financial stability and growth of low-income communities
· Familiarity with political and socio-economic dynamics of low-income communities, particularly immigrants, in Maryland and the US
· Familiarity with Wheaton, MD, its residents, and its businesses.
[1] LEDC’s mission is to improve the wealth-building capacity of low- and moderate-income Latinos and other underserved communities in the Washington Metropolitan Area.