Financial Counselor Jobs in Illinois
Financial Counselor jobs in Illinois are concentrated in healthcare systems, nonprofit credit counseling agencies, higher education, and community banking, with steady demand from entry-level advisors through senior program managers. Chicago leads hiring volume by a wide margin, followed by Springfield and Rockford, where large anchor employers like Advocate Health Care, the University of Illinois System, and Heartland Alliance maintain ongoing needs for financial counselors. The most consistently posted specialties are medical financial counseling, consumer debt and credit counseling, and student financial aid advising. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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The Financial Counselor provides individualized financial counseling and money management support to Ark clients, including those referred through Social Services/Case Management, the Gesher day program, and other Ark programs. As a member of the Social Services and Housing teams, this role focuses on building financial stability through regular client meetings, goal setting, education, and follow-up. The Financial Counselor also assists in administering our Shallow Subsidy and New Beginnings programs. Success in this role means clients experience increased financial organization, confidence, and stability, while funds are managed ethically, transparently, and in accordance with Ark policies.
What You’ll Do
- Financial Counseling and Client Support
- Conduct regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with clients to assess financial needs, goals, and challenges
- Develop individualized financial plans in collaboration with clients, including budgeting, bill management, debt prioritization, and savings goals
- Offer financial education tailored to clients’ cognitive, emotional, and functional needs
- Support clients in understanding income sources, benefits, and expenses
- Help clients address urgent financial issues such as utility shutoffs, arrears, and collections
- Shallow subsidy and new beginnings program support
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date financial records and documentation for all managed accounts
- Communicate clearly with clients regarding account activity, balances, and financial decisions
- Program Integration and Collaboration
- Collaborate closely with the Social Services and Housing teams, including the Benefits Navigator to coordinate financial, benefits, and housing support
- Accept referrals from Social Services/Case Management, Gesher, and other Ark programs and coordinate care across programs
- Attend social services and housing meetings as needed to support integrated client care
- Participate in team meetings, conferences, and supervision
What You’ll Bring
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, social work, human services, accounting, or a related field preferred
- Relevant certifications or coursework in financial counseling, financial coaching, or benefits management preferred
Experience:
- Experience providing financial counseling, financial coaching, or money management services required
- Experience working with individuals with mental health challenges or complex needs strongly preferred
Skills/Requirements:
- Strong knowledge of budgeting, basic financial management, and benefits income
- Ability to explain financial concepts clearly and accessibly to diverse clients
- High level of ethical judgment, discretion, and attention to detail
- Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams
- Knowledge of Jewish traditions, values, and communal practices, or demonstrated willingness and ability to learn and engage respectfully within a Jewish communal setting
Why You’ll Love Working Here
The Ark is a vital safety net for the Chicagoland Jewish community. Founded on the principles of dignity and compassion, The Ark provides free, comprehensive human services that bring stability, empowerment, and renewed purpose to people’s lives. Our integrated programs span social services, medical and dental care, financial assistance, housing solutions, employment, spiritual enrichment, and more. Learn more at arkchicago.org.
- No-Cost HMO Health Insurance with PPO plan options through BlueCross BlueShield.
- 100% employer-paid vision and dental coverage.
- PTO, sick leave, and generous Jewish and secular holiday time-off.
- Retirement Plan with matching.
- 1 remote day per week.
- A supportive, collaborative workplace rooted in compassion, integrity, and impact.
Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- 403(b) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Chicago, IL 60645 (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 15 Financial Counselor Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Financial Counselor JobsFinancial Counselor Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Financial Counselor Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in financial counselor jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois registration or recognized certification such as AFCPE AFC or NFCC membership preferred
- Bachelor's degree in finance, social work, counseling, or a closely related field required
- Experience conducting one-on-one financial counseling sessions with individuals or families
- Proficiency with case management or financial coaching software platforms used in Illinois agencies
- Knowledge of Illinois public benefit programs, Medicaid eligibility, and local assistance resources
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for client documentation and interdisciplinary team collaboration
Financial Counselor Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a financial counselor in Illinois?
Most Illinois employers require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a field such as finance, social work, psychology, or counseling, followed by a nationally recognized credential. The Accredited Financial Counselor designation from the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education is widely cited in Illinois job listings, as is the Certified Credit Counselor credential through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Illinois does not issue a state-specific financial counselor license, so credentials and relevant field experience carry the most weight.
Which companies hire financial counselors in Illinois?
Employers hiring financial counselors in Illinois right now include Magellan Health, Sinai Chicago, and The Ark, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of large hospital systems, public universities, and nonprofit social service organizations keeps demand for financial counselors fairly consistent throughout the year.
Which Illinois cities have the most financial counselor jobs?
Chicago, Illinois, and Elsah account for the largest share of financial counselor openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because it is home to the state's biggest hospital networks, major nonprofit credit counseling agencies, and large university financial aid offices, while Springfield draws openings from state government agencies and regional healthcare, and Rockford's community health centers and social service organizations add a smaller but reliable share of postings.
Are there remote financial counselor jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and financial counseling is more remote-friendly than many client-facing roles because a significant portion of sessions, case documentation, and follow-up can be conducted by phone or video. About 0% of financial counselor openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that flexibility. Fully remote positions are most common in telephone-based consumer credit counseling and student loan advising, while hospital-based medical financial counseling roles tend to require at least part-time on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a financial counselor in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a financial counseling associate or client services representative role at a nonprofit credit counseling agency, where supervised caseloads and on-the-job training are built into the position. In Illinois, agencies affiliated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and large Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Chicago area and downstate regularly hire candidates without prior counseling experience and provide structured onboarding. Lateral moves from adjacent roles such as patient access representative, financial aid advisor, or case manager at a social services organization are also a common bridge into a counselor title. Pursuing the Accredited Financial Counselor candidate status while working in one of these roles gives applicants a concrete credential edge.
Where can I find and apply to financial counselor jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to financial counselor jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your experience and location preferences, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 15 Financial Counselor Jobs in Illinois
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