Business Advisor

MCCD is a nonprofit lender – a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) – with a mission to strengthen economic and personal development of our clients. We focus on lending to entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities area, connecting capital and resources to clients with a multitude of needs. In the past this has looked like loans to restaurants, releasing COVID-19 relief grants, and reviewing commercial leases. The program meets clients where they are, providing supportive services for any development stage of a business. 

Do you enjoy working with microenterprises?  Do you love supporting clients as they look to grow their business, working with them side by side? Are you looking to be part of a team of collaborative, inclusive, talented, and mission-directed professionals? Do you have experience in underwriting commercial loans? Then you might be a good fit for our Business Advisor role.  

MCCD employees are creative thinkers and doers - hardworking, innovative, and flexible - who are passionate about our mission. A diverse staff and a diversity of perspectives help our organization thrive and adapt. We are committed to being an anti-racist organization. 

POSITION SUMMARY: The Business Advisor will provide information, referrals and direct technical assistance to current and prospective entrepreneurs to help start, improve or expand a small business, along with helping in obtaining business financing, including underwriting potential loans. Advisor will work with the entrepreneur to identify areas of need and opportunity, and to formulate and implement solutions. Assistance can include general business planning, development of financial projections, feasibility review, market identification, regulatory compliance, and development of administrative, financial, and operational systems.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Entrepreneurial Assistance

· Respond to client inquires in assigned geography, or as assigned.

· Meet one on one with clients to identify their needs. Serve as an independent sounding board for the entrepreneur; helping clients to clarify goals and identify next steps.

· Assist clients over time- at their request- in exploring, developing, launching, and growing a small business venture. 

· Provide direct training/assistance where appropriate; make referrals to additional training and resources when necessary.

· Create and deliver training materials for webinars, presentations and other group learning opportunities for clients.

· Maintain client confidentiality. 

· Collect, update, and maintain basic client information, including number of clients, hours, nature of assistance, financing, and certain demographic data. 

Loan Origination

· Assist potential borrowers in completing application materials and gathering required documents.

· Review requests for program fit, need and “bankability”; identify and propose funding models appropriate to client needs, including MCCD programs, non-profit and governmental partners, and traditional commercial funding sources.

· Where appropriate, draft loan reports outlining the strengths and weaknesses of a request, analyzing the client’s request, their business acumen, historical and projected operating results, credit, collateral, and ability to repay proposed debt.

· Present loan packages to MCCD loan committee for approval.

· Assist in gathering of follow-up information and documents for closing of approved loans.

· Conduct post-loan technical assistance with borrowers; gather periodic business information for review and reporting purposes.

· Assist in work-out and collection activities when necessary.

· Work collaboratively with other departments to manage information, reporting and document preparation for internal and external needs reports to the CDFI Fund and other loan funding sources.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Assets of most interests include the following:

• 5 or more years relevant experience in small business development or financing; demonstrated experience working in the small business sector (e.g. business technical assistance provider, business owner, sales) 

• Knowledge and experience working with employee-owned cooperatives a plus.

• 3+ years’ experience working in partnerships and collaborations across-sectors and with multiple partners.

• Capacity to work cross-culturally to achieve understanding and results. Ability to establish and maintain trust readily with a diverse set of partners.

• Excellent oral and written communications skills.

• Language ability in commonly spoken languages (including Spanish, Hmong, Somali) is a plus.

• Competent computer skills including Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint), and database systems (Salesforce). 

• Design skills a plus.

• Must have reliable transportation.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: 

Experience in direct underwriting and/or lending.

Experience in accounting/bookkeeping.

SALARY: 

$62,000 - $70,000 annual.

Application Information:

The ideal individual would be able to start on or before October 1, 2021.

MCCD offers a competitive salary. We are committed to the personal and professional growth of all staff.

Individuals should send a resume and cover letter via email, attention Human Resources Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(email receipt confirmation will be sent)

In your cover letter, please share what motivates you to work with MCCD, and how your experience, skills and commitment will advance our work to create a more equitable economy. Candidates may be qualified if they have experience in some, but not all the areas and skillsets listed above. If you have a particular skillset that you think would help you excel in this role, please explain in your cover letter.