Business Advisor

Description

Who We Are
The Northside Economic Opportunity Network's (NEON) mission is to build wealth for low-to-moderate-income entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis and surrounding communities. Our vision is to transform North Minneapolis and the surrounding area into a prosperous, visible, sustainable, and highly diverse multi-cultural community of entrepreneurs. We work with individuals at various stages of entrepreneurship - from "information seekers" to existing business entities, providing a roadmap to start, grow and thrive as scalable businesses.

Why You'll Love Working Here
NEON promotes economic equity by identifying business ownership as a path toward income generation and long-term asset building. NEON will increase work to start, support, sustain, and expand the number of culturally diverse businesses owned and operated in North Minneapolis. We strive for the best customer service in the world, the relentless pursuit of excellence, and respect for the individual. Working with our team provides an opportunity to utilize our collective power to improve and expand programs for the benefit of the North Minneapolis community where entrepreneurs can start, grow and thrive.

Wages & Benefits
$65,000-$72,000 on an annual basis, dependent on qualifications and experience; NEON is proud to offer an incredibly robust benefits package to employees. Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) starting at 18 days per year, plus ten paid holidays, two floating holidays and a seasonal paid office closure for a week at the end of the year; 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families; Health Savings Account (HSA) fully funded by NEON for individual or family coverage. There is employer paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employee. The employer pays for Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and short- and long-term disability insurance. NEON sponsors a retirement plan with 6% employer match plus a 2% employer contribution after one year of service and immediate vesting

A Typical Day in the Life...

A typical day as NEON's Business Advisor provides an opportunity to support small business development by mentoring clients, providing technical assistance, conducting training, managing a caseload of entrepreneurs, and assisting with administrative tasks to advance NEON's mission. Responsibilities will include the following:

• Recruiting and guiding new clients through business idea assessments, pre-venture processes, start-ups, and growth strategies.
• Managing a caseload of 25-40 clients while delivering personalized coaching to build business readiness.
• Crafting customized work plans to help clients achieve their business goals and stay on track.
  Monitoring monthly progress, tracking statistics, and ensuring clients meet program objectives.
• Assisting clients in identifying capital needs, exploring funding sources, and preparing loan documentation.
• Reviewing and enhancing business plans and strategic models to strengthen their foundations.
• Setting up and maintaining bookkeeping systems while teaching clients how to leverage financial statements for better decision-making.
• Guiding clients through business registration, licensing, and marketing plan development.
  Supporting navigation of regulatory systems and compliance processes tailored to their business models.
• Assisting with proof-of-concept activities and finding the right business spaces, including lease agreements and real estate procurement.
• Advising on bidding, estimating for contracts, and achieving key business certifications.
  Submitting detailed reports to meet funder requirements.
• Providing one-on-one consultations for participants in training classes.
• Facilitating engaging workshops and training sessions to empower business owners with essential skills.
• Instructing NEON's entrepreneurial training classes, fostering knowledge and growth.
• Participating in ongoing professional development to sharpen expertise and expand capabilities.

Who You Are

• You have a bachelor's degree in a business-related field or an equivalent combination of work, entrepreneurial, and educational experience.
• You bring knowledge of financial accounting and Point of Sale (POS) software, including tools like QuickBooks, Square, and TurboTax.
• You may have experience with financial reporting or IRS tax preparation, which is preferred.
  You have three or more years of experience working in diverse environments with clients from varying economic backgrounds.
• You are highly organized, able to prioritize competing tasks, and possess strong listening and communication skills.
• You feel confident training and presenting to both small and large groups.
• You can work effectively on your own, within a team, and in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
• You are committed to providing exceptional customer service and delivering excellence in everything you do.
• You are proficient with computers and have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  You have a solid understanding of accounting and bookkeeping functions, including the ability to read financial statements and analyze data.
• You excel at building and maintaining professional relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, showcasing your strong interpersonal skills.
• You are dependable, punctual, and maintain a positive attitude in all situations.
  You have a valid driver's license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet NEON's driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements. Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, disability, marital status, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or a protected veteran's status.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

NEON participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify's official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf. See E-Verify's Right to Work poster at https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.

BUSIN001958