Cash Assistance Liaison

Job Overview:

Beginning in January 2024, the IRC will provide transitional case management services to asylum seekers in New York City under a contract with New York City’s Health & Hospitals (H&H). In 2022, in response to an increase in asylum seekers arriving in New York after having recently arrived via the southern US border, H+H launched several Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs) to provide humanitarian reception and supportive services to asylum seekers while they stabilize and organize plans to reach their final destination.

The IRC’s Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) program team believes that coordinated, client-centered humanitarian reception can serve as a gateway to a safe and dignified asylum system in the US. With this new program, IRC staff will work with families in HERRC facilities to identify strategies to remove barriers to stability, facilitate safe connections to US ties and communities, and provide basic information on the immigration process to ensure they understand their rights and have access to available legal services in the community, provide referrals to legal and social services in final destinations, and provide more intensive case management for families and individuals with heightened needs. We will leverage our strong infrastructure and technical and emergency expertise to ramp up transitional case management capacity while coordinating closely with agencies providing legal and social services to asylum seekers in New York City (the City).

The IRC will also implement an innovative model to support asylum seekers interested in relocating by leveraging its proven and award-winning virtual case management model and infrastructure. Through this model, trained case managers will provide virtual navigation of resources and information for asylum seekers interested and willing to relocate outside of the City. These virtual services will include cash assistance, guidance on navigating the new community of resettlement, and ongoing virtual case management, including referrals to legal service providers and community-based organizations for up to five months post-resettlement. This virtual case management model endeavors to empower asylum-seekers who wish to resettle outside of the City but lack the resources, information, and support network needed to make the move.

Job Summary:

The Cash Assistance Liaison is responsible for tracking the distribution of each cash assistance transaction to clients enrolled in the National Virtual Resettlement Services program. Working closely with the Program Manager and Virtual Caseworkers, the Cash Assistance Liaison ensures clients receive their funds in a timely manner, funds distributed are accurate and in-line with program requirements, and tracks all transactions carefully to confirm adherence to contract requirements.

Major Responsibilities:

• Working within the established remote cash assistance system, process remote client payments from request initiation to disbursement:
  • Follow-up to ensure cash has been distributed to the correct clients and track receipts.
  • Resolve any discrepancies quickly.
• Ensure due diligence is performed on client payments, carried out within budget constraints.
• Identify and implement improvements to tracking tools to manage client payments effectively.
• Assist in month-end/year-end closing requirements by supporting the preparation of contract-specific monthly financial reports.
• Build and maintain a comprehensive understanding of donor policies, regulations, and procedures, and share this knowledge with the programs team.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Two (2) years of post-secondary education or equivalent experience working in accounting, finance, bookkeeping, or administrative support, preferably in a non-profit setting.
• Minimum one year of related professional experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to prioritize and manage time effectively
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and diplomatic skills: the ability to effectively liaise with colleagues in a diverse, multi-cultural environment
• Advanced computer skills: Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and all MS Office applications; experience with PowerBi and ERP systems is a plus.
• Strong commitment to ensuring the success of the IRC mission while adhering to the values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality as defined in the IRC Way
• Proven track record to work as a team member in a cross-cultural environment

Working Environment:

• Fully remote

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.