How to hire a debt management counselor

How to hire a debt management counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step debt management counselor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a debt management counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new debt management counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the debt management counselor you need to hire. Certain debt management counselor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a debt management counselor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a debt management counselor that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of debt management counselors.

   Type of Debt Management Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Debt Management Counselor		$19-38

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Legal Advice
   • In-House
   • Risk Management
   • Litigation
   • Real Estate
   • Legal Issues
   • Legal Support
   • Securities
   • Financial Data
   • Legal Research
   • Financial Institutions
   • Mental Health
   • IP
   • Inbound Calls

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the dispute resolution/litigation process; responding to and resolving threaten litigation; responding to subpoenas and regulatory inquiries and investigations.
   • Manage the dispute resolution/litigation process; responding to and resolving threaten litigation; responding to subpoenas and regulatory inquiries and investigations.
   • Represent MMI professionally and effectively to all constituents through participation in professional development programs and through the certification process.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your debt management counselor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A debt management counselor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, debt management counselors' average salary in arkansas is 44% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level debt management counselors 49% less than senior-level debt management counselors.
   • Certifications. A debt management counselor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a debt management counselor's salary.

   Average debt management counselor salary

   $58,503yearly

   $28.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level debt management counselor salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a debt management counselor job description

   A good debt management counselor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a debt management counselor job description:

   Debt management counselor job description example

   Principal is seeking a lawyer to provide legal services on a variety of matters in support of our global asset management business. The position involves working as part of a team to advise on legal and regulatory matters applicable to investment advisers, distribution of investment advisory services and products and related agreements, investment transactions, and related matters, all in collaboration with colleagues globally.
   Willing to consider at the next level based on experience.
   
   We're looking for someone with:
   
   + Requires JD and 5+ years' experience at a law firm and/or financial services firm involving corporate and transaction matters.
   
   + Must be admitted to practice in the state employed within twelve months of hire
   
   + Requires knowledge of the relevant area of law and its application
   
   + Must be able to work as a member of a team and independently on a self-motivated basis
   
   + Requires superior written and verbal communication skills
   
   + Must be able to apply knowledge of the law to make sound judgments, communicate, and interact with others in a professional manner
   
   + Some travel may be required
   
   Preferred skills:
   
   + 7+ years' experience is preferred
   
   + Experience with US and international regulations regarding investment advisers and investment funds, including private investment structures and private funds.
   
   Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.
   
   $127000 - $179000 / year
   
   Location / Work Environment
   
   This role offers the ability for in-office, hybrid (blending both office and remote work in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements. You'll work with your leader to determine which option may align best based on several factors. Locations for hybrid talent include Des Moines.
   
   Work Authorization/Sponsorship
   
   At this time, we're not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States? This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.
   
   Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants
   
   Investment Code of Ethics
   
   For Principal Global Investors positions, you'll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.
   
   Experience Principal
   
   While our expertise spans the globe, we're bound by one common purpose: to foster a world where financial security is accessible to all. And our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees - individually and all of us together. Explore our core values, benefits and why we're an exceptional place to grow your career.
   
   Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
   
   #LI-Remote
   
   
   Enterprise Segment: Corporate
   
   Business Area: Law
   
   External Company Name: Principal Financial Group
   
   Street: 711 High Street
   
   Remote: Yes
   
   FLSA Status: Exempt

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find debt management counselors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your debt management counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit debt management counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting debt management counselors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new debt management counselor

   Once you've decided on a perfect debt management counselor candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new debt management counselor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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