About Accion: 

Accion is a global nonprofit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a pioneering legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. We catalyze financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the three billion people who are left out of — or poorly served by — the financial sector. For nearly 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 160 partners in 55 countries. More at http://www.accion.org. 

About Center for Financial Inclusion

The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) works to advance inclusive financial services for the billions of people who currently lack the financial tools needed to improve their lives and prosper. We leverage partnerships to conduct rigorous research and test promising solutions, and then advocate for evidence-based change. CFI was founded by Accion in 2008 to serve as an independent think tank on inclusive finance.

Our role in the inclusive finance space is to identify learning gaps that could advance financial health of low-income people and undertake research and pilot testing to advance our collective understanding of what would drive progress. In areas where there is clear evidence of what works, we collaborate with partners to advocate and embed learning into implementation and practices of partners. We partner with all types of stakeholders – donors, investors, policymakers and providers – both in its research and pilot testing work as well as during its advocacy phase.

Position Summary  

The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) is searching for a Research Manager who, through a combination of project management, quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis, writing blog posts, and supporting other knowledge products, will contribute to initiatives across CFI’s portfolio. CFI’s research spans several thematic areas and covers the most pressing issues facing inclusive financial services, including consumer protection, data risks and opportunities, women’s financial inclusion, and climate risk and resilience.

Position Responsibilities

• Contribute to the scoping and/or design of research projects relating to inclusive financial services and CFI’s four thematic priorities: consumer protection, consumer data opportunities and risks, women’s financial inclusion, and climate risk, resilience, and adaptation. Activities include, for example, refining research questions, methodology design, identifying and engaging with partners, and drafting surveys or key informant interview guides.
• Manage the implementation of research projects which could include writing literature reviews, contributing to the design of survey/reporting instruments, overseeing their implementation relationship management with partner organizations (where applicable), , and exploring the data to develop insights.
• Contribute to analysis that generates insights and leads to actionable policy recommendations.
• Transform research insights into key messages and recommendations, resulting in a broad array of knowledge products, including blog posts, data visualizations, research reports, infographics, and external presentations.
• Drive results by ensuring activities remain aligned with CFI’s theory of change and influence strategy, overseeing budget planning and project team management, and nurturing productive internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Work with project team and communications department on influence strategies for knowledge products; where appropriate, present results at both internal and external events to a range of stakeholders which could include providers, regulators, investors, donors, etc.
• Help build a culture that attracts and retains top talent, and ensures a high performing, respectful, and inclusive work culture; a culture in which all staff: 1) reach their full potential as learners, unorthodox researchers, and thought leaders 2) work effectively with each other by sharing ideas, brainstorming, and co-developing knowledge products 3) feel accountable for results and impact and 4) strive and achieve excellence.

Position Qualifications

• Deep understanding of inclusive financial services, professional experience with at least one of CFI’s strategic areas (consumer protection, data, climate, gender) preferred.
• Experience working on and managing research projects in multiple geographic regions.
• Track record of independently and proactively managing multiple projects simultaneously, delivering results on time and on budget.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, with an aptitude for influencing internal and external stakeholders based on research findings.
• Experience with data modelling and managing large datasets a plus, including wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing survey data, as well as agility with data analysis and visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Stata, R, or Alteryx Designer.
• Natural curiosity, desire to contribute to research that aims to have a meaningful impact on improving lives.
• 8-10+ years of relevant experience preferred.
• Interested in our mission and working globally.
• Willingness to embody our values of excellence, respect and passion for social change.
  • Excellence: Accion staff should always put forth their best effort in all activities, strive for high quality of collective and individual performance; and demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times while in the workplace and while working on behalf of the organization.
  • Respect: Accion staff should value one another’s roles and responsibilities as much as their own, be encouraging, and value the diverse and unique perspectives of colleagues. They should honor obligations and commitments to each other and to external partners.
  • Passion for Social Change: Accion staff should be committed to making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, value the greater good of the organization over personal gain, and promote a productive workplace by acknowledging the accomplishments of others.