About Accion 

Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the nearly two billion people who are failed by the global financial system. We develop and scale responsible digital financial solutions for small business owners, smallholder farmers, and women, so they can make informed decisions and improve their lives. Through targeted investment strategies, advisory solutions, and expert thought leadership, we work with local partners to develop and scale cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly financial solutions. Since 1961, Accion has helped build more than 235 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 75 countries, reaching more than 350 million people. More at https://www.accion.org.

About Accion Advisory

Accion Advisory partners with a wide range of partners (e.g. financial service providers, corporates, Fintechs, etc) around the globe to better meet the financial and other needs of undeserved individuals and small businesses.  Leveraging innovations in technology and financial services, we provide strategic operational support to our partners to help them remain the providers of choice in their dynamic markets. 

Position Summary 

A scalable and sustainable way to increase financial access is to provide financial products and services through digital channels, value chains and ecosystem partners. Accion is committed to increasing financial access through partnerships with Financial Service Providers (FSP), platform players and enablers that cater to the Micro and Small Enterprise (MSME) segment. This can be achieved by designing and developing world-class financial products, services and tools and implementing them at scale.

This role will focus on working with FSPs, digital platforms, Fintechs, and alternative data providers to adopt and scale digital credit products and value-added services through embedded finance models. It will require the design, development and implementation of product/service features, frameworks/guidelines, scoring models and tools that enhance and encourage uptake of digital credit products and help with managing the growth and quality of credit portfolios that are generated through these models.

The ideal candidate will have regional experience from countries across Africa in digital transformation, product development (for digital credit products to MSMEs, micro and small preferred), and credit and risk management, leveraging MSE-focused digital credit/embedded finance, with some exposure to working with a range of FSP and platform (e-commerce, FMCG, gig-work, supply chain) models. Practical experience in other, non-African markets is highly desirable.

This position will bring knowledge and experience related to designing and implementing digital financial products and applying frameworks, methods, tools, and techniques to help address client issues, manage credit risk, and take the lead in solutions and implementing change. In collaboration with the partner senior management teams, this position will lead the creation of a digital strategy, product definitions, and development of digitally enabled credit and/or embedded finance product roadmaps and work with cross-functional teams to develop the product lifecycle, from identifying user needs, planning the business case, to creating products and services that are valuable, usable, and feasible.

Preferred Locations: Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya. 

Position Responsibilities

Advisory Support

• Build the business case to implement MSE-focused embedded finance for FSPs, FMCG, B2B e-commerce, gig-work, and supply chain platforms.
• Support the definition of product features specifications and associated business requirements using iterative product development techniques.
• Collaborate with multi-functional teams to enhance client digital ecosystems.
• Maintain and share an understanding of digital lending best practices and leading trends across FSPs and fintechs.
• Perform market research, business analysis; build executive level presentations.
• Learn and apply subject matter expertise from a functional and/or technical perspective.
• Develop a go-to-market strategy for the product, working with key subject matter experts.
• Consult with the client’s business partners on key product features and the impact on business lines, operations, and technical infrastructure based on prior experience.
• Conduct market and competitor analysis to assess market needs and ensure products are competitive.
• With colleagues, look for linkages where partners could potentially leverage new innovative models and technologies and benefit from new partner collaborations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in digital credit and product development and embedded finance for FSP and platform players.

Credit Risk and Risk Management

• Develop and optimize credit policies and processes for new digital credit products being implemented through FSP and platform partners (embedded finance models & tradition direct to customer digital lending products)
• Define and publish credit risk management standards that guide businesses through the digital credit cycle (product definition, credit process, account maintenance, and collections).
• Work with partners to help identify and validate digital and alternative sources of data for enabling digital lending for MSEs.
• Identify opportunities and draw strategies for the implementation of data driven Machine Learning and AI-assisted decision tools to support scalability of digital products being designed.
• Support design and development of such tools in collaboration with relevant teams within Accion and at partner institutions.
• Coordinate and support our partners on the periodic evaluation of their portfolio performance, providing input to the Senior Management regarding identified risks and proposing risk mitigation tools and action plans.
• Lead the implementation of adequate measures to allow the generation of management strategies based on risk and profitability models and partnerships with fintechs, platforms, and data providers to support credit & marketing activities in their purpose of optimizing account growth, customer acquisition, and portfolio profitability.

Partner Strategy & Engagement and Project Management

• Engage with senior managers of FSPs and platforms to develop vision and scope for multi-year digital transformation initiatives.
• Ensure alignment with partner management teams and boards with implementation approaches and plans.
• Influence stakeholders through ongoing communication and advocacy to build cross-functional buy-in and commitment to a shared transformation vision.
• Lead the implementation of project work with partners and ensure that implementation targets with partners are always meeting or exceeding expectation.
• Ensure projects deliver change through the business and are owned by the business and not seen as something done by IT; ensure partners have appropriate resources in place.
• Prepare for and facilitate successful client and internal meetings.
• Oversee assessment of post implementation reviews and document and share findings.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams to both give and receive knowledge.
• Document and share project results (activities, findings, outputs, impact) in the form of sharing knowledge, disseminating useful information & tools, and organizing and delivering learning and exchange opportunities, blogging, submitting articles and/or case studies for internal learning and external sector-wide knowledge sharing purposes. 

Position Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in financial services or ICT, at least 4 of which must have been in a senior role at an MSE-focused technology business and/or Fintech
• Proven experience in embedded finance, supply chain finance, and/or credit for e-commerce.
• Experience with a regional or global management consulting firm, or in an advisory role is desired
• MBA or Masters in relevant area, or BA with equivalent experience is preferred
• Excellent knowledge of and experience in micro and small business financial products and services especially from a credit and risk management perspective.
• Deep understanding of technology and innovation driving the digital consumer banking business.
• Strong knowledge of best practices in digital lending, including authentication, credit scoring, customer relationship management, and fraud mitigation best practices.
• Experience in project management, including planning and implementation.
• Flexibility in approach and willingness to adapt quickly and take initiative when working in unstructured environments with limited supervision.
• Strong analytical skills across strategy, finance, consumer adoption and new channels and technology.
• Entrepreneurial and commercially minded, highly creative, and able to innovate quickly.
• Excellent multi-tasking skills with a positive can-do attitude with an approach of no job is too small or too big.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; French or Spanish is a bonus.
• Interested in our mission and working globally.

Travel Requirements:  25%

Accion is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture. Accion seeks qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, change of sex or transgender status, or any other basis protected by law. Accion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.