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 267 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 75 countries, reaching 440 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 

Accion seeks a Digital Lending and Risk Management Director to join our Middle East & Africa (MEA) Advisory team. The person in this position will structure and lead strategic engagements to support Financial Service Providers (FSPs) and Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE)-focused platform players looking to embed digital credit within their product portfolio.

The role will also focus on creating frameworks/guidelines and tools that enable FSPs to partner with digital platforms, Fintech, and alternative data providers; to adopt and scale digital credit products through the embedded finance models.

The ideal candidate will have practical experience in MSE-focused risk management, product development and digital transformation, working with various FSP and/or platform (e-commerce, gig-work, supply chain) models. This position will bring deep business and technical expertise to structure commercial and technical partnerships for embedded finance solutions, manage risk, and improve and implement change in partner institutions.

Preferred Locations: Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana. 

Position Responsibilities

Product Development and Credit Risk Management

• Define / optimize credit policies and risk management standards that guide businesses through the digital credit cycle (product definition, credit process, account maintenance, and collections)
• Lead the end-to-end design and roll out of digitally-enabled credit products for target micro & small enterprise (MSE) customers
• Work with partners to help identify and validate alternative sources of data for enabling digital lending for target MSE customers
• Draw strategies for the optimum implementation of Machine Learning and AI-assisted risk management and decision tools, supporting traditional and alternative data-based decision-making processes in line with the capabilities of the data providers and the risk appetite of Accion partners (e.g. financial service providers/FSPs) to optimize their client origination process, account renewals, client retention, and recovery strategies.
• Lead / Support the construction of segmentation tools based on profitability and risk to propose timely programs at targeted prospects/customers to increase the average portfolio and decrease attrition rates.
• Coordinate and support our partners on the periodic evaluation of their portfolio indicators, providing input to the senior management regarding identified risks and proposing risk mitigation tools and action plans.
• Lead the implementation of adequate measures and risk management strategies to support FSPs and other partners with their loan origination, customer acquisition, marketing and portfolio profitability activities.

Partner Strategy and Engagement

• Engage with senior managers and c-suite of partner FSPs and platforms to develop, 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.

Project Management

• Lead the implementation of project work with partners, providing strategic oversight across all workstreams and day-to-day guidance to other team members as may be needed.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams to facilitate knowledge sharing and change management; ensuring tools; products, processes, etc are integrated into partners’ business models sustainably.
• 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.

Advisory Support

• Act as thought-leader and subject matter expert by contributing to Accion Advisory’s body of knowledge (tools, strategies, solutions, best practices and other collateral) on digital lending and embedded finance models
• Actively participate in, and contribute to knowledge-sharing opportunities internally and externally
• Conduct market and competitor analysis to assess market needs and adapt our strategies and solutions to ensure they are competitive and relevant.

Position Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant, post-graduate experience; including in financial services
• At least 5 years as a senior leader in an MSE-focused technology business and/or Fintech experience in relevant African markets.
• Proven experience in embedded finance, supply chain finance, and/or credit for e-commerce.
• Excellent knowledge of and experience in MSE financial products and services.
• Deep understanding of technology and innovation driving the digital consumer banking business.
• Strong knowledge of, and practical experience deploying best practices in digital lending, including authentication, credit scoring, customer relationship management, and fraud mitigation best practices.
• Strong analytical, business, project management, and organizational skills
• Entrepreneurial and commercially minded, highly creative, and able to innovate quickly.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, in English. French or other official African Union language is a bonus.

 Preferred

• MBA or Masters in relevant area, or BA with equivalent experience.
• Management consulting experience with a leading professional services firm.
• Demonstrated strong business development and negotiation skills.
• Team player who actively develops relationships and is eager to share knowledge with colleagues and clients.
• Experience in industry verticals such as Consumer goods, Agriculture, etc.
• Experience working in multiple African countries, especially in key markets such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.
• Interested in our mission and working globally.
• Willingness to embody our values of excellence, respect and passion for social change.

Travel Requirements

• Willingness to travel up to 30%.