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 

We are a diverse and close-knit global team with one common social purpose: building a financially inclusive world for small businesses and low-income households.  The Advisory team is composed of deep technical experts who are passionate about empowering partners in emerging markets to better reach and better serve their end customers. Guided by this ambition, we collaborate with diverse organizations dedicated to meeting the financial needs of low-income communities and businesses, including banks, digital platform providers, FinTech's and others. We provide strategic and operational support to enhance our partners' capabilities and maximize their impact on underserved populations. We connect local ecosystem actors, harnessing philanthropic capital, digital public infrastructure, and the latest technologies to test, improve, and scale responsible financial solutions that enable small business owners and their families to improve their economic well-being.  

Position Summary 

The Latam Digital Lending and Risk Management Director reports to the Regional Program Manager, with a dotted line to the Vice President of Advanced Analytics and Risk. This position will be responsible for designing credit risk products, rolling out credit performance analytics, and developing decision tools based on advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence in the Latin America region. The role will create innovative frameworks and tools that facilitate partnerships between Financial Service Providers (FSP)s and digital platforms, Fintechs, and alternative data providers, thereby promoting the adoption and scaling of digital financial products.  

As the Regional Lead Advanced Analytics and Risk (AAR), this position will represent AAR for Latam within the global context  Some key responsibilities include guiding the creation and implementation of digital strategies and product definition, leading innovation discussions for project teams, collaborating with other regional leads and cross-functional teams to define and develop AAR roadmaps, overseeing the application and adoption of frameworks, tools and techniques both internally and project teams, ensuring Advisory Standards of Excellence are met.

The ideal candidate will have proven expertise in data analytics and risk management, leveraging MSE-focused digital credit and embedded finance, with a background working across a diverse range of models, including e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods, the gig economy, and supply chain management.

This position can be based in Mexico or Bogota. Must be fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

Position Responsibilities

Advanced Analytics & Risk

• Advanced Analytics & Risk: Design and implement cutting-edge strategies utilizing Machine Learning and AI-assisted risk management and decision tools, enhancing both traditional and alternative data-based decision-making processes.
• Optimize Credit Standards: Develop comprehensive risk management standards and credit policies that guide businesses through all phases of the digital credit cycle, from product definition to collections.
• Data-Driven Segmentation: Lead the creation of segmentation tools that assess profitability and risk, enabling the development of targeted solutions for prospects and customers to drive engagement and growth.
• Collaborative Evaluation & Risk Mitigation: Partner with financial entities to evaluate portfolio indicators, offering insights and tools for risk mitigation to Senior Management, ensuring robust and informed decision making.  
• Modeling & Partnerships: Direct the implementation of risk and profitability models, forging strategic partnerships Fintechs, platforms, and data providers to support Credit & Marketing Activities to enhance account growth, customer acquisition, and portfolio profitability.
• Strategic Risk Control: Empower partners with state-of-the-art tools to manage delinquencies and minimize credit related losses. Guide collection efforts through informed proactive collection strategies. 

Project Management

• Senior Project Manager: Lead the project from the proposal stage through execution in collaboration with partners, ensuring successful alignment with the partner executive teams and their Boards.
• Strategy Development: Engage with senior managers of partner organizations to create and shape business strategies and subsequent project initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation and growth.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain cross-functional stakeholders through proactive communication and advocacy driving buy-in and commitment to a unified transformation vision.
• Framework Development: Create robust frameworks and guidelines for platforms using embedded finance, leveraging business and technology strategies to achieve desired end states.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure project changes are effectively integrated into the business, owned by the business, and facilitated through effective partner interactions between teams, leveraging IT resources.
• Project Reporting & Knowledge Sharing: Prepare status reports and disseminate project outcomes, sharing insights and tools, challenges, and possible risks, and overall program health. Deliver learning and exchange opportunities, blogging, submitting articles, and/or case studies for internal learning and external sector-wide knowledge sharing purposes.
• Vendor Management: Source and manage external consultants and manage related budgets. 

Advanced Analytics and Risk Regional Lead

• Effectively represent and communicate the value of the team’s Advanced Analytics and Risk Management service offering and how it can be integrated into Accion’s advisory solutions for client FSPs.
• Contribute to the overall strategy and operations of Accion Advisory by providing insights on trends, areas for growth, and market positioning in Advanced Analytics and Risk Management.
• Building Accion’s capacity by documenting and sharing project results and disseminating practical information and tools through various knowledge exchange mediums such as brown bags, team meetings/debriefs, workshops, blogging, webinars, etc.
• Will collaborate with the product development practice area and will provide risk guidance and ensure best risk management practices for market access strategies, adoption strategies, and consumer- and client-centered design integration.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in digital credit and product development and embedded finance for FSP and platform players.

Position Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in management consulting, holding a leadership role, or a related field.
• Experience in MSE-focused technology businesses and/or Fintech; a financial services background is required.
• MBA or Master's in relevant area, or BA with equivalent experience
• Proven expertise in Statistical Modeling, credit risk modeling and analysis, Data Mining, and Finance.
• Knowledge of portfolio risk and management within the financial industry.  A clear understanding of portfolio risks related to vintage and delinquency trends.
• Knowledge of market and operational risks.
• Excellent cost management and project management skills.
• Proven experience in embedded finance, supply chain finance, and/or credit for e-commerce.
• Excellent knowledge of and experience in Micro and small business financial products and services.
• 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 conceptualizing new products and business models in a digital and technology-driven environment.
• Knowledge of digital banking architectures and architecture approaches.
• Experience in project management, including planning and implementation.
• Team player who actively develops relationships and is eager to share knowledge with colleagues and clients.
• Flexibility in approach and a willingness to adapt quickly, taking initiative in unstructured environments with limited supervision.
• Strong analytical skills across strategy, finance, consumer adoption, and new channels and technology.
• Passion toward social sector and keenness toward technology-enabled business models
• Strong analytical, business, project management, and organizational skills.
• Entrepreneurial and commercially minded, highly creative, and able to innovate quickly.
• Ability to take a persuasive stand on difficult issues and on behalf of project stakeholders.
• Demonstrated strong business development and negotiation skills.
• Excellent multi-tasking skills with a positive can-do attitude with an approach of no job is too small or too big.
• Ability to structure and scope complex problems and apply a range of analytical tools to develop solutions.
• Ability to study and quickly understand business processes, team dynamics and customer needs.
• Ability to create visually appealing presentations.
• Excellent project and people skills, especially in multi-cultural environments
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially in English and Spanish.
• Interested in our mission and working globally.

Travel Requirement

• Ability to travel regionally and internationally 30 to 40%.

To be considered for the role, please submit your resume in English.