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 285 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 77 countries, reaching 478 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. We are passionate about what we do — working with a wide range of financial service providers and other partners across the world to build sustainable businesses that open opportunity for those that have been underserved by the financial system for too long. We enjoy solving problems, being exposed to new ideas, sharing information, and asking, “what if?”  

In Asia, we have active advisory engagements with a range of different financial system actors, including leading financial services providers, B2B platform operators, account aggregators and many others.  

Position Summary

Accion Advisory provides strategic and technical products and services to our partners. We are seeking an Extern to work with the team in providing analytical expertise in the design and implementation of digitally distributed, data driven, customer-centered financial products and services. Working as part of a global, cross-functional team, this role supports our advisors with end-to-end digital strategy definition and deployment through implementation and process improvement to support the customer growth strategies of our clients. This person will understand customer financial services needs and how technologies and other factors influence their perspectives, experience and decision making.

Position Responsibilities 

Project Support: collaborate with the team and support the end-to end delivery of digital strategies and solutions to partner Financial Service Providers (FSPs) with key subject matter suggestions. Working under the guidance of senior advisors, this support could include:

• Defining digital strategies using Accion’s established toolkits (workshop facilitating / design thinking /co-creation /agile MVP development).
• Building business cases supporting strategy definition.
• Creating and executing pre-implementation plans which include development of business requirements, detailed functional requirements, review of change management business impact, human resources, and risks.
• Designing and improving internal processes to leverage technology as an enabler for widespread adoption.
• Supporting the implementation of digital solutions to ensure seamless integration into the business (processes, systems, people, etc.).
• Assisting partners in the due diligence and selection process for digital/technology providers, fintech partnerships, policies, and processes to ensure they are preparing their infrastructure and resources to support the business operations to face a digital strategy/transformation deployment.
• Creating business models for products and services, especially focused on digital transformation and digital financial services.

Project Management and Documentation

• Support the documentation and sharing of 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, articles and/or case studies completed for internal learning and external sector-wide knowledge sharing purposes.
• Support the dissemination and communication of project progress, keeping team members and project manager updated throughout all stages.

Position Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to Accion’s values of excellence, respect, and passion for social change.
• Creative, dynamic, and analytical person who believes in the power of technology to transform the way people interact with financial services.
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field (e.g., industrial engineering, systems, computer science), master’s degree preferred.
• Clear understanding of financial inclusion concepts and challenges worldwide.
• Knowledge of current trends in digital financial services as well as hands-on experience in one or more of the following: mobile money, digital payments, digital lending, human centered design for financial services, mobile banking, POS/card payments, agent banking, fintech for financial inclusion.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Business, project management, and analytical skills across finance, consumer adoption and especially new channels and technology; experience planning and implementing a plus.
• Experience with data driven solutions, machine learning, IA, IoT, and other industry trends is a plus.
• Entrepreneurially minded; ability to work independently and proactively, and as a part of a highly collaborative team; quick learner; receptive and responsive to feedback.
• Excellent multi-tasking skills with a positive, can-do attitude and an approach of “no job is too small or big”.

Eligibility: Accion can accept Externs under the following criteria:

• India-based Bain Associates who are based in either Mumbai (preferred) or Bangalore.

Apply: ​once you have confirmed your eligibility with your staffing / program manager and confirmed you meet the criteria above, please submit a CV and cover letter to Laura Glenny at lglenny@accion.org. (Please note that Accion accepts applications on a rolling basis, but projects may not be available to begin for several months out).

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.