About Accion:

Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the 1.6 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:

The Accion Advisory team combines decades of on-the-ground experience with insights into new technologies to help our partners become more sustainable and scalable. We work with a variety of organizations focused on serving the financial needs of low-income people and businesses in emerging markets. With a presence in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, our team provides strategic and operational support to strengthen our partners and maximize their impact on underserved customers.

Our team is comprised of Regional Program Managers (RPMs) and their teams who are responsible for driving new business, bringing local context and hands on experience to meet customer needs; and Practice Area Leads who are technical area experts responsible for building the Advisory team’s expertise in core areas, driving execution excellence, and capturing synergies across technical practice areas and regions. The Practice Area Leads seek to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the execution of our engagements and to develop reusable tools and collateral for specific areas of expertise that Accion Advisory brings to all of our clients.

Position Summary 

Accion Advisory is seeking a Senior Associate, Data Analytics and Customer Insights to join our Middle East & Africa (MEA) advisory team. We seek an individual who is passionate about applying data science and analytics to solving real-world problems for clients. This role will support the development and execution of data-driven strategies that enable Accion’s partners (such as financial service providers, digital platforms and marketplaces, Telcos, etc) to leverage advanced analytics for inclusive finance; driving innovative solutions that address barriers to financial access for underserved customer segments, and optimizing the operations and business models of service provider partners.

This role supports three core areas: Risk analysis (stability), customer and performance analytics (insight), and growth strategies (quality). Through risk analysis, we help our partners critically evaluate an organization's internal and external risks with an integrated risk management approach. With growth strategies, we use deep data statistical techniques to ascertain the effectiveness of product design, customer identification, propensity to product adoption, underwriting, renewal, and collection policies through traditional and digital channels. By better understanding the context, customers, and data, we identify process improvements, customer-facing enhancements and product recommendations to help FSPs develop strategies to increase their efficiency, profitability, and customer base.

Working as part of a global, cross-functional team and guided by experienced Advanced Analytics and Risk Managers, the Senior Specialists, Data Analytics and Risk will represent Accion as an advisor to our clients and support various activities and strategies assigned for our clients. They will also help with the evolution of our Advanced Analytics and risk practice area and develop and improve new financial products.

Position Responsibilities:

Product Development & Risk Management

The Senior Associate, Data Analytics and Customer Insights will provide support to Accion Advisory partners as follows: 

• In close coordination with Advanced Analytics and Risk Managers, assist FSPs in the development and implementation of Accion’s Portfolio Risk Management tools which are designed to help in proactively monitoring their portfolios, and control delinquency and credit risk-related losses; monitoring and evaluating performance of the loan portfolio and identifying trends for business growth, product acceptance, and loan officer productivity levels.
• 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.
• for enabling digital lending for MSEs
• 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.
• Performing detailed analysis of customer journeys for selected products, identifying customer usage and adoption trends; mapping out opportunities for enhancing customer strategies to improve usage, adoption and customer lifetime value
• Work with partners to help identify and validate alternative sources of data
• Documenting the processes related to the implementation of analysis tools.
• Helping to identify operational and market-related risks and generating adequate documentation and control tools where applicable.
• Collaborating in developing policy and process guidelines for new products or commercial initiatives.

As a member of the team of Accion Advisory, the Senior Associate, Data Analytics and Customer Insights will have the following functions:

• Supporting strategic business development efforts, including participating in the creation of project proposals to clients and/or donors
• Participating with other members of Accion Advisory and Investments teams in the evaluation of potential investment and/or technical assistance partners
• Effectively representing and communicating the value of the team’s Advanced Analytics and Risk vertical and how it can be integrated into Accion’s advisory solutions for client FSPs.
• Contributing to the overall strategy and operations of Accion Advisory by providing insights on trends, areas for growth, and market positioning in Advanced Analytics
• Building Accion’s capacity by documenting and sharing project results and disseminating valuable information and tools through various knowledge exchange mediums such as brown bags, team meetings/debriefs, workshops, blogging, webinars, etc.

Position Qualification:

Education and Experience Requirements

• BS/BA in Computer Science or Management Information Systems, Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, or Business. 
• 7 years working in an MSE-focused technology business and/or Fintech experience in relevant African markets.
• Experience in embedded finance, supply chain finance, and/or credit for e-commerce.
• Experience in Micro and small business financial products and services.
• Deep understanding of technology and innovation driving the digital consumer banking business.
• Experience deploying best practices in human-centered product design, digital lending,  including authentication, credit scoring, customer relationship management, and fraud mitigation best practices. 
• Background in financial analysis with statistics or programming is ideal.

Professional Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of analytical tools such as Power BI/Tableau/advanced Excel.
• Knowledge of Portfolio Risk / Management within financial services. Clear understanding of portfolio risks related to vintage and delinquency trends.
• Knowledge of customer analysis and segmentation,  market and operational risks.
• Statistical and financial skills, Credit Risk Modeling/Analysis, Data Mining, Financial knowledge.
• 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 official language is a bonus.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent relationship management ability.
• Interested in our mission and working globally.
• Willingness to embody our values of excellence, respect and passion for social change.

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.