Job Description

About AccionAccion 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 .About Accion AdvisoryWe 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 to achieve financial inclusion. We enjoy solving problems, being exposed to new ideas, sharing information, and asking, what if?Position SummaryAt Accion, our mission is to improve the lives of underserved populations by building and implementing innovative and responsible financial products and services. 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 and underbanked segments involved in various productive activities. We believe that 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 multiple partners, including but not limited to funders, FSPs, thought/knowledge partners, digital platforms, FinTechs, and data/alternative data providers, to deliver financial products through innovative models. It will require the design, development, and implementation of product/service features, frameworks/guidelines, scoring models, and technology and tools that enhance and encourage the uptake of financial products and help manage the growth and quality of portfolios generated through these models.The ideal candidate will have regional experience from countries across Asia in digital transformation, product development (digital financial products to MSMEs, micro and small preferred), understanding of technology and related infrastructure needed to deliver financial products at scale, and data and data-driven tools for customer profiling/segmentation/scoring. The position requires knowledge and experience related to designing and implementing lending/credit products and applying frameworks, methods, tools, and techniques to help address client issues, manage risk, and take the lead in designing solutions and implementing change. Project management skills in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships are a must, and the ability to manage, monitor, and report to multiple stakeholders is required. Previous experience working with a range of FSPs and platforms (e-commerce, FMCG, gig-work, supply chain) delivering financial products and services through new and innovative models is a bonus.Preferred location: Mumbai, India.Position ResponsibilitiesAdvisory Support

• Support design, build, and implementation of data-driven tools, frameworks, and methodologies such as credit scoring tools, client segmentation, and profiling models, income estimation for decision models, etc.
• Build the business case(s) to implement new and innovative tools that provide access to financial products and services to underbanked and unbanked (individuals and MSMEs) through diverse partners such as FSPs, B2B e-commerce platforms, supply chain platforms, etc.
• Support the definition of product feature specifications and associated business requirements using iterative product development techniques.
• Collaborate with multi-functional teams to enhance lending 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.
• Based on prior experience, consult with partners on key product features and their impact on business lines, operations, and technical infrastructure.
• 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.

Partner Strategy & Engagement and Project Management

• Identify and source potential FSP partners to collaboratively design credit products that leverage data driven and innovative tools/frameworks/methodologies.
• Engage with senior management and teams at FSPs to develop vision and scope for multi-year and phased design and roll out data driven decisioning tools and digital lending data driven and innovative tools/frameworks/methodologies.
• 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 expectations.
• Ensure projects deliver change through the business/commercial involvement at partners and ensure that projects are KPI driven and resourced/owned by appropriate mix of teams at partners end to ensure that product delivery and not seen as something done by IT.
• Prepare for and facilitate successful multi partner and internal meetings.
• Oversee ongoing assessment and measuring of KPIs and adequate reviews both during and post implementation to projects. Document and share findings of reviews.
• 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.

Credit Risk and Risk Management

• Develop and optimize credit policies and processes for new data driven and innovative tools/frameworks/methodologies being implemented through FSP and platform partners (embedded finance models, data driven assessment and segmentation models etc.)
• 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 tools and methodologies to segment and profile MSE and individual customers to enable lending to through new and innovative products and delivery channels.
• Ensure that all projects incorporate process standardization and optimization to be able to achieve scale.
• 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.

Position Qualifications

• 12+ years of banking or management consulting or related experience.
• MSE focused technology business and/or Fintech experience; financial services background required.
• MBA or Masters in relevant area, or BA with equivalent experience
• Proven experience in innovative tools/frameworks/methodologies to enable lending to MSEs and individuals.
• Excellent knowledge of and experience in delivering financial and lending products to MSE segment especially from a credit and risk management perspective.
• Deep understanding of technology and innovation driving the digital lending 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-drive environment. Experience across multiple geographies specially India, and South East Asia are preferred.
• Experience in project management, including planning and implementation and managing multi-partner and complex projects.
• Team player who actively develops relationships and is eager to share knowledge with colleagues and partners.
• 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.
• Passion toward social sector and keenness toward technology-enabled business models
• 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 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; Spanish is a bonus.
• Interested in our mission and working globally.

Travel Requirement

• Ability to travel 30-40%

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.

Accion International