Director, Digital Lending, Global Advisory Solutions

About Accion

Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy where underserved people have quality financial choices and opportunities to improve their economic wellbeing. We are the leading early-stage investor in fintech for inclusion and experts in digital transformation with decades of experience harnessing the capital markets to deliver cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly solutions for the 1.8 billion people left out of, or poorly served by, the financial sector. For more than 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 200 partners in 63 countries. More at accion.org

About Global Advisory Solutions (GLAS)

Accion’s Global Advisory Solutions team provides experienced operational and management support to help build sustainable and scalable companies focused on serving the financial needs of underserved individuals and small businesses.  We strengthen our partners and maximize their impact by leveraging innovations in technology and financial services to lower costs and increase quality at scale.

Global Advisory Solutions is a team of advisors with hands on experience and deep technical and managerial expertise in building and supporting a range of financial service providers (FSPs).  We work with organizations in emerging markets across Latin America, Africa and Asia to help them plan, implement, scale and enhance technologies and business models that can reduce bottlenecks to and catalyze the growth of financial services.  In addition to our advisory work with FSPs, we contribute to industry development through case study work and research, knowledge sharing, as well as training and capacity building activities.

Position Summary

This role will take the lead on defining and scoping the transformation of Financial Service Providers (FSPs) and Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) focused platform players who are looking to embed digital credit within their existing product offering. The role would also focus on creating frameworks/guidelines and tools that, enhance and encourage 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 experience in risk management, product development and digital transformation, leveraging MSE focused digital credit/embedded finance, with exposure to working with a range of FSP and/or platform (e-commerce, gig-work, supply chain) models.

This position will bring knowledge and experience related to applying frameworks, methods, tools, and techniques to help address client issues, manage risk, and take the lead in solutioning and implementing change. In collaboration with the FSP senior management teams, this position will lead the creation of a digital strategy, product definitions, and development of digitally enabled credit and/or embedded finance product roadmaps, and work with a cross functional teams to develop the product lifecycle; from identifying user needs, planning the business case, to creating products and services that are valuable, usable, and feasible.

Preferred regional location: Africa or Asia

Position Responsibilities

Partner Strategy and Engagement

• Engage with senior managers of FSPs and platforms to develop vision 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.

Risk Management

• 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 the FSPs and funding partners to optimize their client origination process, account renewals, client retention, and recovery strategies.
• Define and publish risk management standards that guide businesses through the digital credit cycle (product definition, credit process, account maintenance, and collections).
• Lead 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.
• Develop and optimize credit policies
• Work with partners to help identify and validate alternative sources of data for enabling digital lending for MSEs
• 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 to allow the generation of Management strategies based on risk and profitability models and partnerships with Fintech, platforms, and data providers to support Credit & Marketing Activities in their purpose of optimizing account growth, customer acquisition, and portfolio profitability.
• Strategically support our partners to implement tools to control delinquency and Credit Risk-Related losses through properly allocating resources using segmentation tools to guide proactive collection efforts.

Project Management

• Lead the implementation of project work with partners.
• Develop frameworks/guidelines for embedded finance for platform players and FSPs that can partner with such players, from conceptualization based on the business and technology strategy through to ownership of the implementation and agreed end state.
• Ensure projects deliver change through the business and are owned by the business and not seen as something done by IT; ensure partners have appropriate resources in place.
• Prepare for and facilitate successful client and internal meetings.
• 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.

Advisory Support

• Build the business case for the implementation of MSE focused embedded finance, for FSPs, B2B e-commerce, gig-work, and supply chain platforms.
• Support the definition of product features specifications and associated business requirements, using iterative product development techniques.
• Collaborate with multi-functional teams to enhance client digital ecosystems.
• Maintain and share understanding of digital lending best practices and leading trends across FSPs and FinTech.
• Consult with our partners on key product features and the impact to business lines, operations and technical infrastructure based on prior experience.
• Conduct market and competitor analysis to assess market needs and ensure products are competitive.
• Oversee assessment of a post-implementation review and lead on any findings/recommendations
• With colleagues, look for linkages where partners could potentially leverage new innovative models and technologies and benefit from new partner collaborations.
• 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 management consulting or related experience.
• MSE focused technology business and/or Fintech experience; some financial services background required.
• MBA or Masters in relevant area, or BA with equivalent experience
• 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-drive environment.
• 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 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
• 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; 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.