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 more than 230 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 75 countries, reaching more than 350 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

The Accion Advisory Team is seeking a Vice President of Practice Area Program Management, who will be part of the Accion Advisory leadership team and directly oversee the Accion Advisory Practice Areas. This will include managing senior level Practice Area Leads for Product Development, Customer Capability Building, Data Management and Analysis, and Operations & Technology, and providing guidance to leads for Risk Management, People & Culture, and various strategic initiatives around Agri finance and Women's Economic Empowerment. The successful candidate will be passionate about re-imagining the delivery of financial products to underserved customers in this digital society and have experience working with and building financial products for underserved market segments as well as prior consulting firm experience.

Global remote: Washington DC, Europe or Asia are the preferred locations.

Position Responsibilities

This position will ensure Accion Advisory is driving innovation with various digital-first financial services projects as well as ensuring outputs of the Practice Areas adhere to the Accion Advisory standards of excellence. This will require working with the Practice Area Leads, Accion Advisory Regional Program Managers, financial service provider (FSP) leadership teams, donors, and colleagues within the overarching Accion leadership team. Core areas of responsibility include:

Lead the strategic vision of the Accion Advisory Practice Areas in the optimization of our execution model and the building and deployment of advisory products and services to drive maximum impact.

• • Position and shape Accion Advisory's role as a technical expert in the financial space.
  • Capture synergies and identify dependencies across the Practice Areas, Strategic Initiatives, and Regions focusing on speed, efficiency, and quality to ensure quality outputs.
  • Define the quality standards across the Practice Areas and ensure they are met.
  • Identify key success criteria and how they will be measured.
  • Set strategic objectives and goals for the Practice Area Team in line with regional priorities and overall Accion Advisory team objectives.
  • Refine and drive the implementation and adoption of the Accion Advisory project execution framework
  • Ensure learnings are captured, and key work products are replicated and shared across regions
  • Build a deep roster of technical consultants and partnerships to complement the Practice Area's and provide regional specific project support.
  • Influence internal stakeholders through ongoing communication and advocacy to build cross functional buy-in and commitment to a shared vision.

2. Lead the Practice Areas in supporting the RPMs in the achievement of regional and global goals and objectives through the building and deployment of high-quality advisory products and services.

• • Directly engage with clients, Practice Area Leads and project teams in scoping, executing and overseeing engagements.
  • Ensure Project Managers have adequate and timely support to enhance the quality of deliverables.
  • Check in with clients to ensure project and deliverables are on track, meeting quality standards, ensuring collateral is meeting needs of clients; adjusting and refining collateral as needed to address current and future client needs
  • Develop a deep understanding of client pain points and where Accion Advisory can add value through existing or new tools and collateral.
  • Provide insights on the impact of collateral and services to business lines, operations, and technical infrastructure.
  • Solicit feedback from the Regional Program Managers and Project Managers to ensure a close partnership and the clear and visible impact of the Practice Areas on business growth and delivery excellence.

3. Advise the Resource Development and Accion Advisory Management team in business development pitches to both donors and commercial entities that can use Accion Advisory services.

• • Advise and oversee (as needed) the Practice Areas in the proposal process for agreed projects for donors, investee-portfolio clients, and non-investee clients, ensuring the clear articulation and enhanced promotion of Accion Advisory products and service offerings.
  • Represent Accion Advisory team at events through speaking engagements regarding operational excellence in this space, in line with Accion Advisory industry engagement strategy to ensure business development opportunities are being identified and followed through.

4. Provide leadership and team management.

• • As a member of the Accion Advisory Management Team, contribute to the overall strategy and operation of Accion Advisory and ensure it is implemented in the most impactful and scalable way.
  • Set objectives for direct reports in line with Accion Advisory objectives.
  • Monitor performance of direct reports and provide feedback on progress against objectives.
  • Identify development needs of direct reports and develop their capacity when needed.

Position Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to build transformation strategies into scalable solutions.

• 15+ years consulting experience in a senior leadership role and demonstrated forward thinking approach to financial inclusion; experience in embedded finance, platforms, and digital payments preferred.

• Track record of designing and implementing strategies that utilize digital technologies to disrupt traditional financial ecosystems and drive inclusive growth.

• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated ability to manage and further develop high performing, senior level subject matter experts.
• Excellent knowledge of and expertise in digital lending for MSMEs as well as hands-on knowledge of one or more of the following: mobile money, digital payments, mobile banking, electronic payments (issuance and acceptance), agent banking; demonstrated success working on B2C and B2B products.
• Strong analytical skills across strategy, finance, consumer adoption and especially new channels and technology, but must also have experience planning and implementing.
• Passion towards social sector and keenness towards technology-enabled business models.
• Proven ability to inspire trust within (project teams and business groups) and outside (vendors and consultants) the organization and demonstrates personal integrity and trustworthiness.
• Ability to take a persuasive stand on difficult issues and on behalf of projects' stakeholders.
• MBA or equivalent master's level degree preferred.

Travel Requirements

• Willing and able to travel 30-40% of the time.

Direct Reports

• Practice Area Leads (4) and their direct reports.
• Consultants and project team members, as required.

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.