Risk Project Manager (Africa & Asia)

Conpany: ACCION International
Date: 7/7/2011
Job Description:

Title/Level: Risk Project Manager, Africa & Asia/Level 6
Department: Global Programs
Reports to: Africa Regional Head for administrative purposes and Risk Program Manager for technical purposes
Location: Accra, Ghana

Job Summary:

The primary objective of the Risk Project Manager is to deliver and manage the risk management technical assistance, including best practices and tools such as credit scoring and analytic capabilities, to ACCION partner MFIs in the Africa and Asia regions. This involves enhancing the business model and methodology to ensure that the risks originated in the MFI operations and expenses associated with the credit cycle (originations, account maintenance and collections) can be predicted and are acceptable to the business.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Coordinate the implementation of expert or statistically developed risk ranking tools, to support the decision making processes in the Micro Financial Institutions in order to optimize their client origination process, account renewals, client retention and recovery strategies;
• Propose the construction of segmentation tools based on profitability and risk with the purpose of increasing the average portfolio and decrease attrition rates;
• Support the project manager in relationship management with each of the MFIs assigned, assuring an effective expenses management, within the guidelines provided by ACCION;
• Support the assigned MFIs on the periodic evaluation of their portfolio indicators, providing input to Management regarding identified risks and proposing risk mitigation tools and action plans;
• Lead, in agreement with the responsible project managers, the implementation of adequate spaces to allow the generation of Management strategies, based on risk and profitability models, with the purpose of supporting Commercial Departments in their purpose of optimizing account growth, customer acquisition, and portfolio profitability;
• Support the MFIs in the identification of Operational related risks, coordinating the generation of the adequate documentation and control tools where applicable; and
• Assist the MFIs in the implementation of tools to control delinquency and Credit Risk Related losses through the proper allocation of resources using segmentation tools to guide proactive collection efforts.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Advanced skills and implementation experience with statistics and data mining for credit risk management, modeling and analysis.

• Knowledge of and experience with credit portfolio risk management within financial business and a clear understanding of portfolio risks related to vintage and delinquency trends.
• Knowledge of market and operational risks.
• Efficient cost management skills.
• Knowledge of standard reports required for Credit Business Management, and experience ensuring data-integrity and timely delivery.
• Excellent relationship and project management experience with good presentation and commercial skills.
• Bachelor degree in Economics, Industrial Engineering, Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, or Business. Preference for Masters (MBA or related) in same fields.
• If Master degree holder, 5 years of experience in Credit Risk Modeling / Analysis in the financial services sector. If BS/BA holder, 7 years of experience required.
• Background in financial analysis with statistics and/or programming is preferred.
• Adaptability, Analysis & judgment, Oral and presentation skills, Customer service oriented, Excellent writing skills, Strong interpersonal relationships, Ability to sell ideas.
• Project management experience and skills.
• Experience coaching and developing consultants.
• Preference for previous experience managing a team of consultants.
• Consultancy skills.
• Knowledge of MFI operational processes.
• Microcredit product specific knowledge.
• Proficiency with statistical and other related software; and knowledge of basic accounting, statistical and/or financial analysis.

Applications: Please submit letter of interest and resume online at www.accion.org

About ACCION:

ACCION International is a U.S. non-profit organization whose mission is to bring commercially viable, market-driven financial services to the working poor and their families. Over the past 25 years, ACCION's technical assistance teams have helped build and strengthen some of the most successful microlending institutions (MFIs) in the world. ACCION has championed a market-based approach that enables MFIs to become profitable, permanent parts of the financial systems in the countries where they operate. ACCION works with more than 25 partner MFIs in Latin America, the Caribbean, India and Africa and is expanding into other regions in Asia and the Middle East. ACCION’s staff includes teams of experienced microfinance specialists based in the United States and in regional offices in Bogotá, Colombia and Bangalore, India, as well as resident advisors living in country and working side-by-side with local management.