Vacancies at Accion Microfinance Bank

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Accion Microfinance Bank  - Established in 2007, Accion Microfinance Bank has a mission, “To economically empower micro-entrepreneurs and low-income earners by providing financial services in a sustainable, ethical and profitable manner.” The bank which has a license to operate nationally in Nigeria, has an extensive branch network where customers have easy access to various products and services that include savings, loans, micro-insurance and e-commerce. We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) REF: CFO 2017 Location: Head Office, Lagos Nigeria Reports to: Managing Director / CEO Job Summary Supervises:

• Financial Controls and Reporting
• Tax Management
• Investment Management
• Treasury
• Financial Management

Job Responsibilities

• Oversees the company’s overall finance function.
• Develops/supervises the development of strong and effective business strategies and plans.
• Prepares the Company’s annual budget and communicates approved performance targets to all stakeholders.
• Advises the CEO on major financial decisions and ensures the proper execution of/compliance with the Company’s laid down financial policies, guidelines and processes.
• Periodically assess the Company’s financial management needs and current capabilities; determines proactively gaps and develops plans to bridge/meet financial needs.
• Develops effective financial systems to facilitate management decision-making.
• Oversees budgeting, budgetary review, financial controls, reporting and other financial management processes.
• Ensures all periodic external reporting obligations are met on timely basis.
• Ensures the continued integrity of the Company’s cash, receivables, and payables management activities.
• Handles and in some cases will lead, major financial negotiations, review and advise on large contracts, strategic alliances and preferred vendor arrangements to ensure Company interests are adequately protected, and objectives achieved within budget provisions.
• Monitors Company’s operating performance and overall financial health using established corporate business performance metrics.
• Enforces financial discipline/guidelines and controls across the company, and especially amongst management.
• Ensure the development of strong finance capability (an ability to translate business decisions into numbers/financial metrics and to understand the implications for financial performance) across the Company.
• Organizes the finance function as may be required from time to time to ensure close alignment to business needs and changes in processes.
• Oversees the design and implementation of processes that provide business managers the necessary financial data to make decisions and monitor performance.
• Ensures the effective management of the Company’s financial resources.
• Provides leadership in the development of staff policies, training and performance measurement.

Qualifications and Experience

• First degree or its equivalent, preferably in a numeric discipline e.g. Accounting, Economics, Business Administration or in a related field.
• A minimum of 15 - 20 years diverse experience (i.e. banking, insurance, microfinance, etc.) as well as experience in multi-functional roles within the industry.
• Minimum of 10 years senior management experience within the financial services industry.
• Prior microfinance experience is desirable, particularly within a microfinance bank with international ties.
• Prior board-level experience/ experience reporting to a board/ board committee.
• Strong communication skills.
• A post-graduate degree or its equivalent in any discipline. An MBA or any other related professional qualification is required.
• Relevant professional qualifications/affiliations such as ICAN, CIBN, CFA, ACIB etc.

Competency/ Skill Requirements:

• Knowledge and understanding of the Nigerian financial services market.
• Good product development and portfolio management capabilities.
• Excellent customer relationship development/management skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of commercial financial products.
• Ability to think strategically and holistically and to appreciate the systemic impact of various policies, issues and solutions.
• Must have a high sense of responsibility, accountability, integrity and ethical standards.
• Must have strong business acumen, maturity and tact, including the ability to relate with highest levels of management of financial institutions.

Job Title: Senior General Manager - Technology and Channels REF: SGM - Technology and Channels Location: Head Office, Lagos Nigeria Reports to: Managing Director/CEO Job Summary

• Reporting to the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, the successful candidate will support the CEO and will have overall responsibility for the formulation and execution of the company's strategy for Technology and Channels in achieving business objectives agreed by the Board.

Key Responsibilities Technology:

• Monitor, manage, and enhance Accion’s technical infrastructure to improve critical      business drivers, minimize costs, and maximize uptime and security.
• Manage the IT support and operations staff.
• Hire, develop, and train the IT staff to provide an efficient and effective workforce.
• Work with business heads to review existing processes to ensure the efficient use of the bank’s resources (reduce   cycle time, variance, handoffs, manual processes, etc).
• Manage relationships with IT vendors to achieve cost goals.
• Formulate appropriate IT policies and procedures to provide user friendly guidance for the appropriate use of the Bank’s IT resources.
• Plan, analyze, and deploy new technology projects to increase revenue and gross margins, and reduce operating costs including initiatives such as the point of sale devices, ATM cards, the coy intranet and internet, website maintenance and internet banking
• Establish, manage, and publish operating metrics for IT group.
• Liaison with Headquarters and Accion International regarding IT operations.

Channels:

• Develop the Channels strategic plan that will guide rapid growth and electronic channels; Drive the growth strategies, including planning/opening new agents, growth of the existing channels, and development of new electronic products and services.
• Support Accion Nigeria in project related grants and fundraising activities from economic development organizations such as EFINA.
• Develop and strengthen the policies, procedures, and controls of the institution relating to electronic channels and digital finance ,agent management , and reporting.
• Direct the preparation of the electronic channels operations plan and budget, by branch and by region.
• Responsible for deploying superior digital experiences within and across the online and mobile banking platforms.
• Provide project management and advisory services on channels initiatives, projects and digital financial services.
• Contribute to the profitability and growth of electronic channels by creating and maintaining services which are customer focused and support the strategic growth and objectives of Accion Mfb.
• Stay abreast of trends in online, mobile, and digital payments landscape, ensuring that Accion Mfb is positioned to establish and maintain a competitive advantage in these areas.
• Identify new channels to improve customer adoption and retention.

Qualification and Experience

• A minimum of 15 -20 years banking IT management experience in a Bank or Financial Institution; a multi-functional knowledge and Specific experience with Temenos Globus /T24 banking software would be useful.
• Minimum of 10 years senior management experience within the financial services industry with previous departmental level budgetary responsibility
• Prior experience with innovative technology and channels is a plus (point of sale devices, ATMs, prepaid cards, mobile phone banking, internet infrastructure and banking, etc.)
• Business process and application integration experience.
• Prior Enterprise application integration experience
• Minimum Education Qualification of a BSc or HND in Engineering, Electronics, Computer Science, and/or related fields with numerate coursework is preferred. Possession of a Master’s Degree or MBA will be an added advantage.
• Attendance at relevant development programs such as those listed below would be an added advantage:
  • Boulder Institute of Microfinance Training
  • Harvard Business School-Accion Program on Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance
  • School of African Microfinance
• Prior board-level experience/ experience reporting to a board/ board committee.
• Prior working experience in international organization such as World Bank, DFID, ILO, IFC etc. will be an added advantage.
• Strong communication skills.

Competency/ Skill Requirements:

• In depth knowledge of corporate and retail banking infrastructure
• Familiarity with enterprise application implementation, integration, and management
• Proven ability to manage 7x24 operations for banking, call centers, and transaction processing
• Ability to bridge business strategy and operational drivers with IT capabilities
• Superior people and project management skills; able to coach and motivate a team
• Strong industry related analytical skills, e.g. read and interpret financial statements; evaluate loan recommendations
• Strong written and oral communication skills;  comfortable presenting to executive teams
• Strong negotiation skills and business judgment
• Independent worker; honest
• Fluent in English
• Ability to think strategically and holistically and to appreciate the systemic impact of various policies, issues and solutions.
• Must have a high sense of responsibility, accountability, integrity and ethical standards.
• Must have strong business acumen, maturity and tact, including the ability to relate with highest levels of management of financial institutions.
• Project management experience: detail and process oriented. Ability to motivate and develop staff;
• Understanding of financial services and banking, knowledge of electronic channels, digital finance and agency (branchless) banking.
• Business and technical skills in key functional area(s) which include delivery channels, information and communications technology, financial services technology, and training and capacity building with channels and digital finance.

How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's and cover letters to: [email protected] using REF: CFO 2017 or REF: SGM - Technology and Channels as the case may be as Subject of the mail.  

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