Job Title: Financial Services Specialist
Organisation: Mercy Corps Uganda
Deadline: 12th September, 2013
Reports To: Financial Services Coordinator
About Mercy Corps:
Mercy
Corps drives high quality, analytical work in tough places. We’ve been
operating in Uganda since 2006 and currently manage a range of programs
in Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions with funding from a basket of donors.
We focus our work on crowding-in private sector actors to deliver
highly demanded, if missing products and services that improve inclusive
economic prosperity and overall quality of life. Our work is
market-oriented and consistently innovative, dynamic and unique. We seek
team members who fit this profile in kind and who can think creatively
and critically to drive our work forward.
Formal
financial inclusion as well as accessibility to viable capital is
imperative for economic growth and wellbeing at every level. Formal
financial inclusion remains untenable for most economically active
smallholder actors where minimal financial presence, untailored products
and a dearth of nonfinancial services inhibit access. Further, capital
constraints are important underlying challenges for most of Mercy Corps
Uganda’s programming. Mercy Corps’ work emphasizes crowding in and
expanding businesses that provide important and beneficial products and
services to communities and households alike. This means that financing
to start, to grow and to scale business ventures as well as consumer
financing to avail access to products and services at the household
level is requisite to our programming. Accordingly, as our market
facilitation projects expand and partnerships with private sector actors
intensify, it is increasingly important to deepen our financial
services work similarly.
Job Summary:
The
Financial Services Specialist will be responsible for improving access
to financial services to producers, agribusinesses and enterprises in
the project areas. S/he will be responsible to assess the existing
capacity of Financial Institutions the program is working with including
their training needs and propose actions to build their management
capacities. Under the guidance of the Financial Services Coordinator and
/or Program Director, the Specialist will conduct assessments and
research regarding service delivery, product appropriateness, extension
needs, institutional arrangements, markets for financial services,
accessibility of services and new opportunities and models, among other
responsibilities, across the financial sector in the project area.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Work closely with the Financial Services Coordinator and all other
teams in planning and implementation of financial access components of
the projects according to the approved work plan and budgets, project
document and implementation strategies.
With supervision and guidance from the Coordinator and team leaders undertake assessments, project design and strategy.
Identify the capacity gaps of financial services actors, design and
implement most feasible capacity building activities based on identified
gaps.
Conducts light due-diligence on potential partners and
supports the negotiation process, as requested, in finalizing teaming
and partnership agreements; and
Provide continuous support and
oversee activities of the local financial institutions identified for
capacity building support.
Work closely with all other program
teams at local level to identify clients for financial services and to
support service extension as well as to ensure synergy and to maximize
program impact.
Actively participate in the periodic program planning, review and reflection meetings and sessions.
Prepare periodic work plans and progress reports.
Prepare accurate and timely reports and other project documentation and
communication that contribute to a learning organization;
Coordinate with other Mercy Corps programs and local government bodies
to ensure coherent program implementation and to capitalize on business
opportunities in Mercy Corps’ target communities.
Assists in all other tasks and duties as assigned by supervisor and program managers.
Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a
manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its
mission.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The candidate should possess a degree, preferably graduate level, in
Business Administration, Economics or Finance is required;
At
least five to seven years working for a formal financial institution
with orientation to mass markets or within the private sector is
required;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Excellent computer skills, specifically in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
Excellent attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely manner;
Excellent teamwork abilities and interpersonal skills;
Familiarity with M&E, information, communications and knowledge
sharing technologies and use of inventive approaches on digital
financial services is required;
Superb networking and negotiation skills required;
Strong analytical and quantitative skills as well as familiarity with financial accounting required;
Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a
willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and
often self-directed working environment mandatory;
Ability to
focus on day-to-day tasks at hand while also working towards
longer-term objectives with an understanding that these will change
continuously;
Willingness to spend much time in the field and work closely with program target groups.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply
How to Apply:
Interested
candidates who meet the requirements can send their applications
including cover letter, CV with three references and copies of academic
credentials to one of the following addresses Submit in person to the
Admin Officer, Mercy Corps Kitgum Office, Kitgum town. Submit in person
to Mercy Corps Kampala Head Office. Email to mcuganda@ug.mercycorps.org Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Please include your salary expectation
NOTE: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps.
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