Associate Operations Officer-Fintech Investments

Contract

This is a World Bank Group grade: GF contract. More about World Bank Group grade: GF contracts.

Associate Operations Officer-Fintech Investments

Description

IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

Private sector financial development is essential to the promotion of successful and sustainable economies in low-and-middle income countries around the world. Sound and efficient financial markets can ensure that resources are allocated where they are most productive, assisting job creation and spurring economic growth. IFC’s goal is to prioritize investment in the financial sector because it promotes development in all other sectors.

The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) is one of the major industry groups at IFC, responsible for managing roughly 40% of IFC’s overall business in terms of volume and capital at risk. FIG’s main objectives include: 1) financial inclusion 2) servicing the real economy and 3) mobilizing third-party resources. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Microfinance, SME, Gender, Climate, Insurance, Capital Markets, Digital Financial Services, Housing, and other areas, with both investment and advisory services delivered to IFC’s clients through our global network.

FIG’s advisory services (AS) are closely coordinated with investment services (IS) and help financial institutions across the region to build or improve their operations and are provided across five focus areas: Financial Inclusion, which includes Microfinance, Small and Medium Enterprise Finance, and Gender Finance; Risk Management; Digital Financial Services; and Climate Finance.

Roles and Responsibilities:

In achieving its financial inclusion objectives FIG is recruiting for an Associate Operations Officer (AOO) to support FIG Advisory Services in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region to scale up its digital financial services consulting projects with financial intermediaries and other relevant Fintech players to improve their product offering through the use of technology or other alternative delivery channels. Specially, the AOO will support the FIG AS team to partner with relevant financial intermediaries to: (i) Develop FIG’s expanding business operations for Digital Finance; and (ii) support in the delivery of advisory projects.

The AOO will work with the FIG team to identify new DFS advisory business opportunities that are in line with IFC’s objectives and implement DFS advisory projects. This includes: • Work with advisory regional staff to develop advisory services opportunities with key partners in the region; including developing project proposals/client pitches; and meeting with potential clients and other market stakeholders to discuss business opportunities • Apply human-centered methodologies to establish the desirability of new business concepts • Conduct appraisals and/or workshops as part of business development or advisory project design • Design projects that address key clients’ needs, in a sustainable way, aiming for capacity building and leveraging existing client resources; • Lead and / or support the implementation of (proposed) recommendations and oversee implementation of services/ solutions/ recommendations to clients, ensuring overall the quality control in line with corporate monitoring and evaluation requirements. Tasks could include: Market and customer research; Business model development; Partnerships; Financial modeling; Digital Strategy; • Work/ interact closely with IFC’s advisory staff to build their technical capacity for the delivery of DFS advisory projects • Contribute to IFC’s DFS knowledge management and learning agenda

IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

Private sector financial development is essential to the promotion of successful and sustainable economies in low-and-middle income countries around the world. Sound and efficient financial markets can ensure that resources are allocated where they are most productive, assisting job creation and spurring economic growth. IFC’s goal is to prioritize investment in the financial sector because it promotes development in all other sectors.

The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) is one of the major industry groups at IFC, responsible for managing roughly 40% of IFC’s overall business in terms of volume and capital at risk. FIG’s main objectives include: 1) financial inclusion 2) servicing the real economy and 3) mobilizing third-party resources. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Microfinance, SME, Gender, Climate, Insurance, Capital Markets, Digital Financial Services, Housing, and other areas, with both investment and advisory services delivered to IFC’s clients through our global network.

FIG’s advisory services (AS) are closely coordinated with investment services (IS) and help financial institutions across the region to build or improve their operations and are provided across five focus areas: Financial Inclusion, which includes Microfinance, Small and Medium Enterprise Finance, and Gender Finance; Risk Management; Digital Financial Services; and Climate Finance.

Roles and Responsibilities:

In achieving its financial inclusion objectives FIG is recruiting for an Associate Operations Officer (AOO) to support FIG Advisory Services in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region to scale up its digital financial services consulting projects with financial intermediaries and other relevant Fintech players to improve their product offering through the use of technology or other alternative delivery channels. Specially, the AOO will support the FIG AS team to partner with relevant financial intermediaries to: (i) Develop FIG’s expanding business operations for Digital Finance; and (ii) support in the delivery of advisory projects.

The AOO will work with the FIG team to identify new DFS advisory business opportunities that are in line with IFC’s objectives and implement DFS advisory projects. This includes: • Work with advisory regional staff to develop advisory services opportunities with key partners in the region; including developing project proposals/client pitches; and meeting with potential clients and other market stakeholders to discuss business opportunities • Apply human-centered methodologies to establish the desirability of new business concepts • Conduct appraisals and/or workshops as part of business development or advisory project design • Design projects that address key clients’ needs, in a sustainable way, aiming for capacity building and leveraging existing client resources; • Lead and / or support the implementation of (proposed) recommendations and oversee implementation of services/ solutions/ recommendations to clients, ensuring overall the quality control in line with corporate monitoring and evaluation requirements. Tasks could include: Market and customer research; Business model development; Partnerships; Financial modeling; Digital Strategy; • Work/ interact closely with IFC’s advisory staff to build their technical capacity for the delivery of DFS advisory projects • Contribute to IFC’s DFS knowledge management and learning agenda

Selection Criteria

Experience in relevant field • 7 years’ experience in fintech, management consulting to financial institutions or banking in emerging markets; with proven track record in the field of Digital Strategy, Innovation, and/or Embedded Finance. • Experience in payments, data management, and open innovation is desired; • Experience in helping companies to develop new products/concepts/business models; piloting, measuring success and learning lessons from them for future roll-out plans; • Experience working with fintech in the LAC region is desired;

Technical knowledge and certificates • Masters Degree in Business, Finance, Technology, or related fields is preferred; • Solid understanding of the trends in digital financial services considering different players: incumbents (banks, MFIs) and innovators (Fintech, tech firms, or any other company offering financial services); • Strong project management, sales and client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up;

Client/Stakeholder Engagement • Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, and credibly represent IFC with clients and stakeholders, including at the senior executive level; • Ability to interact directly and independently with the management of potential clients and of financial and technical partners; • Highly motivated, energetic, team player with excellent interpersonal skills and client service skills with the ability to multi-task, deal with conflicting priorities and deliver high quality work on schedule;

Business Acumen • Sound business judgment and problem solving, negotiation and commercial skills; • Solid people management and organizational skills; • Ability to respond to situations of high demand and pressure in a timely manner;

Writing and Presentation Skills • Excellent written, verbal communication, and presentation skills to effectively influence the perception and support of clients / stakeholders. • Ability to draft documents and reports that are concise, well-organized, and appropriately focused on most critical points that are relevant to the target audience.

Other Skills/Experiences • Experience living and working in a developing country; • Willingness to travel as needed (once COVID-19 permits); • Genuine commitment to sustainable development

Language skills: • Ability to work effectively in English is essential; Spanish and/or Portuguese is highly preferred.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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