Chief Operating Officer (India)

Job Summary:

ACCION is seeking to hire a Senior Microfinance Specialist to be seconded to its affiliate Saija Finance as the Chief Operating Officer, a position of direct line authority.  Saija started lending in November 2007 as an NGO and obtained an NBFC License in June 2008.  ACCION invested in Saija in October 2009. The institution currently operates out of four branches in Bihar, India and serves over 8,000 clients.

The COO will be responsible for planning, organizing and controlling all the day-to-day activities of the MFI and for leading Saija Finance’s expansion into Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh in the coming two years. The COO will be working closely with the CEO and the strategic planning team.  This individual is responsible for the management of a portion of the MFI’s activities to achieve rapid growth, significant social impact and long-term sustainability. Major functions reporting to the position of Chief Operating Officer are branch operations, sales and credit, and technology.  In this capacity, the COO will provide a high-level of customer relations and service and ensure compliance with MFI policies and procedures.

The position of Chief Operating Officer will assist in attaining established operational and financial goals; perform supervisory duties of department staff; and coordinate staff for coverage in all related areas of the department.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Serve as a member of the Senior Management;
• Implement the strategic goals of the organization through day-to-day management of operations at the financial institution;
• Oversee the following: Branch Operations, Business Development (sales), and Credit Controls;
• Plan and implement the expansion of Saija Finance;
• Maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of branch operations and distribution network; and
• Participate in and, at times, lead strategy, policy formulation, procedure and MIS development and training.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Must have a track record in managing a financial institution servicing the MSME sector or involvement at a senior in the provision of advisory services to microfinance institutions. 
• Depth of experience in microcredit operations – at least five years of direct experience in operations.
• Knowledge of bank and/or non-bank financial institution operations. 
• Knowledge of eastern India and particularly Bihar.
• Ability to lead, manage and coordinate large and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Skills in back-office banking operations, marketing, credit controls, and MIS are sought. 
• An advanced degree in area closely related to finance.
• Strong management skills; excellent negotiation, marketing and presentation skills.
• Excellent analytical, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Languages:  English required. Hindi highly valuable.
• Must be willing to live in Patna, India for the duration of the posting (minimum 2 years).
• Ability to operate with a minimum of on-site supervision.
• Must be able to travel approximately 15 percent.

About ACCION:

ACCION International and its India subsidiary ACCION Technical Advisors India is a  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, China and Africa.  ACCION’s staff includes teams of experienced microfinance specialists based in the United States and in regional offices in Bogotá (Colombia), Accra (Ghana), Beijing (China) and Bangalore (India), as well as resident advisors living in country and working side-by-side with local management.