Head of SME Group Job Description
Seconded by Accion International, the incumbent will hold the Head of SME Group position with Bridge. S/he will be a senior professional providing high-quality advisory services to Bridge’s partner banks and help them turn into banking champions. The incumbent will report to the Bridge principals on a day to day basis and the Accion project manager a project basis. At Bridge, s/he will be part of a team of senior Filipino and international experts. This role is expected to take a major leadership position with Bridge.
Responsibilities:
Prior to an investment into a partner bank, the incumbent will:
Following investment into a partner bank, the incumbent will, as part of the Bridge team, provide the following services to Bridge’s partner banks:
Qualifications
Technical capabilities. The incumbent must have at least seven to ten years of direct experience in banking / small and medium enterprise lending. S/he must have a track record in senior management position of a financial institution servicing the small business sector and/or involvement at a senior level in the provision of advisory services to institutions serving that sector. Previous experience within the Rural and Thrift Banking sector would be useful, but is not a requirement.
Character profile. Both Bridge and Accion have social objectives at its heart and an incumbent will need to respect and be enthused by these objectives. The focus of the work will be advising partner banks, rather than implementing via commands and the incumbent must display appropriate influencing skills. The incumbent will need to actively demonstrate and role model Bridge’s Values of being Invigorating, Dependable, Serving and Moral.
Development and leadership skills. An incumbent will need to be comfortable in a start-up organization. S/he must demonstrate an ability to be comfortable in a fluid environment, self-direct, work flexibly and be creative. S/he must have excellent analytical, communication and interpersonal skills. S/he should also display leadership capabilities to ensure becoming a central component of a high performing team.
Languages. English and Filipino required, additional local languages valuable.
Practical requirements. Bridge’s Partner Banks are located in rural areas of the Philippines. An incumbent must be willing to travel for 3-4 days per week.
How to apply
Please apply online at https://jobs-accion.icims.com/jobs/1373/job and send your CV and brief cover letter to jobs@bridge.sg.
Closing date: 26th April
About the organization
Bridge is a network of innovative, dynamic, mission driven banks, initially mostly located in rural Philippines. Bridge’s aim is to create jobs and opportunity by extending high quality financial services to businesses, farmers and individuals in areas currently poorly served, supporting 3m Filipinos by 2020. Bridge will provide Capital, Capability Building and Central Services to help partner banks grow in a socially and environmentally sensitive manner. Bridge was founded in 2013 and its operations are in Manila.
One of Bridge’s investors is Accion, which is also seconding managers to Bridge, including for this position. Accion will provide training and guidance to its secondees and support Bridge and its investee banks through a comprehensive technical assistance program.
Bridge expects to invest in 2-3 banks per year for the next 2-4 years. Bridge will take a significant equity stake in these banks and also provide Capability Building in technical banking areas (such as finance, product development, credit, HR, etc). Bridge expects to remain a long-term partner of these banks, helping them to profitably grow as independent, socially focused institutions.
Bridge is led by two Principals with significant experience in banking. Bridge’s investors are Accion, FMO (the state owned Dutch development bank), DEG (the state owned German development bank), Bamboo (the microfinance specialist investor) and Paul Kocourek, one of the Principals of Bridge. Bridge has raised $24m. Please see www.bridge.sg for more information on Bridge.
About Accion
Accion is a global nonprofit dedicated to building a financially inclusive world, with access to economic opportunity for all, by giving people the financial tools they need to improve their lives. A world pioneer in microfinance, Accion has helped build 63 microfinance institutions in 31 countries reaching millions of clients on four continents. Please see www.accion.org for more information on Accion.
