Recruitment at Talentstone Finance Nigeria [4 Positions]

Talentstone Finance – Our client is a financial sector non-governmental body. It seeks to support increased access to financial services by making the market for financial services work better for the poor, and by improving regulation in Nigeria.

We urgently need to recruit competent and suitably qualified individuals to fill the following positions below:

Job Title: Digital Financial Services (DFS) Platform Program Manager
Location: Abuja (Candidates must be willing to relocate. Relocation will be covered by the client)
Reports to: Head of Project Management Secretariat

Background
Seven out of ten Nigerian adults are unbanked, and nearly half of the adult population is considered financially excluded. Some banking clients have to travel long distances to reach a branch, resulting in the travel cost sometimes being higher than the amount the client wanted to deposit on that day.

Digital Financial Services (DFS) has the potential to expand the delivery of basic financial services to the poor or underbanked through new technologies like mobile phones, computers, electronic money and new channels such as retail agents.

Role Summary

• Reports to – Head of Project Management Secretariat
• This position will be responsible for leading a diverse set of projects and stakeholders from initiation through closure to achieve the DFS Platform Initiative’s strategic objectives and benefits. These include the successful digitization of a core set of priority payment streams, with accompanying payment system changes, critical to driving overall financial inclusion in Nigeria.
• The DFS Platform Program Manager (PM) is expected to align and shape organizational and strategic decisions at the senior management level that affect initiative goals, including senior leaders and executives within government, commercial parties, and large non-profit organizations that assist the poor with the overall objective of financial inclusion. This position will manage resources, budget and key relationships and partners needed for success.
• This role manages people and is responsible for supervising the Program Management Unit within the Project Secretariat, managing employee engagement, communicating performance expectations, creating goal alignment, integrating project and change management, measuring progress and holding team accountable.

Responsibilities

• Work with national stakeholders to create and implement an implementation roadmap to strengthen existing platform or deploy a newly designed platform or components that enable digital financial services that work for poor people and are secure, robust and effective;
• Manage initiative related work in line with project budget, available resources, and contracts. Lead future efforts to refine and update country roadmap;
• Identify and mobilize national stakeholders who may be of strategic or tactical importance to the success of the initiative. Represent the importance of the initiative and related work efforts to the overall financial inclusion objectives. This role is responsible for high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners;
• Create and leverage strong relationships and networks both in-country and regionally. Manage country efforts with cultural acuity;
• Orchestrate Initiatives execution that includes multiple strategic project teams;
• Responsible for initiative team management; identifying and on-boarding staff, assessing staff capacity and capability needed to support strategic priorities, monitor staff deployment and workload across the country initiative team.
• Provide integrated view of all initiatives.
• Oversee team budget, including forecasting and reporting activities;
• Serve as thought partner to national stakeholders and global sponsors of the DFS initiative. Stay abreast of and share developments in country that may impact initiative activities or outcomes;
• Identify and resolve major deployment issues, represent these issues and recommended solutions to the Head of the Project Secretariat;
• Builds a peer support and strong internal-company relationships with other key management personnel;

Competencies & Skills Requirements
Core Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated record of success managing team with diverse skills on highly complex and risky, business critical problems in developing economies;
• Excellent analytical, writing and verbal skills for communicating and influencing a broad and diverse audience;
• Strong understanding of mobile payment solutions, especially in developing markets;

Communication and Collaboration Skills:

• Effective as an executive facilitator in complex internal and external organizations. Proficient at capturing and understanding stakeholder needs and expectations, analyzing the impact of the program on stakeholders, gaining and maintaining stakeholder support, managing stakeholder communications, and mitigating / channelling stakeholder resistance;

Decision-Making:

• Individual will be required to prioritize the critical and complex issues, work and activities that the Program Management Unit team needs to focus on.
• Navigate a variety of work environments, cultures and challenges that arise in working across key stakeholders.
• Build trust of stakeholders, grantees and partners to ensure alignment;

Internal & External Contacts:

• Manage day to day relationship with internal and external stakeholders, grantees, and close partners. Identify and develop internal relationships in support of program work;

Problem Solving:

• Problems are highly complex and require research and careful review of options.

Qualification and Experience

• Minimum of a First Degree and/or professional certifications in relevant technical fields or other social science disciplines from a reputable institution;
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years’ cognate work experience within the financial or technology sector, ten (10) of which should be in a similar function at senior management level;
• Demonstrated proficiency managing analytically rigorous initiatives;
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office tools e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.

Compensation

• This position attracts a competitive compensation and benefits packages.
• The position is for a 2-year initial contract period, renewable subject to the project’s life cycle and per candidates’ performances.

 

Job Title: PMU Project Manager
Location: Abuja (Candidates must be willing to relocate. Relocation will be covered by the client)
Reports to: Digital Financial Services (DFS) Platform Manager

Background
Seven out of ten Nigerian adults are unbanked, and nearly half of the adult population is considered financially excluded. Some banking clients have to travel long distances to reach a branch, resulting in the travel cost sometimes being higher than the amount the client wanted to deposit on that day.

Digital Financial Services (DFS) has the potential to expand the delivery of basic financial services to the poor or underbanked through new technologies like mobile phones, computers, electronic money and new channels such as retail agents.

 

Job Title: PMU Technical Advisor – DFS
Location: Abuja (Candidates must be willing to relocate. Relocation will be covered by the client)
Reports to: Digital Financial Services (DFS) Platform Manager

Background
Seven out of ten Nigerian adults are unbanked, and nearly half of the adult population is considered financially excluded. Some banking clients have to travel long distances to reach a branch, resulting in the travel cost sometimes being higher than the amount the client wanted to deposit on that day.

Digital Financial Services (DFS) has the potential to expand the delivery of basic financial services to the poor or underbanked through new technologies like mobile phones, computers, electronic money and new channels such as retail agents.

Role Summary

• The PMU Technical Advisor, reporting to the DES Platform Program Manager will serve as the technical expert on national scale Digital Financial Services (DES) platform solution design principles.
• This will include payment system and mobile money technology, in order to shape and influence national projects, activities and deliverables.
• Identify and develop local technology collaboration and partnerships that will be critical in informing team’s understanding of technology landscape and for creating successful initiatives for financial inclusion.
• This will include support for the innovators’ community

Competencies & Skills Requirements:

• Experience in developing payment system architectures
• Technical understanding (deep understanding in as many areas as possible) among market solutions for mobile, data integration, payment services, fraud and security, user identity and accounts
• Experience managing complex technology projects and teams for on-time and on-budget delivery
• Excellent understanding of open source development and developer community, and be actively engaged with technology innovators in Nigeria

Qualification and Experience

• Minimum of a First Degree and/or professional certifications in relevant technical fields or other social science disciplines from a reputable institution
• Minimum of Ten (10) years’ cognate work experience within the financial or technology sector, seven (7) of which should be in a similar function at senior management level

Compensation

• This position attracts a competitive compensation and benefits packages.
• The position is for a 2-year initial contract period, renewable subject to the project’s life cycle and per candidates’ performances.

 

Job Title: Investment Executive
Location: Lagos

Role Summary

• The key purpose of the role is to manage the company’s fund and program activities in a country, ensuring that quality standards are adhered to and performance targets are met.
• The IE is the key conductor of performance in the country and he/she actively leads and manages the investment teams to deliver on fund and program mandates and in so doing deliver the required key stakeholder outputs to customers, clients, staff and shareholders.
• Furthermore, the Investment Executive positions and represents the company in the country, effectively executes brand and customer strategies in country.

Primary Relationships

• The position reports to the Investment Director of the region.
• Within the organisation, the position has primary working relationships with the in-country investment team, with functional managers and with the company leadership team.
• Externally, the position projects a favourable organisational image by ensuring (all round) value-adding investments, brand building and visibility / recognition.

Key Performance Areas 
Accountabilities (Fund and program management)
Responsibilities:

• Develop annual fund activity plans and maintain fund models that meet fund/program mandate criteria
• Quality and timely reporting to investors and capital providers
• Ensure fund/ program compliance, as per governance schedules and mandates
• Maintain relationships with fund/ program investor representatives
• Support investor due diligence processes

KPIs:

• Timeliness and quality of annual business plans and quarterly LT and Fund and program reporting
• Number of compliance issues

Fund and Program Performance

• Provide clear direction to the investment teams on the company and funds’ business objectives, translating and prioritizing into business performance measures.
• Ensure effective implementation of the the company model in the country including approved policies and procedures.
• Manage and ensure that value-adding business support is provided to clients and report actions implemented, results achieved and challenges faced
• Ensure compliance in the country with operations risk and rigour requirements
• Provide expert support to investment teams, assisting them in managing transactions

KPIs:

• Per fund mandate meet the annual Fund Activity Plan:
  • Disbursement value
  • Jobs
  • UPI %
  • Realization %
  • Gross IRR
  • Fund manager bonus paid (where applicable)
  • Evaluation of fund/ program by customer base (investors and other funders).

Fund Manager Profitability

• Develop country business plan and budget that meets the company profitability and productivity standards
• Manage and control revenue and operational expenses in line with the approved budget, report on variances and implement corrective actions
• Report financial and investment results on a monthly basis to Leadership team, including variance analysis and plans to address variances.

KPIs:

• Country profitability
• Cost to disburse and manage 1 USD (exgroup support)
• Disbursement per IM

Team Effectiveness

• Recruit, set expectations, develop and retain performing local investment team
• Ensure that team is correctly staffed, have correct skills and undergoes continuous development
• Manage the company’s performance management system and addresses poor performance.
• Motivates staff and recognize and reward excellence
• Ensure a Training and Development plan is implemented to address competence gaps
• Participate in interview panels for investment staff
• Coordinate delivery of effective support services to the countries and manage SLAs
• Ensure local offices are appropriate and in line with quality standards
• Liaise with other departments and support functions to ensure cross organisational efficiency and effectiveness

KPIs:

• Performance level of investment team (% of A, B and C players)
• Time to fill vacancies and time span for new recruits to perform
• % of Training and Development plan implemented
• Internal Feedback on value add (FC, IDs, IMs, LT)
• Employee satisfaction rate for region
• Turnover rate of staff

Brand Equity and Business Development

• Develop effective partnerships with local SME stakeholders
• Be a thought leader in the country on SGB impact investment
• Identify and support linkages/ opportunities within the client database for client expansion
• Ensure that market analysis of target customer trends and competitor offerings are integrated into fund and country business plans
• Identify and develop new business opportunities
• Instil a client centric culture via an effective client relationship management system
• Deal with difficult clients and complaints
• Analyse business environment and propose and assist in developing new customer and client solutions

KPIs:

• The company brand awareness and value # of positive reviews in media
• Conversion ratio application – screening
• Average investment process time line (application – disbursement) disbursed deals
• Annual expansion plan outcomes (new countries etc)
• Number of client complaints
• % Client satisfaction
• # of local partnerships

Management and Laedership
Share knowledge, experience and best practice with the group

• Make quality product, process, procedure and tool suggestions to improve the company service delivery and performance
• Ensure compliance to Group Calendar, governance schedules and reporting standards

KPIs:

• Relevancy (Quality and quantity) of proposals
• Active involvement on the company and group communication contribution
• LT feedback

Ideal Profile

• The company is a mission-driven for profit development finance organization that is run on strong commercial principles. We recruit people that believe in the power of capital and market development to do bring about positive change in local communities. Our client employs people who are passionate about our sector and what we do, strong on ethics and committed to the success and sustainability of our clients and of the company.
• The company works with local entrepreneurs who are looking to professionalize and grow their businesses. They support them with practical, specific and relevant business advice. This requires us to be accessible, down-to-earth, pragmatic, hands-on, professional, respectful and honest. The company aims to develop long term relationships with its employees. We invest in our employees for the long term and offer a solid career in an organization that is at the forefront of impact investment.
• Learning is part of the the company culture. Each employee, at every level, is conscious of the need to continuously raise her/his knowledge and skills. The willingness to learn is therefore a non-negotiable condition of employment.

Required Experience, Qualification and Skills

• Investment or finance experience in SME investment, with a 7+ years of a demonstrated track record in investing or financing SMEs
• Advanced Degree required. An MBA is preferred, as well as CFA, CIMA or ACCA.
• Excellent financial and analytical skills.
• Good credit management skills, as evidenced by passing OMEGA program
• Proven deal origination skills and a well-developed network with the local SME business and finance
• Written and spoken language fluency in English essential.

Key Attributes and Competencies
Leading & Supervising:

• Provides others with a clear direction;
• Sets appropriate standards of behaviour;
• Delegates work appropriately and fairly;
• Motivates and empowers others;
• Provides staff with development opportunities and coaching;
• Recruits staff of a high calibre

Persuading and Influencing:

• Makes a strong personal impression on others;
• Gains clear agreement and commitment from others by persuading, convincing and negotiating;
• Promotes ideas on behalf of self or others;
• Manages conflict;
• Makes effective use of political processes to influence and persuade others

Presenting & Communicating Information:

• Speaks clearly and fluently;
• Expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly;
• Makes presentations and undertakes public speaking with skill and confidence;
• Responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback;

Applying expertise technology:

• Applies specialist and detailed technical expertise;
• Develops job knowledge and expertise through continual professional development;
• Shares expertise and knowledge with others;
• Uses technology to achieve work objectives;
• Demonstrates an understanding of different organisational departments and functions

Relating & Networking:

• Establishes good relationships with customers and staff;
• Builds wide and effective networks of contacts inside and outside the organisation;
• Relates well to people at all levels;
• Manages conflict;
• Uses humour appropriately to enhance relationships with others

Entrepreneurial & Commercial:

• Identifies business opportunities for the organisation;
• Demonstrates financial awareness;
• Controls costs and thinks in terms of profit, loss and added value
• Entrepreneurial & keeps up to date with competitor information

Planning & Organising:

• Sets clearly defined objectives;
• Plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing
• circumstances;
• Identifies and organizes resources needed to accomplish tasks;
• Monitors performance against deadlines and milestones

Delivering Results:

• Focuses on customer needs and satisfaction;
• Sets high standards for quality and quantity;
• Monitors and maintains quality and productivity;
• Works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way;
• Consistently achieves project goals
• Plans activities

Achieving Personal Goals & Objectives:

• Works hard and puts in longer hours when it is necessary;
• Identifies development strategies needed to achieve career goals and makes use of developmental or training opportunities;
• Seeks progression to roles of increased responsibility and influence

Compensation

• The company offers competitive compensation for the local development finance sector that will be commensurate with experience. Compensation includes a comprehensive package that includes an annual bonus target on achievement of individual and institutional goals.

Application Deadline: 19th August, 2016.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should download a pre-interview questionnaire below and send the completed questionnaire with a copy of their updated resume in Microsoft Word format to: [email protected] cc: [email protected] quoting the Job Title and Reference Code for the position in the subject.

Click here to download Pre-interview Questionnaire