Financial Services Specialist Career Opportunity at Mercy Corps

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Organisation: Mercy
Corps Uganda
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.
Deadline: 12th September, 2013
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