Financial Analyst, Microsavings Initiative

Status: Full time temporary position (6 months)
Classification:  Exempt
Date:  November 2012

 

Job Summary: The Financial Analyst will be responsible for supporting the Microsavings Initiative and other Financial Services Program work as needed. He/she is expected to have strong financial analysis, business modeling and communication skills that support Grameen Foundation’s work with financial institutions and mobile network operators. This role is to identify, create and support the financial modeling needs of our partners while creating sustainable business models for new financial services that also meet the needs of the poor.

 

The project: Grameen Foundation’s Microsavings Initiative works in partnership with local financial institutions to create convenient, affordable and secure formal savings services for poor households. Our work in this space began in 2009 with a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with a goal of reaching more than a million new savers in Asia and Africa by the end of 2013. This project specifically works with two MFI’s in India and the Philippines. Over the next year, we will be incorporating mobile financial services into the program to extend the reach and financial services available to poor households.

 

Reporting and relationships: The position will report directly to the Microsavings Project Director.

 

Availability: The Financial Analyst will be expected to work a typical work week of 40 hours plus additional hours to get the job done. This position will need to be flexible to work in local conditions, and be available to work across different time zones. This position requires international travel (30%-40%).

 

Essential Job Functions

• Work with field teams to evaluate the current financial product costing methodology and models that are in place and make recommendations for improvement.
• Reconfigure financial models for analysis of different assumptions and scenarios (e.g., marginal costing, stand-alone vs savings-linked products)
• Responsible for presenting results to project team as well as the partner senior management team.
• Evaluate and possibly develop a Customer-Level Profitability Model
• Analyze costs of high balance and institutional accounts
• Review and refine Savings Projections Model to incorporate multiple products, new assumptions, and fee income. Provide recommendation and cost-benefit analysis on creating an excel-based tool that incorporates rolling actuals with projections.
• Develop clear framework for determining savings ‘caseload’, e.g., based on parameters for projected savings break-even. Review partners ‘staff efficiency’ reports and staff targets
• Conduct financial analysis training for savings team and senior managers at partner organization. Assist with determination of skill gaps in partner organizations accounting/finance staff designated to do costing and projections work and provide direct training where applicable
• Develop a template report for partner organization to use when summarizing the costing and projections and communicating to the senior management.
• Integrate this work with existing performance analysis and balanced score card implementation   

 Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Has a deep commitment to eradication of poverty and alignment with Grameen Foundation’s mission
• Has strong financial analysis skills, forecasting, corporate finance, financial diagnosis, analyzing information, financial planning & strategy
• Has strong written and oral communication skills
• Has deep knowledge of Microsoft office products (excel, powerpoint, word, etc.)
• This person should be a strong individual contributor with limited supervision

Education and Experience

• A bachelors degree
• 5-7+ years experience in finance, consulting, or an equivalent role

 Physical and Environmental Conditions: This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. This position may occasionally require physical effort to lift and transport boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds. Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.

 

Additional Comment: The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

 

Interested candidates, please click here.