Background / General description: | | The International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve people s lives. In addition to its investment work, IFC provides a number of advisory services funded through different donors, as well as its own income-generating activities, by developing targeted programs and projects to strengthen financial institutions and markets. Bank Advisory Services SMEs are a primary driver for job creation and GDP growth. They greatly contribute to economic diversification and social stability and play an important role for private sector development. However, SME development also represents a major and difficult challenge, as they typically face more severe constraints to growth than large companies. SMEs lack critical size resulting in reduced access to markets, skills, and capital. SMEs, particularly in developing countries, have historically lacked access to financial products and other banking services. Microfinance institutions have emerged to serve the smallest of these enterprises, while banking institutions have typically concentrated on large corporations. SMEs fall between these two markets where there is a gap in provision of banking services, commonly described as the “missing middle.” IFC s Bank Advisory Services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) provides advisory services to banks to build or improve their SME banking operations. This in turn leads to better access for SMEs to formal financing and banking sources. Such advisory services are offered in the areas of: (1) market research, market sizing and market segmentation; (2) business model development; (3) re-engineering the credit underwriting process; (4) development of financing products, including product programs; (5) improving and strengthening risk management; (6) assisting in the leverage of existing IT platforms; and (7) developing other value propositions, such as products for women entrepreneurs, sustainable energy finance and provision of non-financial services to SMEs. Through its activities, the MENA BAS program achieves the following strategic objectives: (1) helps to develop a sustainable SME banking sector through institution building and strengthening; (2) addresses the SME finance/banking gap; (3) helps to stimulate competition in the SME banking sector; (4) disseminates best practice SME banking and risk management skills in developing markets through training and other events; and (5) helps create employment opportunities through the resultant growth of SMEs. | Duties and Accountabilities: | | : International Finance Corporation is seeking to recruit a highly motivated professional for the position of a Senior/ Lead Banking Specialist to develop and implement advisory services projects under the Bank Advisory Services Program in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan Lebanon and Egypt. Based in Cairo, the Senior/ Lead Banking Specialist will work under the guidance and supervision of the A2F Regional Business Line Leader for the Bank Advisory Services program. The Manager will lead and mentor a team of 2 to 5 project managers and operational staff in the region. The Program Manager should be able to strategically foresee future trends, forge alliances and actively develop demand driven advisory projects, which would have a substantial and measurable impact on access to banking services for the region s SMEs, improved SME banking practices, creation of employment opportunities including the participation of women in business. Specific tasks include: Understanding and implementing the Global A2F Business Line strategy, as it relates to Bank Advisory Services; Leading efforts for business development and discussions with regional banks senior management, central banks and other regulators to identify areas of possible IFC assistance and advisory services opportunities; Scoping and understanding the banking sector in each country to align with regional development goals and developing relevant projects; Understanding and responding to the needs of clients and maintaining relationship with them; Developing partnerships within IFC, within the WBG, within the region, including other institutions and donors, in order to support realization of client goals and objectives, and meet IFC targets; Being accountable for the performance of all BAS projects, including development effectiveness, overseeing design to ensure that results frameworks and indicators are appropriate, that progress is being made against agreed results, and taking corrective action, together with the project managers, where necessary; Being responsible for monitoring and evaluating performance using IFC s monitoring and evaluation framework, working with M&E specialists, project managers and the team; Maintaining an effective working relationship with Global Product Specialists; Generating new and innovative ideas for projects and maintaining technical excellence; Challenging project managers and teams to think creatively about delivering the program; Supervising the development of the knowledge, skills and progression of staff who work in the BAS Program, testing them on progressively more difficult tasks, and evaluating them fairly; Mentoring project teams in the region and guiding them through project execution; Deploying staff strategically and efficiently, and sharing staff across Programs as needed; Maintaining a culture of teamwork, efficiency, respect and excellence. Assisting in identifying and selecting short-term consultants/ firms when consultants are sub-contracted on specific components of the advisory mandates and reviewing the deliverables of third parties; Actively contribute to knowledge management of IFC Regional and Global SME Banking activities. This includes compiling knowledge and information on SME banking environment and assisting with the dissemination of this information; Work on any other issues/projects, as assigned by the A2F Regional Business Line Leader from time to time. | Selection Criteria: | | MBA or equivalent with a minimum of 15 years of senior operational experience in banking or consulting to Banks in both developed and emerging markets; Experience managing bank transformation projects and designing banking advisory programs in emerging markets is highly desirable; Experience managing at least 3 - 4 large scale delivery programs, gained either in a bank or preferably with a leading consultancy Experience in business development within a consulting environment essential, with a demonstrable strong track record in selling and presenting consulting/advisory services at the Board level Technical expertise in retail banking and small business finance tools, products and methodologies in developed and emerging markets (strategy, market segmentation, credit risk management including rating and scoring, NPL management and collections, product development, etc.); Strong familiarity with international best market practices and global trends in the SME banking sector essential Demonstrable Project / Programme Office experience, Programme Planning, Project & Programme Management trained, PM qualifications preferably (MSP, Prince 2, PMP), Degree qualified (minimum 2:1) or equivalent experience Skills and Attributes: Strong leadership, organizational, and communications skills, including the ability to represent IFC and work credibly at the senior executive and boardroom level. Vision and ability to see the “big picture” of country and regional private sector development, recognize and seize innovative project opportunities that can have sizeable reach; Ability to develop innovative solutions and challenge the status quo in order to build the business; Team builder and leader, and an ability to lead and mentor staff and effective work groups; .Strong written and verbal communications skills: The highest possible levels of ethics and integrity; and Fluency in English and good knowledge of French/Arabic is desirable. |
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