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 significant SME finance/banking gap in the Arab world;; (3) disseminates best practice SME banking and risk management skills in developing markets through training and other events; and (4) 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 SME Banking Specialist to develop and implement advisory services projects under the Bank Advisory Services Program. Based in Cairo (or any other location), the Senior SME Banking Specialist will work under the supervision and guidance of the Bank Advisory Services Program Manager and will be responsible for: Supporting and guiding business development efforts; Participating in discussions between IFC and regional bank senior management, central banks and other regulators to identify areas of possible IFC assistance and advisory services opportunities; Together with IFC s regional and/or global specialists carry out initial diagnostics of banks existing operations, and design appropriate advisory services engagement models; Lead large scale, strategic advisory engagements that involve business transformation in the areas of SME banking operations, risk management, NPL portfolio management, women in business and sustainable energy finance; 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; Closely monitor and supervise ongoing advisory services projects, and provide periodic reporting to management Assist in conducting conferences and other knowledge management events, including training; 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; Mentoring and training other IFC staff on project and program management; and Work on any other issues/projects, as assigned by the Program Manager from time to time. | Selection Criteria: | | MBA or equivalent and senior operational experience in banking in both developed and emerging markets, and over 10 years strong demonstrated experience in a financial services environment, preferably in SME or retail banking; Experience managing at least 3 - 4 large scale delivery programs, gained either in a bank or preferably with a leading consultancy A track record in performance improvement programs, as well as in designing and implementating transformation projects is essential. Experience in at least three of the following areas: Process Improvement, Business Modeling; Business Case Development; IT Enabled Change particularly in a retail or commercial banking environment Technical expertise in retail 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, ( BIS I and II guidelines) and capacity to apply them in emerging markets, knowledge of legal and regulatory issues typical of emerging markets banking systems, Strong leadership, organizational, and communications skills, including the ability to represent IFC and work credibly at the senior executive and boardroom level. 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 Team player with good problem solving and analytical skills, with an ability to lead large teams in the field Fluency in English is a must. Knowledge of Arabic and/or French is desirable. |
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