Netherlands Regional Director MEER VFI

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

World Vision operates a number of different ministries to empower the poor in 92 countries worldwide. Microfinance lending is one of the ministries supporting economic development. It gives the ability people who would otherwise not have access to reasonable lending, funds to start businesses and provide for their children’s education, and family well being. Micro finance lending to the poor is performed through 37 Microfinance Institutions (MFI’s) globally and has outstanding loans of over $360 million to some 700 thousand clients, impacting some 2.1 million children. With changing local regulatory demands and a need for more banking specialization, the World Vision International board created and mandated VisionFund (VFI) to manage the partnership’s microfinance lending. Recognising that VFI has changing priorities, it has announced that it will gradually withdraw from the MEER Region over the next 3-5 years. The MEER Regional Director will therefore be required to work closely with the VFI CFO to implement the strategic initiatives which flow from these changing priorities for the region.

VisionFund is seeking a Regional Director to lead and manage the execution of VisionFund’s strategy in the MEER region. This role will be responsible for maintaining the integrity of the region’s operations during the transitional phase of VFI’s ownership as well as supporting the execution of the strategy. It will have a joint reporting line to the VFI COO on operational matters and the VFI CFO on strategic matters. The role will take on the responsibility of managing the regional MFI technical and systems staff. The position will represent VFI on the MFI boards and he/she (or a regional designate) will sit on all MFI boards within the region. The role will represent all regional MFI issues to ensure proper governance, controls, policies, procedures, and performance targets are achieved. The regional MFI strategy, business plan and budget will be developed. This position will ensure that all growth initiatives are well-managed both at the local and regional level. Measures and targets will be established and agreed for each MFI and quarterly reviews held to establish progress and decide upon adjustments and redirection of resources. All efforts will be made to provide regional solutions to improve MFI services and reduce costs.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop and maintain a strong control environment:
• Responsible for ensuring all MFI’s have well-operating boards, financial controls and are in compliance with local laws, regulatory requirements and WV/VFI policies, procedures and directives,
• Sit on and attend all board meetings to represent WV/VFI’s ownership position,
• Assist with the development of effective boards including roles & responsibilities, composition, and self assessment,
• Work with the CEO of each MFI to ensure controls are operating well and support external and internal audit in their duties,
• Report to the VFI CFO and COO any concerns with legal, regulatory, or compliance,
• Provide regional quarterly reports to the VFI CFO and COO.
  
  Delivery Strategy Development and Execution:
• Working with the MFI’s, develop the regional delivery strategy to ensure that it reflects VFI goals,
• Provide financial projections and business case for the regional roll out,
• Monitor progress and ensure alignment with the effective roll out of the regional and local loan and financial systems providing reports to senior management as directed,
• Provide timely, and responsive but prioritized consulting services for MFI issues and concerns,
• Maintain state-of-the-art awareness microfinance industry activity in the region, sharing changes with MFI’s and VFI,
• Support the roll-out of VFIs strategy to withdraw from the MEER region over the next 3-5 years.
  
  Regulatory Conversion
• Develop solid relationships with all central banks or other regulators ensuring that VFI can contribute to proposed regulation changes and laws,
• Ensure that all MFI’s are compliant with the regulators’ requirements.
  
  MFI Plans and Budgets:
• Working with VFI Finance, assist with the coordination and development of the long range plan and annual budget for each of the MFI’s and the consolidated region,
• Recommend regional targets and programs to meet local WV and VFI goals,
• Ensure that plan/budget variances are well understood by the MFI’s and VFI management and any corrective action are planned and undertaken,
• Establish “work out” plans when targets are not achieved including analysis of staff capabilities.
  
  Personal and Staff Development:
• As a Christian VisionFund leader, develop others encouraging excitement and growth both in their careers but also in spiritual growth,
• Develop clear individual staff goals with manageable and measurable targets and ongoing feedback and support to achieve them,
• Provide quarterly staff performance evaluations as well as an annual review of performance and career,
• Ensure staff and self- training programs are in place and implemented,
• Attendance at chapel and devotions.
  
• Will carry out additional responsibilities and projects as assigned, including administrative and planning functions both within and outside the region.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:
The key ability VisionFund is seeking is leadership. In addition to experience with microfinance and banking (lending, deposit taking), the successful candidate will have experience developing and nurturing a talented team, and spotting improvement opportunities and making those happen in a complex environment. In addition, the following specific knowledge, skills and abilities are required, and may have been acquired through a combination of formal schooling, self-education, prior experience or on-the-job training.
• This is primarily an operational management role and requires a minimum of 10 years’ experience in a senior operational management position in either microfinance or banking,
• Given the need to control financial risk within the MFI’s, it is imperative that this individual will have deep financial analysis and accounting understanding, preferably with some audit background,
• Thorough knowledge and extensive experience in governance and compliance, This person will have a deep understanding of balance sheet risk management including interest rate risk, liquidity risk and foreign exchange risk as well as bank funding processes and contracting,
• Solid understanding of financial reporting and performance measurements and planning/forecasting,
• Able to balance Christian values with commercial practices,
• Good project management and organizational skills,
• Consulting skills to be able to analyze, recommend solutions, mentor and direct people,
• Balanced and respectful approach to groups’ differing responsibilities. Sensitive to complexity of WV direction, MFI board independence and shareholder requirements,
• Good communication and influence skills in both oral and written forms,
• Strong staff leader desirous of developing and encouraging staff,
• Effective coach, able to train people in VisionFund policies and procedures formally and informally,
• Must be experienced in managing effective support of accounting computer software systems.
• Must be able to simultaneously manage multiple priorities and projects,
• Must be cross culturally sensitive as will work with associates from every area of the world,
• Flexibility on hours to contact people within wide time zone differences is required.
  
  PREFERRED:
• MBA preferred but will consider a B of Commerce

NetherlandsRegional Director MEER VFI