Executive Director: Financial Inclusion Data and Measurement Facility

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: 

FinMark Trust is a not-for-profit independent trust, based in Johannesburg, whose mission is to make financial markets work for the poor in Africa through research and by advocating for change on the basis of research findings. Cenfri is an independent think tank, based in Cape Town, with a mission to support financial inclusion and financial sector development through facilitating better regulation and market provision of financial services. This vision is achieved through research, providing advice and developing capacity-building programmes for regulators, donors, financial service providers and other parties operating in the low-income market.

ABOUT THE JOB: 

Finmark Trust and Cenfri are jointly establishing a new centre funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation. The centre has secured funding for five years and will seek to achieve two broad objectives:

1. Improve the quality, relevance and comparability of indicators of financial inclusion and the data needed to design effective programs, products and policies; and
2. Increase the use and quality of client centric data, research and methodologies by Financial Services Providers (FSP) to inform business decisions in a way that would lead to the design of a greater range of more relevant and impactful financial products and services for financially underserved individuals. This will largely include developing data solutions for the private sector to promote financial inclusion.

We are looking for an energetic and thoughtful executive director to build and run an organization charged with making huge strides in improving the quality and relevance of financial inclusion data and measurement. You will develop the overall strategic direction of the centre, be responsible for its day-to-day operations and work to benefit clients, financial service providers, governments, policy makers and the research community. The centre will have its own branding that will separate its activities from those of FMT and Cenfri, and you will be the custodian of this brand, responsible for building its reputation, influence and associated impact. To do this, you will be a leader in the financial services, development or academic field ready to motivate and direct 21 talented staff and a budget of over $19M over the next five years to drive change at a regional and global level.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the strategy of the centre in consultation with relevant stakeholders;
• Provide strategic leadership and content guidance to the establishment of the data quality, measurement and client centric work streams;
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
• Oversee the development of the annual budget, forecasting and reviewing costs;
• Ensure effective people management, including recruitment, retention, training, remuneration discussions, resource allocation, disciplinary procedures  and performance management;
• Oversee the preparation of management and financial reports for the centre, including quarterly reports.

Qualifications:

• At least a Master’s degree in Economics, Statistics or similar;
• Minimum of ten years’ professional experience in financial services, development consulting, research bodies, think-tank environments or similar;
• Previous management experience, ideally in the private sector (financial services orientation) or in the policy-making space;
• Academic or applied research record;
• Familiarity with relevant national and international legislation;
• Multinational work experience or knowledge of how different jurisdictions operate; ideally experience in at least one of the centre’s 15 countries (Asia and sub-Saharan Africa);
• Entrepreneurial and strategic, able to make innovative use of potentially limited resources;
• Existing relationships in the international financial inclusion arena;
• Driven by development and social benefit;
• Strong communication skills;
• Results-oriented and able to deliver to deadline;
• Adaptable and willing to learn;
• Highly organised, able to manage disparate teams, workflows and geographies;
• Flexible and open to frequent travel

HOW TO APPLY: 

Jack Hammer Executive Headhunters has been retained to manage the application and screening process.   Expressions of interest should be emailed to Advaita Naidoo at  or +27 21 425 6677.