The Senior Investment Officer is responsible for leading deal teams and executing complex social investment transactions for one or more of ACCION’s Gateway equity funds. The Gateway fund includes: Gateway for MFI investments and special purpose investment funds. As the ACCION Global Investments Department develops, the SIO will be expected to co-manage the fund, assuming primary responsibility for budget, deal team coordination, relationship management and investment related governance. The work of the Fund Managers is supported by a Portfolio Management unit. The SIO will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Design and execute due diligence programs, including field work, Prepare investment proposals for review and approval by the Finance and Investments Committee of ACCION’s Board;
• In connection with the above, structure and negotiate the purchase and sale of direct equity and quasi-equity positions in companies eligible for a Gateway fund investment, including the development of term sheets and negotiation of shareholders’ agreements. Creativity in structuring deals that enable ACCION to meet its strategic objectives while maximizing available resources is highly desirable;
• Work with the Portfolio Management unit to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of appropriate reports for the Finance and Investments Committee and ACCION’s Board , working with other team members to improve overall reporting quality and move toward emerging industry standards for performance reporting;
• Work closely with the Finance Department of ACCION, on the management and reporting of equity investments and on their impact on cash flow and P&L;
• Provide value-added guidance and oversight of equity investments, including representing ACCION on one or more Board of Directors, designing and participating in governance trainings;
• Participate actively in ACCION’s governance program, both through service on Boards and Committees and through direct involvement in the organization wide Governance Group;
• Develop and implement exit strategies divestment schedules for mature investee companies, identifying potential buyers and value maximization strategies; and
• Represent ACCION at selected conferences, workshops, and professional meetings.

Qualifications and Requirements:

•     Experience negotiating, documenting and managing direct equity investments, especially financial institutions and investment funds, is a requisite. An exception may be made for legal background in preparation and negotiation of direct foreign investments, however transaction related experience in non-public equity investments is mandatory.

•     Venture capital, IPO or secondary equity market experience highly desirable, as would familiarity with quasi-equity instruments such as subordinated loans, preferred shares and warrants.

•     Availability for frequent travel (50%) is necessary and broad travel experience, particularly in emerging markets, is a plus.

•     Top-notch communication skills (written and oral) in English and Spanish; additional languages desirable, including Chinese, Portuguese, French and major Indian and African dialects.

•     Capable of preparing, conducting and reviewing a variety of financial analytics including financial statements and projections. A strong accounting background would be a plus.

•     Previous experience supervising one or more direct reports is desirable.

•     Financial sector experience is desirable for Gateway and exposure to special purpose investment vehicles would be relevant in connection with the special purpose investment vehicles.

•     Board experience highly desirable (this need not be MFI Board level experience, the concern is exposure to good governance practices and issues). Investment Committee experience is also of value.

•     Ability to work in a collaborative/team approach in a high performance environment, building relationships with other team members and managing a range of responsibilities requiring simultaneous inputs (multi-tasking).

How to Apply: Please submit letter of interest and resume online at www.accion.org

About ACCION:

ACCION International is a U.S. non-profit organization whose mission is to bring commercially viable, market-driven financial services to the working poor and their families. Over the past 25 years, ACCION's technical assistance teams have helped build and strengthen some of the most successful microlending institutions (MFIs) in the world. ACCION has championed a market-based approach that enables MFIs to become profitable, permanent parts of the financial systems in the countries where they operate. ACCION works with more than 25 partner MFIs in Latin America, the Caribbean, India and Africa and is expanding into other regions in Asia and the Middle East. ACCION’s staff includes teams of experienced microfinance specialists based in the United States and in regional offices in Bogotá, Colombia and Bangalore, India, as well as resident advisors living in country and working side-by-side with local management. 

Location:                    Washington, DC or Boston, Massachusetts