Chief Operating Officer (COO) at FINCA International

Category: Operations

Job Description

• The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for the management of core business operations, including lending, product development, marketing, policy development, and application of internal controls.
• S/he will ensure that FINCA Nigeria is competitive, and that outreach and profitability performance targets are met.
• The COO is responsible for ensuring that core business personnel are adequately trained and operate at a high standard of technical competency.
• The COO also ensures that FINCA Nigeria implements responsible lending and savings practices. As a member of the Management Team, s/he shares responsibility for the overall performance and activities of FINCA Nigeria, and participates in making decisions on strategic issues.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Other duties may be assigned.

• Guides and directs management in the development, production, promotion, and financial aspects of the organization's products and services.
• Directs the preparation of short-term and long-range plans and budgets based on broad organizational goals and growth objectives.
• Oversees executives who direct department activities that implement the organization's policies.
• Implements programs that meet organizational goals and objectives.
• Creates the structure and processes necessary to manage the organization's current activities and its projected growth.
• Maintains a sound plan of corporate organization, establishing policies to ensure adequate management development and to provide for capable management succession.
• Develops and installs procedures and controls to promote communication and adequate information flow within the organization.
• Supervises design of hardware and software systems to assist in the smooth and efficient flow of information.
• Establishes operating policies consistent with the chief executive officer's broad policies and objectives and ensures their execution.
• Evaluates the results of overall operations regularly and systematically and reports these results to the chief executive officer.
• Ensures that the responsibilities, authorities, and accountability of all direct subordinates are defined and understood.
• Ensures that all organization activities and operations are carried out in compliance with regulations and laws governing business operations.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Job Requirements
Qualifications

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Economics or related field, or equivalent work experience is required.
• 5-year experience minimum in comparable positions in terms of responsibility in banking or microfinance in an operations line-management role. Prior experience as a member of a senior management team is desirable.
• Experience in credit origination and credit risk assessment, business experience in (a) micro lending, (b) small enterprise lending, (c) rural & agriculture lending. Experience in deposit mobilization and delivery channel development a plus.
• Experience in developing and implementing strategic/operational plans for financial institutions.
• Excellent organizational, planning, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High level of customer service and strong willingness to work in the field.
• Strong business management and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing and motivating a large staff.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and training skills.
• Excellent technical report writing skills and computer literacy.
• Adaptability to challenging environments, country or regional experience is a plus.

Language Skills:

• Fluency in English and local language(s) required.

Key Deliverables:

• Develop, modify, and implement credit and savings products.
• Hire, supervise, and train credit and savings related staff.
• Together with the CEO and the CFO, direct the preparation of the operations plans and budgets.

Travel Requirements:

• Availability for domestic travel (up to 30%), and international travel (10%).

Physical Demands:

• Ability to travel in economy class when traveling by air or rail.