ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
The Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri) is a non-profit think-tank based in Cape Town, South Africa that operates in collaboration with universities in the region. Cenfri's mission is to support financial sector development and financial inclusion through facilitating better regulation and market provision of financial services. It conducts research, provides advice, and develops capacity building programs for regulators, market players, and other parties operating in the low-income market.
FinMark Trust (FMT) is an independent non-profit organization whose business is controlled by trustees from countries in Southern Africa. Its purpose is ‘Making financial markets work for the poor, by promoting financial inclusion and regional financial integration’. It aims to promote and support policy and institutional development towards the objective of increasing access to financial services by the un- and under-banked of southern Africa.
Background:
Cenfri and FMT 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. Frist, improve the quality, relevance, and comparability of indicators of financial inclusion and the data needed to design effective programs, products, and policies. Second, 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.
ABOUT THE JOB:
The role of the Head of Client Centric Data and Research (HCCR) will be to oversee the client centricity division within the joint facility. The incumbent will be responsible for achieving the goals of the programme as it relates to increasing the use of quality client centric data, research and methodologies by Financial Service Providers 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 role will be based at Cenfri in Cape Town and will report to the Programme Lead. The HCCR will be responsibility for leading three work streams based in Cape Town and Johannesburg. These three work streams are (1) Access & Quality: client data and research, (2) Research and Insight Generation and (3) Client Centricity Application.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Oversee and lead the client centricity division of the programme;
- Develop the programme to become the leading resource for practitioners wanting to be more client centric in their choice of target market segments, their design of products and the manner in which financial services are offered and distributed to clients;
- Lead three work streams (access, quality and internal research);
- Drive relations with stakeholders and potential broker networks;
- Work closely with the Website and Portal Architect;
- Through direct engagement with financial services providers, the incumbent will build a research team that seeks to demonstrate the value of client centric data and research;
- Use both internal and external client data and in-depth client research, to develop a better understanding of clients’ needs and behaviours;
- Remain abreast of innovation and methodologies in order to increase the efficiency of research generation, analytics and application.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree is essential (Research based in Mathematical Statistics / Applied Statistics / Economics / Mathematical Finance / Business / Psychology / Data Sciences);
- PHD is advantageous;
- 10 + years of experience in the financial inclusion and client centric applications is essential;
- Solid strategic management experience is essential;
- Experience and exposure to working with developing countries is essential;
- Candidates must know the key players in the financial inclusion space;
- Understanding of quantitative and qualitative research using various methodologies;
- Experience in translating client data into practical market solutions;
- Experience with new and upcoming modelling techniques
- Experience in developing and managing networks in the financial services sector across Africa and the ability to broker relationships with potential stakeholders;
- Demonstrated research experience using big / transactional data in the low income space;
- Solid experience with researching and presenting key topics;
- Experience in leading research teams;
- Experience in dealing with various stakeholders including global governments, private sector companies and donors;
- Understand internal business dynamics.
To learn more about the job, including the full list of qualifications, view the original posting.
HOW TO APPLY:
Should you wish to apply for the position please send your CV in a Word document to Rory Mackie (rory@rorymackie.co.za)
