Action Finance Initiative – AFI is the leading non-banking microfinance organization in Greece. AFI aims to assist micro-entrepreneurs and unemployed people willing to create their own business and those who do not have access to the conventional credit market, by providing them with micro-financing, training and business support services.
In the past 9 years AFI has provided access to 9 million euros to start-ups and existing businesses, whilst offering training and mentoring to over 6.000 unique entrepreneurs and creating 1000+ new job positions. The microfinance sector in Greece is newly regulated and is expected to grow significantly in the next years. AFI is licensed by Bank of Greece and is seeking to recruit a Microfinance Development Officer (MDO) to support business development and sales efforts that will enable such a growth.
Key Responsibilities
The Microfinance Development Officer (MDO) reports directly to the Head of the Operational team and to the local Senior MDO (dotted line). His/her key responsibilities are, among others, as follows:
- Work closely with AFI’s field partners in Athens to identify potential microcredit beneficiaries.
- Take active part in the applicants’ filtering process by examining funding applications and business plans from potential microcredit beneficiaries, who will be proposed for micro-loans and deliver business support services to them.
- Determine the needs for and the provision of business support services to applicants and microcredit beneficiaries in coordination with AFI volunteers and field partners.
- Implement regular Client Relationship Management actions related to the microcredit beneficiaries’ portfolio to further investigate needs to support successful businesses’ creation and growth.
- Conduct frequent risk analysis, recovery activities and credit profiling of the existing and new portfolio.
- Assist, support and advise microcredit beneficiaries when needed to conduct amicable debts recovery, or revision of loan repayment.
- Officially represent AFI in Greece in the press, social media, events and conferences when required.
- Be involved in the recruitment, training and managing of volunteers, interns and new staff when required.
- Conduct periodical field surveys to identify the needs of micro-entrepreneurs and pilot marketing actions in the field.
- Identify new partnership opportunities with local organizations and volunteers.
- Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and reporting needs of the projects and propose actions to further boost the performance and footprint of the pilot project.
Requirements
The ideal candidate should have:
- University degree in Business Administration / Finance / Microfinance / Economics; Masters' degree would be a plus.
- At least two (2) to three (3) years of professional experience preferably in the field of entrepreneurship and/or financing.
- Strong analytical and organizational skills.
- Active listener and good communicator with clients and partners.
- Self-driven personality, autonomous and results oriented.
- Resourceful, creative and problem solver.
- Fluency in Greek and English is required.
- Computer Skills: MS Office/Google Apps, mastery of Excel. Experience with Salesforce would be a plus.
Additional Comments
- Travel requirement: 15%
- We hire people that are self-motivated, comfortable conceiving strategies on the fly, and enjoy working individually and as part of a team. Our work is high-energy and demanding, but new hires will quickly feel at home among colleagues as friendly and focused as they are.
- Job applications will not and should not be assessed using race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion or sexual orientation.
Benefits
What we offer
- Join a Thriving Team: A great opportunity to work in a dynamic, fast-growing yet flexible organization within a newly regulated sector.
- Make a Difference: Engage in meaningful work that directly benefits Greek society and strengthens the economy.
- Competitive Compensation: Enjoy a salary based on experience, and variable compensation opportunity upon performance, together with additional benefits and office perks.
- Stay Connected: Benefit from a company-provided laptop, smartphone device and data plan for mobile telephony.
Joining AFI implies meaningful work in an excellent environment, which encourages initiative and innovation and contributes to the development of microfinance, which promotes growth and employment.
