AEC Ethiopia, officially registered as AEC Business Consulting Plc, supports entrepreneurs to grow their business to improve livelihoods and to create thriving communities.
Recently founded in 2021, as the Ethiopia affiliate of the African Entrepreneur Collective. AEC is a 180+ person organization that seeks both social impact and financial sustainability. AEC Ethiopia will work with more than 9000 refugee and host community entrepreneurs, providing a combination of training, consulting, financial services, and market-level systems change. All of our services ensure that businesses in Ethiopia can thrive and contribute to the growth of Ethiopia’s economy.
AEC Ethiopia has 10+ staff in 3 offices across Ethiopia (Addis, Jigjiga, and Assosa), and we have partnerships with ARRA, UNHCR, and Ikea Foundation. In 2022, we developed a new strategic plan to reach beyond what we have previously thought possible.
We have a diverse staff, who all embody the company’s culture. In addition to the skills above, all candidates must demonstrate our core values:
· Purpose: be solutions-oriented and produce high-quality work and be a global leader.
· Achievement: Showing up over and over again to get the work done right.
· Improvement: Be humble and committed to continuous learning and growing. Improve through giving and receiving open and accurate feedback
· Bravery: willing to take risks and create a safe space for others. Be compassionate and inclusive.
· Turikumwe/Tuko Pamoja/Abren Nen/Waliin Jirra/We are Together: We appreciate our colleagues, celebrate success, and support each other in hard times.
Investment Manager will be a trusted partner of AEC Ethiopia clients with the responsibilities below:
DUE DILIGENCE AND FACILITY/INVESTMENT PREPARATION (40% time)
• Respond to inquiries from prospective borrowers, support them to apply for our investment products,
• Introduce the investment products to entrepreneurs, explaining the requirements for repayment and the seriousness of taking on debt financing,
• Conduct due diligence on prospective borrowers, including site visits, document preparation, coordination with the Business Development Associates and Business Associates, etc.
• Communicate all materials to the Senior Investment Manager/ Regional Investment Director and assist in preparing credit reports for Investment Committee meetings,
• Take photos of entrepreneurs, have them sign photo waivers, and post their stories on the Kiva platform.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT (40% time)
• Offer excellent customer service through daily conversations, correspondence, and site visits as needed to maintain strong positive relationships with borrowers,
• Work with Business Development Services team to ensure borrower success, and Visit clients for monitoring,
• Track information about borrowers and communicate effectively with key stakeholders about client status,
• Actively participate as key staff in the weekly Investment Review Meeting,
• Maintain a tracking system of borrower payments and contact information,
• Interact with government leaders, the court system, refugee’s and host communities’ stakeholders and others for follow up on lack of payments,
• Work with the Finance Director/Senior Finance Associate to produce invoices for payments,
• Ensure that we are adhering to the requirements of our Kiva partnership, including reporting and journaling,
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
TEAM AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT (20% time)
• Supervising and training Investment Officers staff in all steps of the investment granting cycle including:
- Acquisition and screening of potential clients,
- Active monitoring of investment repayments and overall performance,
- Investment assessment, appraisal and disbursement.
• Chairing credit/facility committees under the Investment manager’s approval rights.
• University degree in Finance or another related field
• Must speak fluent English and Islamic having Knowledge of other local languages will be an added advantage
• Experience in investment management, microfinance, capital leases, and access to finance for Micro businesses and SMEs is STRONGLY preferred
• Experience in lending, group savings is strongly preferred
• Experience in lending products development is a MUST
• Experience in managing investment staff
• Experience providing business advice to entrepreneurs and dealing with customers/debt
• Prior experience in using Investment management system software
• Decisive individuals with the ability to deliver unpleasant messages to the debtors and assertive enough to get the debtors to pay off the entire debt
• Experience in managing difficult clients and reaching positive outcomes
• Very strong attention to details and good follow-through,
• Comfort with the civil court system, collateral registration and previous experience in litigation is preferred
• Unrelenting perseverance, personal integrity, and critical thinking skills.
• 5+ years of work experience in the relevant or applicable field
• Must be able to legally work in Ethiopia
· Fun, collaborative work environment
· Opportunity to work with a talented, passionate, and committed team of professionals
· Challenging work and the opportunity to grow and develop your skills
· Ability to make a significant social impact and contribute to economic growth
· Competitive benefits package - health insurance, staff savings program, parental leave, sabbatical program, and more.
COMPENSATION
Compensation includes salary and potential KPI-based bonus, healthcare, retirement benefits, flexible annual leave, possible travel in East Africa, professional development opportunities, and the chance to connect with colleagues across East Africa in a supportive and inclusive environment. In addition, this role is a tremendous opportunity to work in a high-growth, mission-driven organization.