IFC Industry Specialist, Equity and Fintech Specialist 180 views

IFC—a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2019, we invested more than $19 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) is one of the major industry groups at IFC, responsible for managing roughly 40% of IFC’s overall business in terms of volume and capital at risk. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Microfinance, SME, Gender, Climate, Insurance, Capital Markets, Housing, Distressed Assets, and other areas, with both investment and advisory services delivered to IFC’s clients through IFC’s global network.

IFC’s priorities in FIG as an industry group are: (i) grow investment and advisory solutions in all regions it operates in, while achieving strong profitability and development impact (ii) build new and nurture existing client relationships to make IFC the preferred partner for key clients (iii) manage portfolio of assets for strong profitability and impact; (iv) support local companies, while improving transparency and corporate governance; (v) catalyze foreign investment, including mobilizing B loans, parallel loans, and other forms of capital mobilization; (vi) introduce and develop new financial solutions, products and platforms; (vii) build long-term partnerships with strong regional players; (viii) develop client, sector and country-level solutions through upstream and downstream interventions that can be scaled and replicated; and (ix) be a thought leader and innovator of products and client solutions globally.

IFC views Fintech as a key solution to a growing need of emerging markets to rapidly catch up with the developed world in financial services. It expects Fintech players to catalyze transparency, safety, economic and financial inclusion and global economic integration. The Fintech Unit, part of the FIG Equity group focuses specifically in early stage Fintech investments, bringing to bear IFC’s best knowledge, expertise and network in this converged industry. For the past 8 years IFC has built a profitable and diverse Fintech portfolio in excess of $300 million. In addition, FIG is also seeking to invest in late stage or at-scale Fintech entities in order to enhance our impact and footprint.

The Fintech team is seeking an investment officer as an industry specialist with extensive fintech and market and industry experience to help grow and develop its business in emerging markets in South Asia. The successful candidate must have significant experience in equity and fintech investing, understanding trends/dynamics/players in the Fintech space, and taking the lead in identifying and processing appropriate investments in this space. The investment officer will maximize the impact of IFC’s intervention and contribute to the regional and/or sector/industry development by executing innovative, developmental, and profitable investments for FIG and IFC. The position will be based in Mumbai, India.

Role & Responsibilities:

The Investment Officer will be an industry specialist with a wide range of evolving responsibilities in line with strategic priorities of FIG. Anticipated scope of duties and responsibilities during the includes the following:

• Promote IFC’s investments in the Fintech sector globally.

• Be the primary contact point and act as the lead between the investment teams located in designated regions, in particular South Asia, and Fintech global team.

• Identify and execute viable investment transactions in the designated region, which maximize development impact as well as profitability.

• Build a strong pipeline of potential and viable investment opportunities.

• Develop and implement innovative and appropriate financial structures for complex transactions.

• Work closely with regional team to provide specialist support as needed which shall include conducting company due diligence, valuation, financial analysis, and transaction structuring on fintech related transactions.

• Supervise Fintech more junior staff; lead project teams, mentor and develop junior staff.

• Gather market intelligence to stay informed of emerging trends in Fintech sub-sectors in various countries and provide market insights and knowledge to the broader Fintech team and leaders; Identify business models and opportunities for new approaches that can accelerate private sector participation and development impact within a region.

• Analyze prior transactions and track record with specific clients to develop input for future business opportunities; Disseminate knowledge across the FIG industry group.

• Build and maintain a network of local and regional co-investors and co-lenders to develop specific investment opportunities and to provide funding alongside IFC.

• Establish and maintain relationships with Fintech industry players in the designated region.

• Manage IFC’s investment in select portfolio companies. Activities will include: monitoring and ensuring compliance with the terms of the investment agreements, preparing timely credit risk assessment reports and equity valuations and developing and implementing equity sales strategies.

• Collaborate in developing strategies for various Fintech sub-sectors and countries in South Asia.

• Maintain relationships with clients and other stakeholders including the FIG South Asia investment teams as well as government, development partners, WBG who are at a level where they can influentially participate in developing immediate and future business opportunities.

• Develop new initiatives for investments in the Fintech sector in designated geography.

• Work closely with IFC’s designated regional departments in South Asia to deliver IFC’s investment targets and development impact.

• Create and maintain relevant databases and organize external and internal sector reports and presentations.