Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

About SEED Microfinance Institution:

SEED Micro Finance Institution S.C (under formation) is a new entrant to the finance industry with strong aspiration and ambition to provide innovative, affordable, and flexible financial products and services through leveraging technology to positively impact the efforts of millions of Ethiopian families. SEED MFI aims to provide sustainable microfinance solutions to the urban and rural communities that lack access to inclusive financial services. SEED envisions itself and strives for to be an icon of excellence in the sector. The Institution embraces the twin objectives of realizing social performance while optimizing the interest of its stakeholders.

The Position:

The founding Chief Executive Officer of SEED MFI is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for building a strong foundation and paving the way to realize the aspirations and ambitions of Institutional growth. The role is challenging but interesting with utmost degree of autonomy for a leader with professional competence, positive attitude, delivering results, solutions oriented, innovative and open to learn and share with utmost ethical integrity who embarrasses change as a fact of life. The CEO is responsible for building a cohesive team that works and strives together to deliver key strategic milestones.The Board of Directors of the Institution will appoint the Chief Executive Officer who will oversee and in charge of the day-to-day operations of the MFI. The Chief Executive Officer of the MFI, under the overall guidance and leadership of the Board of Directors, is given the main responsibility to manage the activities and affairs of the Institution.

The CEO will oversee the overall management of the institution, including providing clear leadership and direction to the institution, ensuring solid operating and financial performance, learning and development of talent, and conversant in setting policies, procedures and revisiting processes and systems. The CEO is primarily responsible to realize the strategic plan of the MFI assuming leadership in the following key areas.

• Overall management and governance
• Strategic planning and business development
• Sound financial management and discipline
• Risk management, compliance and internal control
• Human Capital, Talent Development and Leadership Culture
• Communications and representation

Essential Responsibilities

Overall Management and Governance:

• Managing and monitoring daily operations of the institution by providing succinct and clear leadership to the various functions of the institution, including Finance, Operations, Business Development, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, and IT
• Issuance of periodic reports regarding performance to the Board
• Execute the policy decisions of the Board and implement the strategic plan of the Institution.
• Cultivate culture of cooperation and high performance
• Set up robust risk management and internal control systems.
• Strive to achieve the twin goals of social performance and financial sustainability.
• Ensure operational and financial sustainability of the Institution.
• Establishing and revisiting operating systems, processes, and guidelines of the Institution
• Ensuring tone at all levels of Departments and employees in creating understanding for strategies, operational policies, and procedures.
• Preparing organizational structure of the Institution, defining authorities, responsibilities of the work units and reporting relationships and monitoring on its proper implementation.
• Cultivate a culture of cooperation and high performance.
• Set objective key performance indicators and monitor progress.
• Management of overall portfolio growth, health, and quality
• Ensure the core business of the Institution is in compliance with internal policies, procedures and statutory requirements.
• Initiate innovative business development efforts and introduction of new products and services.
• Ensure strong and sound financial discipline including strict budgetary management
• Engage in creating and building partnerships and networking with various stakeholders.

Strategic Planning and Business Development:

• Refine and articulate a clear and compelling strategic vision and annual planning of SEED MFI
• Preparing and implementing the strategies, policies, business plan, budget, and work programs
• Plan and implement aggressive resource mobilization initiatives.
• Set financial and operational performance targets for major functional units.
• Plan and lead outreach of the Institution including opening of new branches.
• Deliver profitability, business, and market share growth strategies of the institution.
• Build strategic partnerships and relationships with donors, partners, and communities to achieve the vision outlined in its strategy.
• Set direction for the team by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve the objectives outlined in its strategy.
• Lead country strategy development.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcome.
• Remain current with trends and changes in the sector including new directives, regulations, inclusive finance, value for money, systems thinking, branchless banking, and fintech.

Sound Financial Management and Discipline:

• Ensure strong liquidity management with sound asset-liability matching and create ownership of the balance sheet while attaining astounding operational results.
• Responsible for treasury and disbursement function of the Institution in line with the direction set by the Board.
• Regularly report to the Board of Directors about the Company's management, operations, and financial status.
• With the approval of the Board, enters into commitments and credit agreements with financial institutions and other lending institutions on behalf of the Institution.
• Ensure proper management of assets and facilities of the Institution.

Risk Management, Compliance, and Internal Control:

• Owns and manages risks of the Institution clearly setting and defining risk tolerance limits.
• Ensure the five lines of defense in risk management are properly instituted in the MFI for robust risk management.
• Ensure the basic frameworks of enterprise risk management (ERM) and COSO Integrated Internal Control are adopted and implemented in the Institution.
• Monitoring and ensuring that the Company implements appropriate internal control and risk management programs.
• Ensure an active and live risk register including issues log are in place in the proper identification and management of risks of the Institution.
• Submits legally required reports and statements to various entities including the regulator.
• Ensure compliances with all legal and statutory requirements pertinent to the Institution.

Human Capital, Talent Development and Leadership Culture:

• Recruit, manage, motivate, and onboard an informed, skilled, and efficient team
• Encourage a team culture of growth, learning, creativity, and innovation by incorporating a culture of continuous feedback, learning and development, and performance management.
• Establish credibility within the team by demonstrating personal accountability, flexibility, resilience, and dedication to quality performance through creating positive relationships and having serenity in complex situations.
• Establish an effective and competent participatory and inclusive management style
• Implement management by objective performance management system attached with recognition and reward schemes.
• Oversee and support the development and implementation of effective HR policies and procedures for recruitment, training and talent development
• Develop a strong, agile and lien senior management team including succession planning
• Facilitate training and talent development.
• Build an organizational culture of trust, transparency, diversity, equity, and inclusion across the team and the Institution.
• Uphold a culture of integrity through ethical decision-making, safeguarding and compliance with the code of conduct.
• Foster an environment of mutual respect, diversity, and inclusion so that all team members are included, supported, and can thrive.
• Manage security and safety of the entire SEED MFI team at head office and branches and protection of assets according to best practices, operating standards, and existing realities.
• Ensure the safety and security of staff members through regular review and adaptation of security protocols and procedures including developing security plans.
• Proactively ensure team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Update staff on crucial events, high risk periods, incident reporting or security policy changes.

Communications and Representation:

• Build on visibility through promoting marking and branding of the Institution.
• Ensure quality information flow to investors, regulators, and other stakeholders as relevant.
• Representation of the Company to third parties including individuals, private organizations, and governmental bodies.
• Lead outreach and engagement of SEED MFI and build partnerships with key partners and stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, community, employee, and public interest groups and undertake activities of corporate social responsibility.
• Set strategies and mechanisms of clients feedback and complaints handling

Supervisory Responsibility

• Department Heads and Branch Managers

Accountability

Reports Directly To:the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) directly reports to the Board of Directors

Required Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• B.A or equivalent in the field of business and finance; MBA or masters in relevant field desirable.
• 8+ years of experience in the microfinance and banking sector required of which at least five years at senior managerial level as Head of Department required.
• Conversant with and hands on experience in microfinance or banking operations, products, and services
• Acquainted with the current regulatory requirements and directives of the MFI sector.

Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience leading and building performing teams
• Strong facilitation, mentorship, and coaching skills
• Strong conceptual, analytical, communication, report writing, negotiation, networking, and problem-solving skills,
• Open to learn and share
• Utmost ethical integrity, credibility, and reliable character.
• Strong business networking and collaboration skills
• Proficient in MS Applications