Research Specialist, Center for Financial Inclusion

About Accion

Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the nearly two billion people who are failed by the global financial system. We develop and scale responsible digital financial solutions for small business owners, smallholder farmers, and women, so they can make informed decisions and improve their lives. Through targeted investment strategies, advisory solutions, and expert thought leadership, we work with local partners to develop and scale cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly financial solutions. Since 1961, Accion has helped build 267 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 75 countries, reaching 440 million people. More at https://www.accion.org.

About CFI

The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) works to advance inclusive financial services for the billions of people who currently lack the financial tools needed to improve their lives and prosper. We leverage partnerships to conduct rigorous research and test promising solutions, and then advocate for evidence-based change. CFI was founded by Accion in 2008 to serve as an independent think tank on inclusive finance.

Our role in the inclusive finance space is to identify learning gaps that could advance financial health of low-income people and undertake research and pilot testing to advance our collective understanding of what would drive progress.In areas where there is clear evidence of what works, we collaborate with partners to advocate and embed learning into implementation and practices of partners.We partner with all types of stakeholders - donors, investors, policymakers and providers - both in its research and pilot testing work as well as during its advocacy phase.

Position Summary

CFI is an independent think tank housed at Accion that works to better serve, protect and empower clients. The Research Specialist position plays a strong contributing role in CFI's research and policy influence work across four main areas of responsibility: the generation of insights, the communications of insights for impact, program management, and organizational culture. The position requires developing a deep familiarity of his/her team's body of research, an emerging knowledge product pipeline, strong project and research administration, and an active commitment to CFI's organizational culture of excellence. The ideal candidate will have the desire to contribute to research that aims to have a meaningful impact on improving lives.

This position will be based in one of Accion's three hub locations: Washington, D.C., Mumbai, India, Bogota, Colombia.

Position Responsibilities

Insight Generation

Actively support research projects relating to inclusive financial services and CFI's four thematic priorities: consumer protection, consumer data opportunities and risks, women's financial inclusion, climate, risk, resilience, and adaptation as well as the relevant cross-cutting themes such as micro and small enterprises and embedded finance. Activities might include, for example, conducting rapid literature reviews, scoping potential partners, conducting field research and attending project meetings.
• Support the implementation of data and information collection, management, and review processes.
• Gather, structure, summarize and analyze data and information using self-directed methodologies.

Communication of Insights for Impact

• Draft blog posts, reports, and other knowledge products representing one's own research.
• Present team research internally within CFI and Accion.

Project Management

• Develop workplans for project and lead project administration, logistical coordination, project reporting and consultant and vendor management.
• Engage with stakeholders.
• Planning events and workshops.

Organizational Culture (includes mindsets and behaviors)

• Actively participate in a culture in which all staff: 1) reach their full potential as learners, unorthodox researchers, and thought leaders 2) work effectively with each other by sharing ideas, brainstorming, and co-developing knowledge product.

All other duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in economics, sociology, international development, or a relevant social science with 4-5 years of experience; Masters preferred with 2-3 years of experience.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills with demonstrated ability to draft a variety of knowledge products including literature reviews, blogs and policy briefs.
• Familiarity with the relevant qualitative research or quantitative research tools (STATA, R, NVIVO) as well as survey design, data cleaning and other research processes.
• Demonstrated understanding of inclusive financial services; experience with at least one of CFI's strategic focus areas (consumer protection, data, climate, gender) preferred.
• Experience contributing on research projects in developing countries.
• Able to operate largely self-sufficiently, with guidance and decisions from others; able to operate in a matrix organization across multiple reporting lines.
• Natural curiosity: desire to contribute to research that aims to have a meaningful impact on improving lives.
• Willingness to jump into work and a drive towards shared successes.

Travel Requirements

This job may require travel on an occasional basis (<15%).

Compensation and Benefits (U.S.)

• Salary Range: $56K to $72K
  
• The above salary range serves as a general guideline. Accion considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, training, skills, location, current market conditions as well as internal pay alignment.
• Accion provides a total compensation package, including base salary, discretionary merit-based bonus, and a variety of benefits including health insurance (90% employer funded), life and disability insurance, retirement plans (up to 7.5% employer match), paid holidays and paid time-off for vacation plus personal days as well as sick days.

Compensation and Benefits (Global Remote)

• Salary Range and Benefits are for candidates based in DC metropolitan area. Outside of this area, we may differentiate salaries and benefits based on location.

Accion is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture. Accion seeks qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, change of sex or transgender status, or any other basis protected by law. Accion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.