Consultant, Digital Lending, AI & Credit Risk Management, Accion Advisory

Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the 1.6 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 299 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 77 countries, reaching over 500 million people. More at https://www.accion.org.

We are a diverse, close-knit global team with a common social purpose: building a financially inclusive world for small businesses and low-income households.  The Advisory team is composed of deep technical experts who are passionate about working with a wide range of financial service providers, digital platform providers, FinTech's, and others across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to build sustainable businesses to achieve financial inclusion.

Combining cutting-edge innovation and a deep understanding of client needs, Accion’s Advisory team offers our partners and the industry unique and strategic insights, as well as operational expertise, grounded in decades of hands-on support to leading financial service providers (FSPs). Accion Advisory leverages innovations in financial services to lower costs and improve quality at scale, helping build sustainable, scalable institutions focused on serving the financial needs of underserved individuals and micro and small businesses (MSEs). Bringing customer-centric, data-driven, tech-enabled solutions and tools, Accion Advisory delivers support to FSPs and other value-added service providers to MSEs.  We provide strategic and operational support to enhance our partners' capabilities and maximize their impact on underserved populations. We connect local ecosystem actors, harnessing philanthropic capital, digital public infrastructure, and the latest technologies to test, improve, and scale responsible financial solutions that enable small business owners and their families to improve their economic well-being.

As a consultant in Digital Lending, AI & Credit Risk Management, you will be contracted to lead the end-to-end design and execution of commercially viable digital lending products in Brazil and across Latin America. The selected consultant will be expected to leverage deep credit risk and analytics expertise, strong business and commercial judgment, experience working with fintech companies, and disciplined project execution to guide teams and partners toward practical, scalable, and commercially sound digital lending solutions.

The ideal candidate will have proven expertise in risk management, leveraging MSE-focused digital credit and embedded finance, with a background working across diverse models, including e-commerce, and supply chain management. The role requires technical expertise in designing and scaling credit risk products, rolling out credit performance analytics, and liaising with teams responsible for the development of decision tools based on advanced machine learning and AI in the Latin America region.

Some key responsibilities include guiding the development and implementation of digital strategies and product definition; leading discussions with executive and project teams to clearly define and ensure delivery against strategic objectives; and overseeing the application and adoption of advanced analytics and risk frameworks, tools, and techniques, both internally and with external project teams. We are seeking someone who can challenge assumptions and ensure that recommendations are operationally feasible, commercially viable, and grounded in a clear business problem.

Location: Brazil

• Design and implement risk management strategies and financial product decision tools, by coordinating with specialized data science teams, enhancing both traditional and alternative data-based decision-making processes
• Develop comprehensive risk management standards and credit policies that guide businesses through all phases of the digital credit cycle, from product definition to collections.
• Lead the creation of data-driven customer segmentation tools that can inform business decision-making and product design
• Direct the implementation of risk and profitability models, leveraging external partnerships where necessary to drive growth, customer acquisition, and portfolio health
• Implement tools to manage delinquencies and minimize credit-related losses. Guide collection efforts through informed proactive collection strategies.  

• Construct the business case for implementing MSE-focused embedded finance solutions for FSPs, B2B e-commerce, gig work, and supply chain platforms.
• Translate analytics and risk insights into strategic, actionable recommendations for senior management
• Lead structured change management to ensure digital lending and risk initiatives are embedded into core operations, with clear accountability, stakeholder alignment, and sustained adoption across teams
• Serve as a subject matter expert in digital credit and embedded finance for FSP, Fintech and platform players.

• 10 - 15+ years of experience in credit risk management, consulting, or other relevant subject matter area.
• Experience in MSE-focused technology businesses and/or Fintech; a financial services background is required.
• Proven expertise in coordinating with statistical modeling teams, credit risk modeling and analysis, Data Mining, and Finance. Strong knowledge of portfolio risk and management within the financial industry. A clear understanding of portfolio risks related to vintage and delinquency trends.
• Proven experience in embedded finance, supply chain finance, and/or credit for e-commerce. Strong knowledge of best practices in digital lending, including authentication, credit scoring, customer relationship management, and fraud mitigation best practices.
• Knowledge of and/or direct experience working in financial inclusion, designing and building financial products for microenterprises, low-income individuals, informal workers, and/or smallholder farmers
• MBA or Master's in a relevant area, or BA with equivalent experience
• Strong analytical skills across strategy, finance, consumer adoption, and new channels and technology.
• Ability to structure and scope complex problems and apply a range of analytical tools to develop solutions.
• Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication skills in English and Portuguese, with proven ability to effectively communicate project insights and recommendations.
• Open to engaging with global mission-driven projects and comfortable working across diverse organizational contexts.
• Willingness to embody our values of excellence, respect and passion for social change.
• Excellence: Accion staff should always put forth their best effort in all activities, strive for high quality of collective and individual performance; and demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times while in the workplace and while working on behalf of the organization.
• Respect: Accion staff should value one another’s roles and responsibilities as much as their own, be encouraging, and value the diverse and unique perspectives of colleagues. They should honor obligations and commitments to each other and to external partners.
• Passion for Social Change: Accion staff should be committed to making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, value the greater good of the organization over personal gain, and promote a productive workplace by acknowledging the accomplishments of others. 

• Travel up to 30% domestically and occasional international trips.

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.