Manager, Financial Products & Partnerships, Accion Advisory

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About Accion:

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.

About Accion Advisory:

Accion Advisory is a global team helping companies deliver innovative, affordable financial solutions for underserved customers in emerging markets. We work with local ecosystem partners, leveraging philanthropic capital and new technologies, to test, improve, and scale solutions that strengthen economic well‑being.

Our 60+ advisors deliver 30+ active projects across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, collaborating with financial service providers, fintech companies, digital platforms, and other stakeholders to demonstrate the viability of reaching end customers often considered too risky or costly to serve. Through AI- and data-driven digital transformation and embedded financial products, we drive impact across four key pillars: livelihoods, agriculture, climate, and women's economic empowerment.

Position Summary

Accion Advisory is seeking a Manager, Financial Products & Partnerships to expand access to credit and risk-sharing products for smallholder farmers, agricultural MSMEs, and climate-vulnerable communities across India and beyond. You will build and lead Accion's relationships with financial service providers: MFIs, fintechs, small finance banks, and NBFCs. Taking partnerships from first conversation through executed agreement and into live pilots, and shaping the financial products those partnerships deliver. The role also supports donor and commercial fundraising for Accion's climate and agricultural finance agenda.

Based in Mumbai on a hybrid basis with two days on site, this is an open-ended position reporting to the Senior Director, Global Agri & Climate Lead, Accion Advisory. You will work closely with regional delivery teams across India, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.

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Position Responsibilities

Product Design and Development

- Lead the design and commercial structuring of financial products for smallholder farmers and agricultural MSMEs, including risk frameworks, credit guarantees, de-risking instruments, and blended finance incentives.

- Assess market opportunity, partner viability, and product pricing using existing models and analytical inputs, working with technical specialists where detailed financial modeling is required.

- Conduct market and customer research to identify unmet needs and opportunities for product innovation across agricultural value chains.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

- Build legal and regulatory structuring capacity, in-house or retained, across active markets including India, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.

- Represent Accion Advisory at conferences and industry forums, contribute to knowledge products and publications, and deliver training and technical assistance to staff and partners on product development and partnership approaches.

Financial Service Provider (FSP) Partnership and Engagement

- Identify, prioritize, and engage financial service providers: MFIs, fintechs, small finance banks, and NBFCs to pilot credit and risk-sharing products for climate-smart assets and underserved agricultural and MSME segments.

- Lead FSP partnership development end to end, from initial outreach through MoU/LoI execution, and coordinate onboarding and pilot implementation with partners.

- Maintain a structured engagement tracker and stakeholder plan across active and prospective FSP relationships, and report pipeline progress to Advisory leadership.

Business Development and Fundraising

- Support donor and commercial partner prospecting for climate and agricultural finance initiatives, identifying funding opportunities and potential co-funders.

- Draft concept notes and contribute to full proposals for grant and blended finance opportunities, and support scoping conversations with commercial partners as part of Accion's partner diversification strategy.

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Position Qualifications

- Master's degree in agricultural economics, finance, business, development studies, or a related field; a Bachelor's degree with equivalent work experience will be considered.

- 10+ years of total professional experience, including 6+ years in financial services partnerships, origination, or business development, and at least 2 years at manager level or equivalent.

- Demonstrated experience taking partnerships from initial outreach through executed agreement and into implementation.

- Experience in the agriculture sector or agritech companies, with agriculture as the primary focus.

- An established network across MFIs, fintechs, small finance banks, and NBFCs in India.

- Working knowledge of credit, risk-sharing and guarantee structures, and product pricing principles.

- Ability to interpret financial models and analysis to inform commercial decisions.

- Knowledge of agricultural value chains, smallholder farmer dynamics, and the rural finance ecosystem.

- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

- Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural and collaborative environment.

- Fluency in English.

- Right to work in India.

- 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.

Preferred

- Experience designing or structuring financial products for smallholder farmers, agricultural value chains, or MSMEs.

- Working exposure to adjacent climate-smart sectors such as clean energy, e-mobility, or circular economy.

- Experience working in African or Southeast Asian markets.

- Experience within the development consulting space.

- Experience drafting concept notes and proposals for grant or blended finance funders.

- Working proficiency in Hindi or another relevant local language.

- Interested in our mission and working globally.

This role requires travel averaging up to 30% of the time, primarily domestic within India, with 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.