Background

The overall objective of Accelerate Prosperity in South and Central Asia is to contribute to the enhanced equitable economic well-being of women and men in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic. The specific objective of AP is to improve self-employment and employment of women and men in supported enterprises. The creation of new start-up enterprises, the growth of small businesses, and a focus on youth and women-led ventures will be critical. The Action aims to contribute to positive trends in Gross National Income and Gender Development Index scores.

 

Job Description:

The Portfolio Analyst will be responsible for the overall management of the AP Portfolio, including end-to-end monitoring of portfolio-related activities such as disbursements, reimbursements, and business support services (bridge financing, supply chain financing), as well as other post-investment TA and mentorship activities for Accelerate Prosperity, Pakistan. This role will specifically involve assisting the Manager of Investments in managing the investment portfolio, which includes real-time updates and maintenance of portfolio data, data analysis and reporting, and other related portfolio activities.

 

Accelerate Prosperity is designed to leverage the creative power and commercial instincts of private sector (including AKFED) to address the needs and challenges of budding entrepreneurs, startups and existing MSMEs. It is a part of new global initiative of the AKDN in Central and South Asia, which follows guidance from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Board to develop more formal structures to catalyze enterprises within AKDN’s main area development programs, where economic opportunities remain insufficient. Through patient capital and tailored business advisory to startups and businesses, AP complements broader employment-related programs of AKF and draws significantly on technical expertise from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s (AKFED) Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), and coordinates efforts with the AKDN’s financial institutions, the University of Central Asia and many other national partners.

 

Job Responsibilities

 

• Portfolio Management/Reporting and Analysis:

 

Responsible for updating the Portfolio Monitoring Tool on a monthly basis, creating insightful dashboards, and generating comprehensive portfolio reports and analysis. Identifying and flagging potential risks and trends to inform strategic decision-making

 

• Data Management/Physical Record Keeping:

 

Keep track of all portfolio related data. Maintain organized physical files for each business in the portfolio, including important documents and correspondence, to ensure easy access and reference.

 

• Facilitate and Track all Fund Disbursements:

 

Work closely with Investment Analysts to maintain a comprehensive tracker of all fund disbursements, identifying delays and reasons, and taking proactive measures to resolve any delays promptly.

 

• Timely Repayments and Recoveries:

 

Coordinate with Investment Analysts, to ensure timely repayments and recoveries of portfolio businesses. Communicate with external lenders to obtain repayment data, facilitating smooth communication and ensuring accurate tracking of financial transactions for effective portfolio management.

 

• End to End Reimbursement Process:

 

Carry out the complete process of reimbursing any additional markup payments made by portfolio businesses to lending partners beyond the agreed terms. This involves meticulous tracking, coordination with relevant stakeholders, and ensuring timely and accurate reimbursements.

 

• Business Support Activities:

 

Track all Business Support Services including but not limited to Bridge Financing, Supply Chain Financing, maintain all contracts/agreements to ensure compliance, ensuring businesses comply with agreements, and handling payments according to terms.

 

• Post Investment Technical Assistance:

 

Ensure that investees receive tailored training and advisory services based on due diligence recommendations. Coordinate with Investment Analysts, to assess the needs of each portfolio business and provide specific technical assistance post-investment. This proactive approach supports the growth and success of portfolio companies, aligning with strategic objectives and maximizing investment outcomes.

 

• Audit and Compliance

 

Ensure adherence to all audits and compliance activities. This entails managing the entire compliance process, including audits and other regulatory obligations. Additionally, provide crucial support to the finance department in fulfilling audit requirements specific to the investment function. This includes coordinating with finance teams to gather necessary documentation and data, facilitating smooth audit processes, and ensuring timely completion of audit-related tasks.

 

• Any other task(s) given by Manager Investments.

 

 

Requirements

 

• MS Finance, MBA Finance, ICMA, M. Com, ACCA, CFA Level 1 or an equivalent recognized professional qualification 
• (Required) Minimum 3-5 years of relevant hands-on experience in Financial Modelling and Analysis, Data Management, Analysis, and Reporting. Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with proficiency in Excel.
• (Preferable) Experience of assisting in/overseeing audits especially those of Financial Institutions
• (Preferable) Experience of working in Central and South Asia 
• (Preferable) Experience in projects related to entrepreneurship, business development, SMEs etc.

• Excellent writing and reporting skills. 
• Command on (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.). 

 

Soft Skills 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Urdu
• Highly proactive and passionate about work. 
• Capable of producing high quality results within often tight deadlines. 
• Ability for multitasking and working under pressure. 
• Ability to distill large volumes of data in short periods of time. 
• Intellectual curiosity and demonstrated record of professional development/growth. 
• Strong problem solving skills and the ability to work through complex models to determine the key assumptions, implicit caveats and limitations. 

Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with all level of management.