Investment Officer, Latin America
Mexico City, Mexico
Senior +1 · Full time
Posted 2 years ago
Apply

Accion Venture Lab seeks a strategic and collaborative investment professional to lead our investment work in Latin America. The Investment Officer will support all aspects of Venture Lab’s work in Latin America, including deal sourcing, investment analysis and diligence, transaction closing, and post-investment governance and support to portfolio companies. The role will be highly entrepreneurial, spanning emerging market venture investing and cutting edge fintech innovation, with a focus on social impact. 

 

We are looking for a person to be based ideally in Mexico City (we are also open to Sao Paulo). The Investment Officer will report to the Managing Director of Venture Lab, Amee Parbhoo, and work closely with each member of the tightly-knit Venture Lab team in various capacities, serving as a thought partner to other Investment Officers around the world and as a mentor to our Analysts and Associates.

 

The ideal candidate will have relevant experience working in Latin America, ideally in venture capital investing, fintech, or impact investing more broadly. The candidate should have a demonstrated passion for social impact. 

 

About Accion

Accion is a global nonprofit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a pioneering legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. We catalyze financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the three billion people who are left out of — or poorly served by — the financial sector. For nearly 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 160 partners in 55 countries. More at http://www.accion.org

 

About Accion Venture Lab 

Accion Venture Lab is the world’s leading seed-stage investor in fintech for the underserved, catalyzing innovation in inclusive fintech and improving the way financial services are delivered to underserved consumer and small businesses around the world. We invest capital in and provide support to innovative, scalable fintech startups that improve the reach, quality, and affordability of financial services for the underserved. Venture Lab is a part of Accion, a global nonprofit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a pioneering legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. Created in 2012 and backed by commercial and impact investors since the launch of its third-party fund in 2019, Accion Venture Lab has deployed over US$30 million across 56 early-stage startups that operate in 39 countries worldwide.

 

We have successfully delivered returns above benchmarks while staying true to our mission. We have done so by employing a rigorous sourcing and diligence process, investing in companies poised to take advantage of the investment themes we believe will be successful in the future, and by adding value in the form of strategic and operational support through our governance and portfolio engagement functions. Most importantly, we have created a model of social impact that many in our industry look to emulate. Since inception, our companies have helped bring financial services to 37 million underserved consumers and small businesses and they have, since our investment, gone on to raise nearly $1B in further capital to grow and scale.

 

Why you should consider working with us:

  • We are pioneers in our space. As the leading global seed-stage investor for inclusive fintech, we have proven an ability to be catalytic and influence the industries we work in: impact investing, fintech, early-stage entrepreneurship. We exist to go places where others don’t and we are not being afraid to make our perspectives known. We have always played an important role in shaping the nascent spaces we work, and we will continue to do so into the future.
  • We are curious seekers of new ideas. We are constantly trying to improve our work and gain insight to new innovations, new markets, and new ways of thinking. We focus on team learning and reflection through deep dives and quarterly retreats, and our entrepreneurial environment builds autonomy and ownership, so that we’re empowered to make decisions and shape our industry. We delve deep into wide-ranging topics related to fintech and economic development and, as an Investment Officer, you will be making a meaningful contribution to shaping our investment strategy and focus in the region. 
  • We get ambitious things done in a fun and collaborative environment. Accion Venture Lab is a place for creating lasting impact in the world. We recognize the importance of what we do, but we know we will be stronger and more effective together. We are supportive and collaborative, energized by working as a team and working to support the broader ecosystem. As a member of our team, you will have an ambitious agenda, but you’ll get plenty of support from your managers and peers—in addition to regular learning events, an individual professional development benefit, peer brainstorm and review opportunities, as well as opportunities to collaborate with leaders in our field. 
  • We do work that matters. At Accion Venture Lab, everything that we do always begins with an understanding of the real world and how innovative inclusive fintech companies can help us achieve tangible social impact. As a result, our work is not academic and abstract—it drives the real-world decision-making of entrepreneurs, investors, and others in the ecosystem. We are laser focused on ensuring that our work does, in the end, advance inclusive financial systems for low-income people around the world. 
  • We appreciate each other as people. We know that to grow we need to surround ourselves with people who have had different experiences and backgrounds to ensure creativity of thought and constant learning. We celebrate creativity and learn from our mistakes. In this position you will have a seat at the round table and can present and deeply discuss team research done by yourself and others in related subjects. 
  • We are part of a powerful network. Venture Lab is part of the Accion family. Accion catalyzes financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the three billion people who are left out of — or poorly served by — the financial sector. For 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 170 partners in 55 countries. More at http://www.accion.org.

   

Position responsibilities 

Key areas of responsibility for this role include:

  • Develop a strong pipeline of investment opportunities in Latin America as well as build strong sourcing referral network and conduct thorough due diligence and financial analysis on prospective investees.
  • Lead investment structuring, negotiation, documentation, and execution.
  • Build and actively manage portfolio of investments, including representing Venture Lab on boards and providing management support to companies, including on (as applicable) finance and operating strategy, business development and lead generation, introductions/connections, fundraising support, and seeking opportunities to leverage Accion resources and expertise to benefit the investee.
  • Build and manage relationships with global investors, entrepreneurs, service providers, and cross-Accion teams for deal sourcing, information/idea exchange, deal execution/co-investment, post-investment support, entrepreneurial ecosystem building, and other objectives.
  • Support fundraising efforts for our next fund (AVL Fund II).
  • Proactively develop knowledge resources and thought leadership, including preparation of documents on investment status and lessons learned for Limited Partners, Accion management/staff, and other Venture Lab stakeholders.
  • Represent Venture Lab publicly at conferences, events, and working groups as needed.

  

Position qualifications

  • 5+ years of relevant experience in early-stage investing, financial services, technology, management consulting, investment banking, and/or marketing – opportunity provides responsibilities scaled to experience.
  • Strong entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for entrepreneurship and tech-enabled solutions to poverty.
  • Should have experience working in or with startups or growth-stage enterprises in emerging markets, ideally as an entrepreneur, manager and/or principal investor.
  • Domain expertise in financial services and/or financial inclusion, particularly financial technology, payment systems, and/or innovative delivery models.
  • Multi-functional skill set across finance, operations, fundraising, strategy, and/or legal. Strong research and analysis skills, including financial and strategy analytics.
  • Outstanding relationship management skills and ability to earn respect of Accion colleagues, investors, and enterprises. Existing network within impact investing and/or financial inclusion a plus.
  • Exceptional written, communication and presentation skills, and comfortable moving seamlessly between boardroom and field.
  • Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or similar advanced degree is a significant plus.
  • Experience working and/or living in Latin America preferred.
  • Spanish language fluency required and Portuguese language fluency strongly preferred. 

Travel Requirements

Willingness to travel 30% or more (will be altered based on the status of pandemic-induced travel restrictions).

Apply for this job online
Refer this job to a friend
 
Share on your newsfeed
 

 

Accion Venture Lab
Accion Venture Lab is an investment initiative that provides startups with seed capital and support.
Size:  1-10 employees
Year Founded:  2011
© 2023 Pallet Labs Inc. See privacy policy and terms of service
Get started on Pallet
This community is on Pallet — Where creators turn their community into recruiting networks