Reporting/Supervisor: Senior General Accountant
Location: Port-au-Prince
Contract duration: Undetermined
Contract type: Employee
Travel: Approximately 50% local travel
Starting date: April 1, 2024
About Acceso
Acceso (www.acceso.org) is a pioneering social business builder that brings entrepreneurial solutions to global poverty. Acceso’s mission is to create fundamental and lasting positive economic change in the lives of rural smallholder farming families. Our pioneering entrepreneurial model provides smallholder farmers with a sustainable way to participate in formalized markets, enabling them to work themselves out of poverty with dignity and to prosper. Acceso currently operates a portfolio of three social businesses in Colombia, Haiti and El Salvador. Across our agribusinesses, we have impacted more than 35,000 smallholder farmers and farm workers, generating more than $80m in farmer income to date. Acceso has plans for scaling and replicating its model across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Acceso Haiti, one of the few successful social agribusinesses in Haiti with staying power, works with the country’s largest formalized network of farmers, sourcing peanuts, mangoes, limes, and moringa to sell to local and international buyers.
Position Description:
The Smallholder Farmers Credit Officer will be responsible for all Acceso programmatic operations linked to credit allocated to farmers as well as providing oversight of activities, developing work plans, and reporting on delivery and progress. The Smallholder Farmers Credit Officer is responsible for assessing creditworthiness and managing credit facilities for farmers within the organization’s agricultural programs. The Smallholder Farmers Credit Officer will assist the Senior General Accountant to deliver key credit allocated impact and help leading Acceso to an active farmer network of more than 30,000 in Haiti within five years.
Key Responsibilities:
The duties listed below are intended as illustrations of the types of duties that may be performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this position.
Credit design, execution and oversight:
- Evaluate credit applications from farmers and local organisations to determine eligibility and risk.
- Conduct financial analysis of local organisations and farmers’ income, expenses, and repayment capacity.
- Assess collateral provided by farmers and ensure compliance with credit policies.
- Recommend appropriate credit limits and terms based on risk assessment.
- Monitor loan utilization and repayment performance of farmers.
- Provide guidance and support to farmers on credit-related matters.
- Coordinate with field staff and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate credit disbursement and collection.
Risk Management:
- Identify and mitigate credit risks associated with lending to farmers or to local organizations.
- Monitor portfolio quality and take proactive measures to address delinquencies.
- Implement credit risk management policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Data Management and Reporting:
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of credit transactions and borrower information.
- Prepare regular reports on credit portfolio performance, including delinquency rates and portfolio quality indicators.
- Provide analysis and insights to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
Capacity Building and Training:
- Conduct training sessions for field staff and farmers on credit principles, loan application processes, and financial management.
- Build farmers’ capacity to effectively utilize credit for agricultural productivity and income generation.
Coordination and Collaboration:
- Collaborate with internal departments such as finance and Agri-Programs to align credit activities with organizational objectives.
- Liaise with external partners, financial institutions, and government agencies to explore opportunities for collaboration and funding support.
Core Attributes, Education, Work Experience & Languages:
- Has an ‘it can be done’ mind set and prepared to go the extra mile to do what it takes to support Acceso’s beneficiaries;
- Good analytical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills;
- Passionate about poverty alleviation and improving farmer livelihoods and adopting new entrepreneurial solutions to solve poverty;
- Proven experience in credit analysis, preferably in agricultural finance or rural development.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret financial statements and credit reports.
- Knowledge of agricultural practices, value chains, and market dynamics.
- Familiarity with credit risk management principles and regulatory requirements.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in data analysis tools and software.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment. A master’s or bachelor’s degree or major course work in Finance, Agriculture or Economics, or a related field with five (5) years’ experience of which three (3) must be managing agricultural development programs in the Global South, preferably in Haiti;
- Advanced user of MS Office Suite applications;
- Oral and written fluency in French, Creole, and Spnish. English is a plus.
Application Instructions:
To apply, please submit your CV/Resume and Cover Letter via the application form below.
For more information about Acceso and careers with us, please visit Acceso.org/careers.
Acceso is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.