Job Summary
The Business Finance Partnership (BFP) Manager is responsible for leading Digaf MFI’s funding, financial partnerships, treasury, liquidity, and financing activities. The role ensures that the institution maintains adequate and cost-effective funding to support lending operations, institutional growth, and strategic priorities.
The successful candidate will establish and maintain relationships with commercial banks, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), investors, shareholders, and other funding partners. The position will also oversee treasury and liquidity management, financial forecasting, funding risk monitoring, regulatory compliance, and management reporting while providing the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with timely financial insights to support strategic decision-making.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Fund Mobilization & Financing
Develop and implement Digaf MFI’s annual and medium-term funding strategies.
Identify and mobilize funding through appropriate sources, including equity, borrowings, deposits, credit facilities, and other permissible financing instruments.
Evaluate alternative funding sources based on cost, maturity, currency, risk, security requirements, and strategic suitability.
Prepare financing proposals, business cases, financial information, and supporting documents for prospective funding partners.
Participate in negotiations on financing terms and conditions in coordination with the CFO and relevant management.
Maintain an updated funding pipeline and monitor progress against approved financing targets.
Support the diversification of funding sources to reduce funding concentration risk.
- Financial Partnerships & Stakeholder Management
Establish and maintain effective relationships with commercial banks, DFIs, investors, shareholders, development partners, and other financial institutions.
Identify potential strategic financial partners and new funding opportunities.
Coordinate due diligence processes, information requests, financing discussions, and partner reporting requirements.
Monitor compliance with financing agreements, covenants, and other contractual obligations.
Maintain an up-to-date database of existing and prospective financial partners.
Represent the Finance Department in funding and partnership discussions as delegated by the CFO.
- Treasury & Liquidity Management
Oversee day-to-day treasury and cash management activities.
Monitor cash positions and ensure sufficient liquidity to meet operational and financial obligations.
Prepare daily, weekly, monthly, and rolling liquidity forecasts.
Recommend appropriate allocation of surplus funds in accordance with approved policies and regulatory requirements.
Monitor asset and liability maturity profiles and identify potential liquidity gaps.
Support effective management of funding costs and liquidity risks.
Coordinate banking relationships, bank account administration, and treasury services.
- Financial Planning, Forecasting & Analysis
Prepare funding forecasts aligned with Digaf MFI’s business plan, loan portfolio growth, deposit plans, and capital requirements.
Conduct funding gap analyses and liquidity scenario assessments.
Analyze financing costs and their impact on profitability and financial sustainability.
Provide management with analysis of funding mix, maturity structure, funding concentration, and cost of funds.
Support budgeting and financial planning by providing funding and liquidity assumptions.
Recommend funding strategies based on financial forecasts, business needs, and market conditions.
- Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance
Ensure that financing and treasury activities comply with applicable National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) requirements, internal policies, contractual obligations, and approved authority limits.
Monitor liquidity, funding concentration, refinancing, interest-rate, and other treasury-related risks.
Maintain appropriate documentation and internal controls over financing and treasury transactions.
Monitor compliance with lender and investor covenants and promptly escalate potential breaches.
Coordinate with Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, and other relevant departments on BFP-related matters.
Facilitate internal, external, and regulatory audits related to treasury, funding, and financial partnerships.
- Reporting & Management Information
Prepare periodic funding, treasury, liquidity, and financial partnership performance reports for the CFO.
Provide accurate information for Asset and Liability Committee (ALCO), management, Board, and regulatory reporting as required.
Maintain dashboards covering liquidity positions, funding pipelines, financing costs, maturity profiles, covenant compliance, and partner performance.
Identify and promptly escalate material liquidity, financing, and covenant risks to the CFO.
Provide timely financial analysis and recommendations to support management decision-making.
- Team Leadership & Performance Management
Lead, supervise, coach, and develop employees assigned to the Business Finance Partnership function.
Establish individual performance targets aligned with departmental objectives.
Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback.
Promote accountability, professionalism, collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement within the team.
Identify staff development needs and coordinate appropriate capacity-building initiatives.
Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and business continuity arrangements within the function.
Educational Qualifications
Minimum Requirement:
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Banking and Finance, or a related discipline.
Preferred:
Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, MBA, or a related field.
Professional Qualifications
Relevant financial management, treasury, or professional development training.
Preferred:
ACCA, CPA, CFA, Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), or another recognized finance or treasury qualification.
Work Experience
Overall Experience:
Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, treasury, banking, funding, investment, or financial institution operations.
Preferred:
Eight (8) to ten (10) or more years of experience in banking, microfinance, fintech, investment, or another regulated financial institution.
Managerial Experience:
Minimum of three (3) years in a supervisory or managerial position.
Preferred:
Experience managing a treasury, funding, Asset and Liability Management (ALM), corporate finance, or financial partnership function.
Required Technical Skills & Competencies
Funding & Financial Partnerships:
Demonstrated experience in financing, borrowing, liquidity management, or financial partnerships. Experience mobilizing funds from banks, DFIs, investors, shareholders, or institutional lenders is an advantage.
Treasury Management:
Practical knowledge of cash-flow forecasting, treasury operations, liquidity management, and banking relationships. Experience in ALM, investment management, funding-cost optimization, and liquidity stress testing is preferred.
Regulatory Knowledge:
Understanding of financial-sector regulatory and compliance requirements, with strong knowledge of NBE directives applicable to microfinance institutions and financial institutions.
Financial Analysis:
Strong capabilities in financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, financial modelling, scenario analysis, reporting, and funding optimization.
Technology:
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting applications. Advanced Excel, Power BI, data analytics, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Core Banking Systems (CBS), and treasury management systems experience are added advantages.
Leadership:
Strong team management, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Organization:
Excellent planning, coordination, analytical, and attention-to-detail skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
Language Requirements
Strong written and spoken English and Amharic.
Knowledge of additional local languages is an advantage.
Preferred Candidate Profile
A strategic and results-oriented professional with a strong understanding of funding and treasury operations.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with financial institutions and funding partners.
High levels of integrity, accountability, professionalism, and financial discipline.
Ability to work collaboratively with senior management and cross-functional teams.
Commitment to sound financial management, regulatory compliance, and the long-term sustainability of Digaf MFI.
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