Investment Support Associate

The Investment Support Associate at Inkomoko Kenya plays a crucial role in supporting the company's investment activities. This involves a significant focus on due diligence and investment preparation, portfolio management, and maintaining the investment management system. The associate will be responsible for introducing investment products to entrepreneurs, explaining repayment requirements, and conducting thorough investment appraisals. They will also gather detailed information, prepare investment contracts, and follow up on disbursements. A key aspect of the role is maintaining a healthy portfolio by offering excellent customer service, monitoring client success, and tracking payments. The associate will also ensure adherence to partnership requirements, such as those with Kiva, and actively participate in portfolio review meetings. Furthermore, the role involves maintaining proficiency with investment software, streamlining processes, ensuring data accuracy, and preparing related reports.

1. Support the compilation of investment pipelines and respond to inquiries from prospective borrowers, assisting them with applications for investment products.
2. Introduce investment products to entrepreneurs, clearly explaining repayment requirements and the seriousness of debt financing.
3. Conduct comprehensive investment appraisals, collecting detailed personal, business, and guarantee information, and facilitate the opening of new investment accounts.
4. Provide necessary information for the preparation and execution of investment contracts, and follow up on investment disbursements upon fulfillment of conditions, aiming to maintain a healthy portfolio.
5. Perform due diligence on prospective borrowers, including site visits, document preparation, and coordination with Business Development Advisors and Business Associates.
6. Communicate all relevant materials to the Portfolio Manager and assist in preparing credit reports for Investment Committee meetings.
7. Capture photos of entrepreneurs, secure signed photo waivers, and ensure their stories are accurately posted on the Kiva platform for fundraising.
8. Deliver excellent customer service through daily conversations, correspondence, and site visits to maintain strong positive relationships with borrowers.
9. Collaborate with the Inkomoko Kenya Business Development Services team to ensure borrower success and conduct client monitoring visits.
10. Maintain delinquency and default rates below set yearly targets.
11. Track borrower information and effectively communicate client status to key stakeholders.
12. Actively participate in weekly Portfolio Review Meetings.
13. Maintain a tracking system for borrower payments and contact information.
14. Interact with government and community leaders for follow-up on payment issues.
15. Ensure adherence to Kiva partnership requirements, including reporting and journaling.
16. Maintain and demonstrate proficiency with investment software applications.
17. Participate in training with system providers to maximize application utilization, streamline processes, and ensure accuracy and compliance.
18. Ensure proper segregation of duties, develop and maintain workflows for all investment stages, and advise management on automating key lending processes.
19. Provide the lending team with updates and procedural changes.
20. Participate in the review and recommendations for operational systems and procedures.
21. Successfully interact with lending staff to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the Investment Management System.
22. Prepare related reports and administer the system.

1. Hold a Bachelor's Degree in Finance or a related field.
2. Possess experience in Islamic lending and practice (an added advantage).
3. Demonstrate strong financial and accounting skills, with familiarity with business financial policies in Dadaab.
4. Have prior experience in investment management, microfinance, capital leases, and facilitating access to finance for micro businesses and SMEs (strongly preferred).
5. Experience dealing with customers/debt.
6. Prior experience in a lending environment.
7. Experience providing business advice to entrepreneurs.
8. Prior experience with Investment Management System software.
9. Be a decisive individual capable of delivering difficult messages to debtors and assertive enough to ensure full debt repayment.
10. Experience in managing difficult clients and achieving positive outcomes.
11. Exhibit very strong attention to detail and good follow-through.
12. Be comfortable with the civil court system, with previous litigation experience preferred.
13. Possess unrelenting perseverance, personal integrity, and critical thinking skills.
14. Have 2+ years of work experience in a relevant or applicable field.
15. Be fluent and an excellent communicator in English, Swahili, with Somali being highly desirable.
16. Must be legally authorized to work in Kenya and be based in Dadaab.