Spring Intern, Global Investments

About Accion

Accion is a global nonprofit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a trailblazing legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. We catalyze financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the 1.8 billion people who are left out of — or poorly served by — the financial sector. For more than 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 200 partners in 63 countries. More at accion.org

About Global Investments

The Accion Global Investments team makes equity investments in financial service providers that support micro-entrepreneurs and underserved populations in developing countries.

Global Investments’ strategy is to take significant minority stakes in financial inclusion businesses and work closely with Accion’s Chief Regional Officers and the Global Advisory Solutions team to provide capital, strategic and operational support to develop sustainable companies and deliver both commercial and social returns. Our combined Global Investments and Global Advisory Solutions team interventions incorporate a deep understanding of financial inclusion business models, customer needs and help our partners capitalize on the value of their data, leveraging technology and automation to transform their business processes, and reach their customers through the most cost-effective and convenient digital channels, lowering costs and increasing quality at scale.

Global Investments manages a portfolio of companies across Latin America, Asia, and Africa. We also work closely with our seed stage fintech for financial inclusion investment group (Accion Venture Lab) as well as our growth stage fintech for financial inclusion fund (Accion Frontier Inclusion Fund, managed by Quona Capital). Learn more here.

Position Summary

The Spring Semester Intern’s main responsibility will be to assist the Accion Global Investments team in researching target markets as part of Accion’s portfolio company valuations. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to gain exposure to impact investing, financial inclusion and microfinance, and international development. The targeted timing for this internship is February to May 2023, 20 hours per week. This role will be based out of our Washington, D.C. office but does offer the option for a hybrid in-person/remote schedule.

Position Responsibilities

Research

• Conduct country-level research in order to inform our annual audit process
• Learning opportunity: learn what factors we consider before investing in a new country, learn about different markets and financial services industry

Communications

• Help to keep sound bites updated for Global Investments portfolio companies
• Help with presentation decks
• Update Global Investments intranet page
• Learning opportunity: learn about Global Investments portfolio companies, join communications meetings and hear from teams across Accion

Team Administration:

• Help to organize shared files
• Help with team meetings – taking notes, keeping track of follow-up items
• Learning opportunity: learn how to lead meetings, how to keep a team organized

Other Learning Opportunities

• Gain an understanding of the investment process
• Joining meetings as appropriate
• Calls with Investment Officers to learn more about their roles
• Access to Accion resources more broadly

Position Qualifications

• Current undergraduate student looking for an internship for course credit and to increase exposure to the financial inclusion industry.
• Strong attention to detail and research skills.
• Interested in Accion’s mission and working globally.
• Willingness to embody our values of excellence, respect, and passion for social change.
  • Excellence: Accion staff should always put forth their best effort in all activities, strive for high quality of collective and individual performance; and always demonstrate honesty and integrity while in the workplace and while working on behalf of the organization.
  • Respect: Accion staff should value one another’s roles and responsibilities as much as their own, be encouraging, and value the diverse and unique perspectives of colleagues. They should honor obligations and commitments to each other and to external partners.
  • Passion for Social Change: Accion staff should be committed to making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, value the greater good of the organization over personal gain and promote a productive workplace by acknowledging the accomplishments of others.