Technical Officer - Banking sector

The Technical Officer will support the implementation of a project promoting SMEs in Iraq by enhancing access to finance through capacity building of financial institutions, compliance assessments, and technical assistance. The role involves coordination with partners, preparation of reports, and delivery of training related to banking compliance and SME financing.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Chief Technical Advisor in implementing project components related to SME access to finance, focusing on Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).
• Build capacity of PFIs in developing SME-specific products, SOPs, and training their staff.
• Provide technical support and advice to national implementing partners, project partners, and consultants.
• Develop detailed action plans for access to finance and entrepreneurship components in collaboration with national partners.
• Identify potential national project partners, lead negotiations, capacity building, and establish cooperation agreements.
• Conduct compliance and AML/CFT assessments of PFIs covering governance, compliance function, KYC/CDD, sanctions screening, and transaction monitoring.
• Verify PFIs’ adherence to Central Bank of Iraq regulations, international sanctions regimes, and donor requirements; follow up on corrective actions.
• Support ICBG and PFIs in developing and updating compliance, AML/CFT, and sanctions policies, SOPs, and monitoring tools.
• Prepare and submit technical, progress, mission, and financial reports for donors and partners.
• Coordinate entrepreneurship development activities and maintain liaison with stakeholders and financial institutions.
• Draft and provide technical input for policy briefs, reports, publications, and knowledge products; contribute to dissemination.
• Synthesize and share good practices and lessons learned, considering complementarities with other ILO technical areas.
• Prepare training and learning materials on banking compliance, AML/CFT, and sanctions; deliver training using innovative methods and digital technologies.
• Participate in national, regional, international, and UN inter-agency working groups and forums to promote ILO approaches and discuss joint initiatives.
• Organize and facilitate meetings and events related to access to finance and entrepreneurship, including agenda setting, participant identification, preparation of materials, presentations, and reporting.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced level university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, development studies or other relevant fields.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned field(s) or other relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level, including significant experience within the banking sector, involving access to finance to SMEs in the context of local economic development, entrepreneurship, and business start-up development, including non-financial business development service provision.
• Experience working directly with financial institutions is mandatory.
• Familiarity with ILO enterprise development work is an asset.
• Experience in banking compliance, AML/CFT and sanctions, including conducting compliance assessments of financial institutions, is a strong asset.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Good knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area of SMEs development, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
• Knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities.
• Knowledge of IT applications for information collection, management and dissemination.
• Excellent knowledge of financial institutions and SME development issues in conflict-affected settings and good understanding of entrepreneurship and business start-up development, knowledge of credit guarantee tools is an asset.
• Good knowledge of banking compliance, AML/CFT and sanctions frameworks, including the FATF Recommendations and Central Bank of Iraq requirements, and their application to SME lending and credit guarantee schemes.
• Good understanding of the local economic and political contexts in Iraq.
• Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Ability to identify sources and develop methods for data collection.
• Good research and analytical skills.
• Good drafting skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly to new IT software and systems.
• Good communication skills, presentation skills. Persuasion and ability to present technical arguments to convince counterparts on a course of action.
• Ability to maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and work well in a tripartite context.
• Ability to present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO's position on it to partners using a wide range of techniques and technologies.
• Ability to assess, adapt and amend individual and group assignments (policies, approaches, models) to meet new or changed needs and situations.
• Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance in the technical area.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate and model gender-responsive, non-discriminatory, and inclusive behavior and attitudes.

Skills

• SMEs Development
• Entrepreneurship Support
• Financial Inclusion Knowledge
• Banking Industry Experience
• Financial Institutions Engagement
• Banking Compliance
• AML/CFT Regulation
• International Sanctions Compliance
• Compliance Assessments
• Credit Guarantee Schemes
• Capacity Building
• Data Collection
• Qualitative Analysis
• Quantitative Analysis
• Research Skills
• Report Writing
• Presentation Skills
• Technical Training Delivery
• IT Applications for Data Management
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Multicultural Work Environment

Languages

English, Arabic