About Accion:

Accion is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a fair and inclusive economy for the 1.6 billion people who are failed by the global financial system. We develop and scale responsible digital financial solutions for small business owners, smallholder farmers, and women, so they can make informed decisions and improve their lives. Through targeted investment strategies, advisory solutions, and expert thought leadership, we work with local partners to develop and scale cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly financial solutions. Since 1961, Accion has helped build 299 financial service providers serving low-income clients in 77 countries, reaching over 500 million people. More at https://www.accion.org.

Position Summary:

Accion has grown in complexity over the last few years and is projected to continue integrating and operating multiple entities and subsidiaries across several geographies, including Accion Impact Management (AIM), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor that manages impact investments in financial inclusion leveraging third-party capital.

To support this continued evolution, the organization seeks an experienced and effective Head of People & Culture, responsible for shaping and advancing Accion's global people strategy to enable organizational performance, mission impact, and sustainable growth.

Leading the global People & Culture function, the leader is responsible for enterprise-wide talent, culture, organizational design, total rewards strategy and people operations to support continued global growth, organizational competitiveness and financial sustainability.

The role champions an inclusive and high-performing employee experience, while balancing global standards with local market, cultural, and regulatory requirements across the organization's 180 person international workforce. They will coach, mentor and advise direct reports, peers, and senior/middle management on best-in-class talent management and organizational development practices.

Position Responsibilities:

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Team: Manage a team of 9 and partner with organizational leaders

Global People Leadership

Partner closely with leadership team members on aligning the People & Culture approach with organizational priorities, growth strategy and operational structure.
Collaborate with leaders and managers across regions and affiliates to implement equitable, inclusive, and locally responsive people practices within a consistent global framework.
Ensure people strategies effectively support a globally distributed workforce across non-profit and regulated investment management activity, including employees, Employer of Record (EOR) staff, and consultants.
Build a compelling global employee value proposition that delivers a consistent employee experience while respecting local laws, cultures, and business needs.
Champion people and culture practices that recognize and support differing business, regional norms, and ways of working, in order to attract/retain exceptional talent reflective of the organization’s charitable purposes and mission-oriented activities.
Lead, mentor, and develop team members to build organizational capability and ensure a high performing, outcomes-oriented People and Culture function.

Global Culture & Engagement

Help strengthen the organization's One Accion culture by championing organizational initiatives that foster cross-team engagement, communication and collaboration across programs, functions, subsidiaries, and regions, and enterprise learning.
Continue to introduce and embed practices, programs, and behaviors that increase employee engagement and support health, resilience and sustainable performance.
Foster a culture of accountability, equity and inclusion, learning, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Talent Development, Performance, and Total Rewards

Provide oversight for the organization's global talent management and professional development strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, future workforce needs and operating model.
Provide oversight of the organization's performance management philosophy and practices, fostering accountability, continuous feedback, and alignment between individual performance and organizational goals.
Lead organization’s global Total Rewards strategy, ensuring compensation, benefits, incentives, and recognition programs are competitive, equitable, sustainable, and aligned with organizational priorities and values.
Partner with senior leaders to identify strategic capability needs; develop talent management frameworks and career development pathways that strengthen recruitment, talent development, engagement, succession planning, and retention.

System & Process Innovation

Evolve and modernize policies and processes to enable a ‘fit for purpose’ and efficient operating model across business divisions and entities, including shared services for AIM.
Innovate and improve HR and talent software systems, performance management models and tools, workflows, and service delivery.
Identify opportunities to leverage AI and automation that will build and drive organizational capability and efficiency across People operations and the enterprise.

Risk & Employee Relations

Ensure strong governance, policy oversight, and effective mitigation of employment risks globally as part of Accion’s enterprise risk management program.
Provide strategic oversight of international employment models, Employer of Record arrangements, immigration, and global mobility workforce strategies.
Support compliance with labor laws, regulations, and employment practices across various jurisdictions, including the additional regulatory considerations applicable to AIM as an SEC registered investment advisor.
Oversee employee relations and partner with Chief Legal, Compliance and Risk Officer on human resources-related investigations and whistleblower concerns as appropriate, reporting to the Audit and Governance Committee of the Board on Accion’s Whistleblower Program
Ensure policies and practices reflect Accion's values while supporting a healthy, respectful, and inclusive workplace.

The Leader:

Accion’s new Head of People & Culture will bring a global perspective, an innovative and strategic mindset, and a strong understanding of how people strategy drives global organizational performance.

They will have deep experience shaping culture and leading teams across countries or regions within complex, international, mission-driven organizations. The ideal candidate will combine exceptional management and execution skills with a values-driven, collaborative, solutions-oriented approach, and bring many of the following qualifications:

Preferred Experience

15+ years of well-rounded, progressive HR experience with current or prior experience leading people team and strategy within a complex global organization.
Strong understanding of global employment practices and cross-cultural leadership is key, with direct experience supporting subsidiaries and teams operating across multiple countries and cultures. Prior responsibility for managing Human Resources needs in India, Colombia, and Singapore would be beneficial.
Demonstrated prior people leadership experience gained in both a combination of both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and financial services, investment, venture capital, lending, or other complex capital environments would be preferred.
Experience developing high-performing teams, talent pipelines and succession strategies.
Expertise in organizational design, leadership development, talent strategy, total reward strategy, and change management.
Experience modernizing HR technology and processes and leveraging AI-enabled solutions.
Demonstrated managing compliance in a globally distributed organization.

Values, Competencies & Skills

A collaborative and pragmatic partner with all departments/teams across the organization.
An ability to coach, mentor and advise a direct report, peers, and senior leaders on best-in-class people and culture, talent management and organizational development practices.
Strong interpersonal and partnering skills, leads through influence rather than power and is approachable to staff.
A great, clear communicator and active listener who builds trust and equity across the entire organization.
Strong enterprise transformation and change management skills, with an ability to toggle tactical and strategic contributions. Excellent project management and delivery skills.
Action-oriented, accountable, innovative, creative, and not risk averse while supporting employee wellbeing.
A continuous learner and problem solver who is open to feedback, inclusive and solution oriented.
Strong conflict resolution skills with an ability to effectively bridge and transcend differences.
Appropriately handles sensitive and confidential information.

Education

Minimum Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field.

Location:

The role is based in Accion’s headquarters in Washington D.C. Accion has a hybrid work environment.

Travel:

Eagerness to travel domestically for board meetings, team meetings/retreats, and conferences and globally to regional hub offices and team meetings in Colombia, India, and Africa (anticipated 3-4 trips per year).

Compensation:

Accion offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. For this position, the base salary range is $225,000 to $250,000 plus an annual bonus. Internal equity considerations will be reviewed before making a final offer.

A full description of the position can be seen here:

https://bridgepartnersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Position-description-Accion-Head-of-People-Culture.pdf

Accion is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture. AIM seeks qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, change of sex or transgender status, or any other basis protected by law. AIM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

About the company

Accion is a global nonprofit focused on financial inclusion. It works by catalyzing financial service providers to deliver affordable, high-quality services at scale for the billions who are left out or underserved by the financial system. Rather than selling a single product, Accion supports microfinance institutions, fintech lenders, and other partners through funding, technical assistance, research, and ecosystem-building to reach customers with digital and traditional financial services. What sets Accion apart is its long-standing track record (60 years), its large network of over 170 partners in 55 countries, and its emphasis on both microfinance and fintech impact investing to build an inclusive financial system. The organization’s goal is to create a financially inclusive world where everyone has access to appropriate financial tools and services.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

$767.4M

Headquarters

Washington DC, District of Columbia

Founded

1961

Get referred to Accion

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

Accion Ventures announced Gangkhar's $4.25 million seed round on March 10, 2026.
June 25, 2026 insights on Mexico signal active sourcing in high-growth fintech markets.
Jayshree Venkatesan became head of partnership development in August 2026, strengthening resource mobilization.

What critics are saying

Accion depends on philanthropy and exits; Prayaan Capital exited in 2026.
Early-stage fintech exposure ties returns to long sales cycles and fragile regulatory approvals.
A collapse in grant funding ends Accion Ventures' ability to seed new fintechs.

What makes Accion unique

Accion Ventures backs 80+ startups across 30+ countries, pairing capital with hands-on support.
Its 65-year nonprofit brand and 170-partner network unlock regulators, banks, and distributors.
The September 2 London summit with Mastercard and FMO convenes global inclusive-fintech dealflow.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Paid Holidays
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave

Company News

Inc42

Oct 14th, 2026

RevRag.AI raises $2.5M to build AI relationship managers for lenders and insurers

RevRag.AI, a Bengaluru-based fintech startup, has raised $2.5 million (about ₹24 crore) in a seed round led by Accion Ventures. Cedar Hill Ventures, Wyser, and Venture Catalysts also joined. The money will speed up product development and fund expansion into the US. The startup offers autonomous AI agents that work as virtual relationship managers inside the apps of banks and fintechs. They handle onboarding, sales, and multilingual support, and RevRag says they can cut costs by up to 70%. RevRag serves more than 45 customers in India, including PhonePe, Razorpay, Bajaj Finance, Motilal Oswal, and IIFL. It aims to reach $50 million in annual recurring revenue by FY28.

Disrupt Africa

Oct 13th, 2026

Kuunda completes $5M secondary share sale led by E4E Africa

South African lending infrastructure startup Kuunda has completed a $5 million secondary share sale led by E4E Africa. The deal returns capital to early investors and makes E4E Africa a larger long-term shareholder. Accion Ventures, Portugal Gateway Fund, and Seedstars Africa Ventures also increased their stakes. Kuunda says the sale shows African fintech companies can give shareholders liquidity well before an IPO or acquisition. Founded in 2018, Kuunda embeds credit products into platforms run by mobile money operators, point-of-sale network providers, e-commerce players, and banks. Its infrastructure has disbursed more than 870 million loans, worth over $4.4 billion, to 14.6 million agents, merchants, and consumers. The company is live in five markets, with seven more planned. It raised a $7.5 million pre-Series A round last October.

Accion

Aug 4th, 2026

Fintech for Inclusion Global Summit gathers inclusive finance ecosystem in London on September 2.

Fintech for Inclusion Global Summit gathers inclusive finance ecosystem in London on September 2. 04 Aug 2026 * Conference will showcase innovative startups using AI, cross-border payments, insurtech, and other technologies to help reach financially underserved populations in emerging markets * Speakers to include Matt Oppenheimer (Co-Founder and Chairman of Remitly), Bunita Sawhney (Chief Consumer Product Officer at Mastercard), Eimear Creaven (President, Global Partnerships at Mastercard), and TS Anil (Vice Chair of Monzo) London, August 4, 2026 - Accion Ventures, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, and the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO, today announced the Fintech for Inclusion Global Summit will take place in London on Wednesday, September 2. The summit will bring together over 250 attendees from 30 countries, representing startup founders, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders in the global inclusive fintech community who are building new solutions for financially underserved small business clients. Globally, 1.3 billion people[1] are excluded from the financial system, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) face a $5.7 trillion financing gap[2]. Without access to financing, savings, and insurance, these populations may be unable to improve their livelihoods, grow their businesses, or plan for the future. Amee Parbhoo, Managing Partner of Accion Ventures, said, "We are bringing this group of fintech innovators together in London, one of the world's most dynamic financial capitals, to explore new ways of expanding access to high-quality financial solutions for underserved clients globally. Discussions will focus on the forces reshaping the industry, from AI in fintech to cross-border payments, helping to forge partnerships that aim to advance financial inclusion." The event will spotlight founders who are driving inclusive innovation and shaping the future of affordable, technology-enabled services. From connecting small business owners in Brazil to affordable credit so they can purchase surplus inventory from major brands and reduce textile waste, to deploying AI so small hospitals in India can digitize their operations and focus on providing high-quality patient care, they are solving pain points for small businesses and the people they serve across emerging economies. "This convening coalesces the ideas, expertise, and partnerships needed to expand meaningful uptake and usage of financial services and opportunities for underserved individuals and small businesses around the world," said Payal Dalal, Executive Vice President of Global Programs at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. "As part of our commitment to connect and protect 500 million individuals and small businesses on their journey to financial health by 2030, forums like these bring us alongside partners that have a shared vision to advancing financial health through innovation, collaboration, and responsible growth. We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Accion to turn that vision into action." Marieke Roestenberg, Manager of FMO Ventures, added, "We're pleased to once again co-host this important convening with Accion Ventures, in partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. This year's programming, with a focus on AI and MSME resilience, comes at a critical moment for the industry, and the caliber of founders, investors, and operators in the room makes this one of the most effective gatherings of its kind for advancing inclusive fintech." Accion Ventures organizes the Fintech for Inclusion Global Summit as part of its work to grow and scale responsible fintech solutions for underserved individuals and small businesses globally. Since 2012, Accion Ventures has deployed capital into 80 early-stage startups that operate in over 30 countries, delivering both social and financial objectives. With its global team, it provides hands on strategic and operational support that is critical to the success of early-stage companies, while quickly spotting and responding to global trends, and sharing learnings across geographies. Speakers at the Fintech for Inclusion Global Summit will include Matt Oppenheimer, Co-Founder and Chairman of Remitly, Bunita Sawhney, Chief Consumer Product Officer at Mastercard, Eimear Creaven, President, Global Partnerships at Mastercard, and TS Anil, Vice Chair of Monzo. For more information on speakers and tickets, see www.fintechforinclusionsummit.com. About Accion Ventures Accion Ventures is an investment strategy that today pursues early-stage investments as part of Accion Impact Management. Accion Ventures deploys capital into early-stage fintech startups that operate in countries worldwide. Investments managed by Accion Ventures have shown that early-stage companies can be highly impactful and have delivered multiple exits. More at https://www.accion.org/ventures About Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth advances equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world. The Center leverages the company's core assets and competencies, including data insights, expertise, and technology, while administering the philanthropic Mastercard Impact Fund, to produce independent research, scale global programs, and empower a community of thinkers, leaders, and doers on the front lines of inclusive growth. For more information and to receive its latest insights, follow the Center on LinkedIn, Instagram and subscribe to its newsletter. About FMO FMO is the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. As a leading impact investor, FMO supports sustainable private sector growth in developing countries and emerging markets by investing in ambitious projects and entrepreneurs. Through FMO Ventures, its early-stage investment program, FMO invests in innovative and impactful technology-enabled businesses and venture capital funds across Africa and emerging Asia. The program focuses primarily on fintech, agritech and cleantech companies that drive financial inclusion, improve livelihoods and contribute to sustainable economic development in underserved markets. More at www.fmo.nl/ventures-program About Matt Openheimer Matt Oppenheimer co-founded Remitly in 2011 and serves as Chairman of the board of directors. Prior to co-founding Remitly, Matt worked for Barclays plc, a multinational bank and financial services company, from August 2009 to May 2011. He has served on the board of directors of BECU since 2018. Matt was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 in the Pacific Northwest and has been recognized as a Puget Sound Business Journal "40 Under 40" honoree for his work with Remitly. He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in Psychology from Dartmouth College. About Bunita Sawhney Bunita Sawhney is the Chief Consumer Product Officer at Mastercard and a member of the company's management committee. She oversees all consumer and issuer product offerings, including the company's credit, debit and prepaid products, and ESG product innovations. At Mastercard, Bunita was previously the executive vice president of U.S. Financial Institutions, and also led the company's Global Debit & ATM Products business. Prior to joining Mastercard in 2016, she held various management positions at HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo Bank. Bunita holds a master's degree in strategic communications from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. About Eimear Creaven Eimear Creaven is President, Global Partnerships and a member of the company's management committee. In this role, Eimear is responsible for driving Mastercard's efforts around revenue diversification and secular growth through innovation and co-creation with global banking, fintech, and digital marketplace and platform partners. At Mastercard, Eimear previously held a series of senior positions spanning over a decade, including Division President for Western Europe, leadership roles within the U.K. and Ireland and European Market Development teams, and Chief of Staff to the President of International Markets. Prior to joining Mastercard, Eimear was a Director with Alvarez & Marsal, and held various roles with Allied Irish Banks. Eimear holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and an MBA from INSEAD in France and Singapore. About TS Anil TS Anil is the Vice Chair of the board and was until recently Group CEO at Monzo, the largest digital bank in the UK. He worked across the financial services, banking, and payments industry with Visa, Citi, Capital One, and Standard Chartered, before finally reaching Monzo. Monzo has grown to over 15 million customers in the UK and recently obtained a banking license from the European Central Bank and the Central Bank of Ireland. He has lived and worked in several countries.

Accion

May 3rd, 2026

Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion and host partner GFTN to bring Responsible Finance Forum to Singapore (November 13-15).

Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion and host partner GFTN to bring Responsible Finance Forum to Singapore (November 13-15). Global leaders in finance and regulation to discuss balancing innovation and impact for better consumer outcomes 03 May 2026 WASHINGTON, DC, May 4, 2026 - The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) will convene global policymakers, regulators, financial service providers, investors, researchers, and consumer advocates in Singapore on November 13-15, 2026, for the Responsible Finance Forum (RFF) 2026, hosted in partnership with the Singapore-based Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN). Convened since 2022 by CFI, the RFF tackles pressing issues at the intersection of responsible inclusive finance and consumer protection in a rapidly evolving digital world. This year, the RFF will examine how rapidly emerging technologies when designed, deployed, and governed responsibly can help advance financial health, as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation continue to reshape financial services. The discussions will explore how all actors can better work together to ensure innovation delivers better outcomes for clients, and especially low-income consumers. Research has shown that escalating fraud and scams, rising levels of over-indebtedness, and opaque uses of AI are negatively impacting people's trust in financial services, affecting their financial health and resilience. "Innovation in finance, driven by technology, holds enormous potential to reach people who are left out or poorly served by the financial system," explains CFI's Managing Director Nataša Goronja. "But strong safeguards are needed to avoid harming consumers and eroding their trust, particularly for those who may be accessing the formal financial system for the first time. By partnering with GFTN to bring the Responsible Finance Forum to Singapore, we are convening leaders from the finance and technology sectors in a premier global finance hub. Our sessions will discuss how best to design and deliver financial services using the latest technologies, and develop strong guardrails and policies to help improve the financial health of individuals and households." "As the global financial system undergoes profound transformation, the Responsible Finance Forum plays a vital role in ensuring innovation advances with responsibility. During the Singapore FinTech Festival, we are bringing together the stakeholders shaping the future of finance, because at GFTN, we believe technology, policy and capital must align to build inclusive, trusted financial systems that deliver better outcomes for all," said Pat Patel, Chief Executive Officer, GFTN (USA, LATAM, MEA), adding, "RFF 2026 provides a vital platform to ensure that innovation is not only transformative, but also inclusive, accountable and resilient." Additional details on the agenda, speakers, and participation will be announced later this year. For updates, please visit the website and sign up here for RFF's newsletter. About the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI) is an independent think tank that uses rigorous research and advocacy to advance inclusive financial systems for low-income people around the world. Accion work to advance inclusive financial services for the billions of people who currently lack the financial tools needed to improve their lives and prosper. Accion leverage partnerships to conduct rigorous research and test promising solutions and advocate for evidence-based change. For more information, please visit www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org. About the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) is a Singapore-headquartered not-for-profit organisation established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in 2024. With offices in Tokyo and Berlin, GFTN's mission is to bridge policy, capital, and technology to build financial systems that are resilient, efficient, and inclusive. GFTN operates through its commercial subsidiaries, GFTN Services and GFTN Capital. GFTN Services, through GFTN Connect, hosts global forums across five continents that bring together market makers and policymakers from over 130 countries, and GFTN Solutions offers comprehensive advisory, technology solutions, and capacity building to governments and the private sector. GFTN Capital will be a venture capital firm investing in growth-stage FinTechs globally. For more information, please visit www.gftn.co. ### Press Contact: Thessa Mooij Director, Public Relations, Accion [email protected] +1 917.631.2518

AgTech Media Group

Mar 24th, 2026

Agrim raises $17.3M Series B led by Asia Impact Fund to serve 15M farmers across India

Agrim, an India-based agri-inputs platform, has raised $17.3 million in Series B funding led by Asia Impact Fund, with participation from existing investors Kalaari Capital, India Quotient, Omnivore and Accion Venture Labs. Founded in 2020 by Mukul Garg and Avi Jain, Agrim operates in India's $50 billion agri-inputs sector, providing seeds, crop protection products, agro-tools and fertilisers. Since its Series A round in 2022, the platform has grown to serve over 15 million farmers with a portfolio exceeding 30,000 SKUs. The company's retailer-focused app supports over 25,000 retailers across more than 2,000 cities in 27 states. Agrim has partnered with 1,200 manufacturers and expanded its product offerings by over 6,000 items in recent years.

Accion

Head of People & Culture

About the job

About the company

Get referred to Accion

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

What critics are saying

What makes Accion unique

Benefits

Company News