Start Date: Immediately. Duration: 12 months, with possibility for extension. Type of Contract: Full-time. Compensation: Competitive, dependent on experience. Location: Remote/Worldwide; preferred locations include Nigeria, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, India, Philippines, Thailand and the UK, though applications are welcome from all geographic regions.
ABOUT: Financial Innovation for Impact (Fii) is an international, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of scalable, sustainable and evidence-based financial and regulatory innovation. It works with academic institutions, digital finance ecosystem partners and other stakeholders to create knowledge and apply data-driven insights to inform the development of fintech and the decision-making of central banks, securities regulators and other financial authorities. Fii generates research, develops digital tools, and delivers capacity building at scale through technical assistance programmes to benefit financially excluded, marginalised and disadvantaged populations.
THE ROLE: Fii seeks an accomplished economist to lead empirical research on the economic and societal returns of digital identity and e-KYC across emerging markets, generating first-of-its-kind evidence on the costs, benefits and macroeconomic implications of e-KYC adoption to inform regulatory decision-making and policy development globally. The Lead Economist will design and execute comprehensive analyses across multiple countries, working closely with central banks, financial regulators, fintechs, banks and digital identity providers to gather proprietary data and quantify impact, combining advanced quantitative analysis with qualitative research methods. The role holder will collaborate with the academic community at Cambridge and international development partners.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Lead and deliver research and analyses of e-KYC implementation and impact evaluation across selected countries; develop economic models and frameworks to quantify efficiency gains, cost structures, market impacts and inclusion outcomes of e-KYC versus traditional KYC; conduct primary data collection through expert interviews (15+ per country) with regulators, fintechs, banks, telcos and digital identity service providers; design questionnaires capturing KYC/e-KYC cost structures, pricing and operational metrics; analyse macroeconomic implications including network effects, competition dynamics and ecosystem development; produce gender-disaggregated analysis; define key economic indicators for ongoing impact tracking; synthesise findings into empirical studies, policy briefs and practical guidance for regulators; and collaborate with research partners on methodology design and analysis.
REQUIREMENTS: 7+ years of experience in applied economic research, policy analysis or related fields; demonstrated expertise in cost-benefit analysis, impact evaluation and economic modelling; understanding of digital identity systems, KYC/AML frameworks and financial inclusion challenges; experience conducting primary research including stakeholder interviews and survey design; familiarity with financial services, digital finance or regulatory economics; excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work with diverse stakeholders. Desirable: PhD in Economics, Finance, Public Policy or a closely related quantitative discipline; track record of high-quality research publications or policy outputs; direct experience with e-KYC, digital identity verification or identity economics; experience with regulatory authorities, central banks or international development organisations; knowledge of financial inclusion dynamics in Africa, South Asia or Southeast Asia; familiarity with gender analysis in economic research. The role requires a degree of international travel.
WHAT WE OFFER: Purpose-driven work, opportunity to innovate, exposure to leading thinkers in finance, technology and academia, global collaboration, competitive compensation, private healthcare and a flexible work schedule. Fii is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, offering adjustments to support applicants in the selection process.
HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates should apply online by 1st September via the application link. Fii may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if a high volume of applications is received, so early application is encouraged.
Closing date: 1 September 2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates should apply online by 1st September via the application link. Fii may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if a high volume of applications is received, so early application is encouraged.
https://fii.careers-page.com/jobs/5c47081e-0a79-45fd-a48c-d07731a5eb37/apply