HEAD OF CREDIT AND RISK

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Credit Approval & Lending Oversight

• Review, analyze, and approve or decline all credit applications submitted by branch offices in accordance with the Company's Credit Policy and Lending Matrix.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of borrowers' financial capacity, repayment ability, collateral adequacy, and overall creditworthiness.
• Ensure all required documentation is complete, authentic, and compliant before loan disbursement.
• Decline loan applications that fall outside the Company's risk appetite and provide documented reasons and recommendations where applicable.
• Exercise sound credit judgment while balancing portfolio growth with prudent risk management.

2. Enterprise Risk Management

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Company's Credit Risk Management Framework.
• Identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate credit, operational, collateral, fraud, and portfolio risks across the organization.
• Recommend risk mitigation strategies to Management and ensure effective implementation.
• Establish risk tolerance levels and monitor adherence across all branches.

3. Credit Policy & Governance

• Develop, review, and recommend improvements to credit policies, lending procedures, and risk management guidelines.
• Ensure consistent application of credit policies throughout all branches.
• Review and update the Company's Lending Matrix periodically to reflect market conditions and portfolio performance.
• Recommend policy amendments based on emerging risks and business needs.

4. Portfolio Quality Management

• Monitor the overall quality and performance of the Company's loan portfolio.
• Analyze portfolio trends, delinquency ratios, non-performing loans (NPLs), concentration risks, and portfolio exposures.
• Recommend corrective measures to improve portfolio quality and reduce default rates.
• Produce regular portfolio risk reports for Executive Management.

5. Collateral & Security Management

• Oversee verification, perfection, and custody of all loan securities.
• Conduct periodic audits and verification of vehicle logbooks and other collateral to ensure authenticity, legal compliance, and proper documentation.
• Ensure collateral values remain adequate throughout the loan lifecycle.
• Recommend additional security where risk exposure requires enhancement.

6. Branch Credit Oversight

• Provide technical guidance and support to Branch Credit Officers and Lending Teams.
• Review branch lending practices to ensure compliance with Company standards.
• Identify inconsistencies in branch credit assessments and recommend corrective actions.
• Conduct periodic branch credit audits and compliance reviews.

7. Risk Analytics & Reporting

• Prepare comprehensive monthly, quarterly, and annual credit risk reports for Senior Management and the Board.
• Analyze portfolio performance, approval trends, rejection rates, exposure concentrations, and emerging risks.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to strengthen credit quality and improve lending decisions.
• Develop Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and monitor adherence across the business.

8. Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure all lending activities comply with internal policies, applicable laws, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Monitor changes in financial regulations and recommend operational adjustments where necessary.
• Support internal and external audits relating to the credit function.

9. Fraud Prevention & Operational Risk

• Identify potential fraud indicators within loan applications and collateral documentation.
• Strengthen internal controls to minimize operational and financial losses.
• Investigate suspicious lending transactions and recommend appropriate action.

10. Process Improvement & Strategic Advisory

• Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the Company's credit approval process.
• Recommend innovative approaches, automation opportunities, and process enhancements that improve turnaround times while maintaining strong risk controls.
• Advise Executive Management on credit strategy, portfolio diversification, and emerging market risks.
• Participate in strategic planning by providing insights into risk trends affecting business growth.

11. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Credit & Risk team.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, sound credit judgment, and continuous learning.
• Conduct regular training on credit policy, risk assessment methodologies, fraud detection, and regulatory compliance.
• Evaluate staff performance and identify development opportunities.

12. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with Branch Managers, Operations, Legal, Finance, Recovery, and Senior Management to ensure effective risk management across the organization.
• Support the Collections and Recovery teams by providing risk insights on delinquent accounts.
• Participate in Credit Committee meetings and provide expert recommendations on complex lending decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Banking, Risk Management, or a related field
• Minimum of 5years' experience in credit, risk management, working in microfinance
• Proven experience in credit appraisal, portfolio management, enterprise risk management, and policy development.
• Strong understanding of secured lending, particularly vehicle logbook lending and collateral management.
• Demonstrated experience managing loan portfolios and reducing credit losses and non-performing loans.
• Sound knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements governing financial institutions and lending operations.