Head Of Credit At Huko Advisory Services
full-time
Job Purpose
The Head of Credit will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Bank's credit function, ensuring responsible loan growth, sound credit underwriting, effective portfolio management and strong asset quality.
The role holder will oversee the end-to-end credit process, from appraisal and approval to disbursement, monitoring, restructuring and recovery, while ensuring compliance with the Bank's credit policies, risk appetite, CBN regulations and other applicable regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Credit Strategy & Policy:
Develop and implement the Bank's credit strategy in line with business objectives and risk appetite.
Ensure appropriate credit risk standards across all lending products.
Recommend improvements to credit products, pricing, collateral requirements and lending structures.
Ensure compliance with CBN regulations, internal policies and approved risk parameters.
Credit Appraisal & Approval:
Oversee the appraisal, review and approval/recommendation of credit facilities within delegated authority.
Review complex, high-value and high-risk credit proposals.
Ensure proper analysis of financial statements, cash flows, repayment capacity, business viability and credit history.
Ensure appropriate KYC, credit bureau checks, collateral verification and documentation.
Portfolio & Risk Management:
Take overall responsibility for the quality and performance of the Bank's loan portfolio.
Monitor PAR, NPL, delinquency, provisioning, write-offs and recovery performance.
Monitor portfolio concentration by product, sector, geography, customer and obligor.
Microfinance & Commercial Lending:
Provide oversight for microfinance, retail, consumer, SME and commercial lending.
Apply appropriate cash-flow based and risk-based lending methodologies.
Ensure effective management of high-volume microfinance lending and more structured commercial/SME exposures.
Develop appropriate lending limits and risk parameters for different customer segments.
Recovery & Remedial Management:
Provide strategic oversight of delinquent and non-performing accounts.
Work closely with the Recovery/Collections team to improve recovery rates.
Review and recommend restructuring, rescheduling and write-offs in line with approved policies.
Ensure timely escalation of problematic and high-risk accounts.
Analyze causes of delinquency and implement preventive credit measures.
Credit Governance & Reporting:
Chair or participate in the Management Credit Committee as assigned.
Ensure proper documentation of credit decisions, conditions and exceptions.
Prepare regular credit and portfolio reports for Management and the Board.
Liaise with Risk, Internal Control, Compliance, Internal Audit and External Auditors on credit-related matters.
Ensure prompt resolution of credit-related audit and regulatory findings.
Team Leadership:
Lead, coach and develop the Credit team.
Set clear performance objectives and KPIs.
Build a strong culture of credit discipline, accountability, integrity and sound risk judgment.
Ensure continuous training and development of credit personnel.
Requirements & Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree / HND in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Banking & Finance, Business Administration, Statistics, Mathematics or a related discipline.
Minimum of 8 - 10 years' relevant banking/financial services experience.
Minimum of 5 years' experience in Credit, Credit Risk, Lending or Portfolio Management.
Mandatory experience in both a Microfinance Bank and a Commercial Bank.
At least 3 years in a senior/managerial credit position, preferably as Credit Manager, Senior Credit Risk Manager, Head of Credit or similar role.
Proven experience in SME, commercial, retail and microfinance lending.
Demonstrable experience managing loan portfolios, PAR/NPL, credit risk and recoveries.
Strong knowledge of CBN regulatory requirements and credit risk management practices.
Experience participating in or managing Credit Committees is highly desirable.
Professional Certifications:
Required/Strongly Preferred:
ACIB/CIBN qualification, preferably with Microfinance Certification.
Any of the following will be an added advantage:
ICAN/ACA/ACCA
CFA
FRM
Professional Credit/Risk Management Certification
MBA/Master's Degree in Finance, Banking, Accounting, Economics or Risk Management.