Vacancy: Lending Manager

Job Description

Our client, a trade financial co-operative company is currently looking to recruit an efficient and proactive Lending Manager to support their operations in West Africa ( Ghana)

ROLE PROFILE:

The position requires a dynamic and proactive individual, who will lead the lending team in West Africa ensuring quality portfolio management with effective management of risk and arrears. Responsible for achieving lending targets for income and growth through the development of relationships with existing and new customers. Responsible for the daily management of the West Africa office/affairs. Builds appropriate networks and partnerships in the region.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Core tasks

• Leads develop and manage the West Africa lending team to provide effective customer relationship management.


• Manages the assigned geographical area to optimise lending income, maintain a quality portfolio, and control risks effectively in line with corporate objectives, business plan and lending limits.


• Provides account management to a group of customers, carrying out all required activities including transactions processing, monitoring and annual reporting.


• Establishes, develops and maintains excellent relationships with existing and potential customers through effective communication and regular visits.


• Oversees progress and delivers new lending facilities for approval and committal.


• Ensures effective account management and monitoring by the team and oversees the delivery of customer annual reviews.


• Ensures arrears actions are carried out in accordance with standard procedures.


• Attends trade fairs, partner forums and other ad hoc activities involving customers and potential customers.


• Contributes to the development of a regional marketing strategy. 


• Contributes to product development in response to customer needs.


• Maintain links with Regional CSAF (Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance) and other networks in the region, participating in the regional CSAF activities on behalf of Shared Interest.


• Keeps abreast of competitors’ activities in the region.


• Establishes a regional Producer Committee and organizes, chairs and minutes meetings.


• Supports the work of the Foundation.

People

• Manages and motivates the lending team in region to deliver results.


• Communicates regularly with the Head of Lending and other staff members to ensure good information and workflow.


• Liaises closely with other members of the Lending Team and the Arrears and Compliance Officer.


• Develops and maintains relationships with key customers, networks and partners.


• Creates an environment for honest and open communication.

Key Business reporting and administration

• Keeps Head of Lending abreast of the status of proposals in the pipeline, of travel plans and budgets (travel & operational budgets).


• Ensures the preparation of the annual business planning and budget process for West Africa by providing accurate regional lending and income forecasts.


• Is responsible for all related aspects of the management of the West Africa office.


• Produces monthly KPI reports and ensures all relevant input is provided to Head of Lending and Head of Risk and Compliance.


• Contributes to the overall documentation of the region’s procedures, making recommendations for improvement as and when required.


• Provides case studies, articles and other reporting/internal communication as required in a format suitable for publication in members’ newsletters and Shared Interest Social Accounts.


• Carries out analysis of market and lending statistics to show risk management, portfolio performance and sales potential for the region.

Miscellaneous

• Carries out any other work necessary to maintain excellent customer service, and any other duties commensurate with this post, or as reasonably requested by senior management.

Required Skills or Experience

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor Degree or equivalent (Ideally in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Economics or Accounting)


• At least 5 years’ experience of working in a customer-facing role

REQUIREMENTS

• At least 5 years experience of working in a lending environment.


• Fluency in English both written and verbal


• Fluency in French both written and verbal


• Fluency in local language both written and verbal


• Strong people management and development skills.


• Experience in the agriculture sector.


• Flexibility to work at the operational level and assist Senior Managers at the strategic level.


• Excellent customer relationship management skills.


• Capacity to understand and interpret financial reports and information.


• Empathy to deal with people from different backgrounds and cultures.


• Sound business analysis skills


• Detail-conscious and accurate.


• Excellent report writing.


• Excellent communication, influencing and listening skills, including presentation skills and verbal and written communications with a wide range of people from different backgrounds.


• Results-focused, evidence of achieving and exceeding targets.


• Excellent team-working and team-building skills.


• Excellent networking skills.


• Ability to deliver to tight deadlines – a completer/finisher.


• IT literate – MS Office and the internet.


• Self-motivated, proactive, organised and able to use initiative and to prioritise (self and others) in a multi-task environment.

Desirable:

• Experience of working with SMEs (small and medium enterprises)/co-operatives.


• Experience of developing and maximizing partnerships with other organizations e.g., NGOs, banks, etc.


• International Development background (Fair Trade an advantage).


• Knowledge of the coffee and cocoa sector.

Essential

• Support the Head of Lending in managing the team’s expenditure within the approved budget


• Submit all expense claims promptly and manage credit card expenses (if any) within the credit limit.


• Gain management approval to all purchase orders including agreeing travel in advance

• Strong social motivation: commitment to, and empathy with, the aims and objectives of the Society and Foundation.


• Flexibility: you may well be asked to cover for other members of staff during sickness, annual leave, etc. As our clients work across different time zones, you will also need to be flexible regarding your hours of work.


• Team working: getting along with your colleagues is essential. As part of your personal development programme, you will be asked to be a member of various cross-departmental project teams in order to meet specific objectives.


• Fairtrade and overseas development:  are essential for our employees to have an understanding of the Fair-trade sector and the general regional socio-political reality.


• Willingness and ability to travel widely within the region and overseas