Head of Credit

Head of Credit: Core Responsibilities

Reports to MD/CEO

The responsibilities of a Head of Credit are broadly grouped into Strategy, Risk Management, Operations, and Leadership.

1. Strategic Credit Management & Policy

2. Policy Development: Establish, review, and maintain robust credit policies, procedures, and guidelines (including terms, limits, and recovery protocols) that comply with internal controls and external regulatory standards.

3. Credit Risk Management & Assessment

• Credit Evaluation: Oversee the thorough credit evaluation and financial analysis of new and existing customers or loan proposals (retail, corporate, or SME).

• Portfolio Monitoring: Continuously monitor the performance and quality of the entire credit portfolio (e.g., loan book, accounts receivable) to identify and address early warning signs of deterioration (e.g., PAR, NPLs, provisioning).

• Mitigation: Develop and implement effective strategies and controls to mitigate credit risks.

1. Team Leadership & Operations

Lead, mentor, and develop the credit team (Credit Analysts, Credit Officers, Collections staff) to foster a high-performance culture.

Oversee the end-to-end credit lifecycle, including loan origination, documentation, underwriting, administration, and timely collections/recovery processes.

• Reporting: Provide regular, insightful reporting on credit exposures, aged debt, portfolio performance, and bad debt provision to the Executive team and Board of Directors.

**Required Qualifications and Skills

Qualifications:**

• A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master's degree (e.g., MBA) is often highly desirable.
• A minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in credit management, corporate banking, or a related financial activity, with a significant period spent in a senior managerial capacity.
• Professional qualifications such as a (Financial Risk Manager), CPA/ACCA, or a relevant Credit Management certification (e.g., CICM) are highly valued.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Financial Acumen: Deep expertise in financial statement analysis, cash flow modeling, and credit structuring.

• Risk Assessment: Proven ability to identify, assess, and manage various types of credit risk (market, industry, counterparty).

• Leadership & People Management: Strong ability to lead, motivate, and develop a diverse team.

• Strategic Thinking: Capability to formulate long-term strategies and drive organizational objectives.

• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with credit management software, ERP systems, and financial analysis tools.