Manager: Credit and Operations

Role Overview: We are seeking an experienced and driven Credit Operations Manager to lead and manage our credit operations team. This role is pivotal in ensuring that our credit processes are efficient, compliant, and value-adding. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in consumer or commercial lending, with a strong focus on credit risk management, originations, and collections. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the credit function, drive operational excellence, and contribute to the growth and success of our organization.

Responsibilities:

1. Leadership:
   1. Manage and lead the credit operations team to meet department performance targets and contribute to the overall success of the Organisation.
   2. Oversee the underwriting and acquisitions process for loan origination, including developing and implementing strategies and models related to pricing, profitability, and customer profiling.
   3. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including operations, legal, marketing, and finance, to ensure seamless execution of credit processes.
2. Operations Management:
   1. Design, implement, and continuously improve back-office systems and processes related to underwriting, loan administration, and collections.
   2. Manage a wide range of operational activities, including credit analysis, direct communication with applicants and borrowers, issuing loan agreements, payment application, and customer claims management.
   3. Set up new business processes and enabling IT systems to enhance operational efficiency.
   4. Oversee day-to-day underwriting and collections, ensuring compliance with legal and internal policies.
   5. Analyze bottlenecks and implement solutions to improve process performance, such as reducing time to loan approval and minimizing late repayments.
   6. Manage operational costs while balancing outstanding customer experience with cost control.
   7. Prepare and present regular updates on lending operations to senior management, highlighting results and improvement plans.
   8. Ensure credit team compliance with TCF regulations.
3. Credit Control:
   1. Develop, implement, and regularly update credit operational processes, policies, and guidelines.
   2. Monitor loan performance metrics and generate reports for senior management.
   3. Identify early signs of default and take proactive measures to mitigate losses.
   4. Analyze loan performance and prepare recommendations for improvement.
   5. Collaborate with the credit control manager to review loan applications and recommend loan recovery strategies.
   6. Diversify the credit portfolio to mitigate risk and leverage data analytics to enhance credit assessments and operational efficiency.
4. Risk Management:
   1. Develop and implement credit risk management policies in alignment with regulatory requirements and business objectives.
   2. Foster a culture of risk awareness and compliance within the organization.
   3. Manage relationships with third-party vendors, service providers, credit bureaus, and auditors.
5. Compliance, Corporate Governance, and Control:
   1. Ensure compliance with company credit policies and corporate governance standards.
   2. Provide timely information to internal and external auditors and implement agreed actions.
6. People Management:
   1. Set goals and objectives for department heads and appraise their performance.
   2. Lead by example, monitor performance metrics, and take corrective actions when necessary.
   3. Coach, mentor, and develop staff to build a high-performing credit team.
   4. Identify training needs and recommend relevant programs to enhance staff capacity.
7. Reporting:
   1. Oversee the preparation of regular reports and presentations on credit risk performance, trends, and key metrics for senior management and regulatory bodies.

Experience and Qualifications:

5 to 8 years of experience in consumer or commercial lending, with at least 3 years in a management role.
Strong understanding of credit risk principles, particularly in originations, collections, and business integration/strategy.
Up-to-date knowledge of best practices and industry trends.
Proven ability to lead, motivate, and inspire a diverse team.
Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
Focus on driving performance, innovation, and continuous improvement in credit risk management practices.