This role, Collections & Recovery Manager at SKM Africa, involves providing strategic leadership and planning for collections and recovery operations, with a primary focus on managing secured loan portfolios. The manager is tasked with developing and implementing highly effective strategies to reduce delinquency, minimize credit losses, and maintain strict compliance with internal policies and regulatory guidelines.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Planning
- Develop and implement effective collections and recovery strategies to reduce delinquency and minimize credit losses.
- Set and monitor monthly and quarterly collection and recovery targets aligned with business objectives.
- Provide strategic recommendations to the CEO/MD on portfolio performance, risk exposures, and emerging trends.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen recovery operations and optimize financial outcomes.
Portfolio Management
- Oversee the collection and management of secured loan portfolios.
- Monitor ageing reports and segment high-risk accounts to prioritize recovery actions.
- Ensure full compliance with internal credit policies, collection SOPs, and regulatory guidelines.
- Track NPL performance and implement corrective action plans to safeguard portfolio quality.
Team Leadership & Performance Management
- Lead, coach, and evaluate the performance of branch team leaders and collection teams.
- Establish clear performance targets, service expectations, and accountability frameworks.
- Foster a culture of discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and ethical recovery practices.
- Coordinate staff capacity-building, training, and development to enhance recovery effectiveness.
Recovery Operations
- Provide oversight on repossession processes for secured assets, ensuring legal procedures are followed.
- Provide oversight on valuation, storage, and disposal of repossessed assets (motor vehicles, properties, etc.).
- Coordinate with legal teams and external partners to expedite legal recoveries and auction processes.
- Ensure disposal of assets is transparent, documented, and value-maximizing.
Reporting & Analysis
- Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly reports on collections, arrears, and portfolio performance.
- Analyze key performance indicators, including recovery rates, NPL ratios, and collection efficiency.
- Provide data-driven insights to guide decision-making and strategic planning.
- Maintain dashboards for real-time portfolio monitoring and risk tracking.
Stakeholder Management
- Collaborate with Finance, Credit, Legal, and Operations departments to resolve operational bottlenecks.
- Liaise with recovery agencies, auctioneers, valuers, and law enforcement where required.
- Maintain positive and professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Policy Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure all collection and recovery activities comply with legal, ethical, and regulatory standards.
- Identify and escalate suspicious activities, fraud risks, or policy breaches.
- Recommend and enforce process improvements to strengthen internal controls and reduce default risks.
Requirements & Qualifications
- University degree (Preference given to a Business-related degree).
- Minimum of 6+ years’ experience in credit, collections, or recovery within financial services.
- Demonstrated 3+ years of experience managing secured loan recoveries and legal recovery processes.
- Risk anchored understanding/experience of Credit Management Goals, credit policy, and NPL/PAR reduction.
- Proven track record in leading teams and achieving recovery performance targets.
