Head, Credit & Lending (Banking)

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head, Credit & Lending (Banking)

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Description

• The ideal candidate must possess strong understanding of digital credit ecosystems, automated lending models, credit scoring methodologies, loan operations, delinquency management, and regulatory lending requirements while being capable of independently providing strategic direction and building scalable lending structures from the ground up.
• The successful candidate will design and establish the Bank’s lending structure, credit policies, underwriting frameworks, loan processes, collection systems, portfolio monitoring mechanisms, and credit risk controls from inception while driving sustainable loan growth and portfolio quality.
• The role requires a highly strategic, commercially driven, and execution-focused professional with strong experience in digital lending, retail lending, SME lending, credit underwriting, collections, loan recovery, and portfolio risk management within banking, fintech, or financial services environments.
• The role is responsible for building and leading the Bank’s credit, lending, and loan portfolio management function within a fintech-driven digital microfinance bank.

Responsibilities
Credit Strategy & Lending Framework Development:

• Build credit processes that support rapid growth while maintaining portfolio quality and regulatory compliance.
• Develop credit policies, SOPs, lending guidelines, and operational frameworks.
• Develop and implement the Bank’s overall credit and lending strategy from inception.
• Design and establish scalable lending structures, credit workflows, underwriting standards, and approval processes.
• Establish governance structures for loan approvals, disbursements, monitoring, and recovery.
• Define the Bank’s risk appetite for retail, SME, salary-backed, and digital loan products.

Loan Portfolio Growth & Business Development:

• Drive achievement of lending targets while maintaining acceptable risk levels.
• Develop innovative lending products tailored to market needs and customer behavior.
• Monitor loan portfolio profitability, yield performance, and revenue contribution.
• Identify new lending opportunities and strategic market segments.
• Drive sustainable growth of the Bank’s loan portfolio across retail, SME, salary-backed, and digital lending segments.
• Collaborate with Growth and Product teams to increase lending penetration and customer acquisition.

Credit Underwriting & Risk Assessment:

• Develop credit scoring models and risk assessment frameworks for digital lending.
• Monitor credit exposure, concentration risks, and portfolio performance.
• Ensure proper segregation of duties and approval authority frameworks.
• Oversee loan appraisal, credit analysis, customer assessment, and approval processes.
• Ensure proper KYC, documentation, and due diligence processes.
• Implement strong underwriting standards and credit evaluation methodologies.

Loan Operations & Disbursement Management:

• Monitor loan processing efficiency and service delivery standards.
• Ensure seamless integration between lending platforms and core banking systems.
• Collaborate with Operations and Technology teams to automate lending workflows and improve turnaround times.
• Supervise loan booking, disbursement, repayment tracking, and loan administration activities.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of loan applications and disbursements.

Collections, Recovery & Delinquency Management:

• Establish delinquency management frameworks and portfolio monitoring systems.
• Lead recovery efforts on overdue and non-performing loans.
• Implement early warning systems and proactive portfolio management controls.
• Collaborate with Legal and Recovery teams on recovery actions where necessary.
• Monitor PAR (Portfolio at Risk), NPL ratios, recovery performance, and delinquency trends.
• Develop and implement effective collections and recovery strategies.

Credit Risk Management & Compliance:

• Conduct periodic credit reviews, stress testing, and portfolio analysis.
• Implement strong credit control mechanisms and portfolio monitoring frameworks.
• Monitor portfolio quality and recommend corrective actions where required.
• Support internal audits, regulatory examinations, and compliance reviews.
• Ensure compliance with CBN regulations, internal credit policies, and lending guidelines.
• Ensure proper documentation and audit readiness for all credit activities.

Data Analytics & Portfolio Reporting:

• Develop credit dashboards, MIS reports, and portfolio performance analytics.
• Use data-driven decision-making to optimize lending performance and minimize portfolio risk.
• Provide strategic portfolio insights and recommendations to Executive Management.
• Analyze customer repayment behavior and lending trends.
• Monitor lending KPIs including loan growth, PAR ratios, recovery rates, and portfolio profitability.

Technology & Digital Lending Oversight:

• Drive automation and digitization of lending processes to improve efficiency and customer experience.
• Collaborate with Technology and Product teams on digital lending architecture and automation initiatives.
• Support integration of credit scoring engines, loan management systems, and digital onboarding platforms.
• Ensure secure, scalable, and efficient lending operations within the digital banking ecosystem.

Department Setup & Leadership:

• Build and structure the Bank’s Credit & Lending function from the ground up.
• Establish reporting structures, approval matrices, monitoring systems, and performance frameworks.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to Executive Management on lending growth and credit risk matters.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead high-performing credit and lending teams.
• Embed a strong credit culture focused on quality, discipline, accountability, and portfolio sustainability.

Requirements
Educational Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Banking, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as ACA, ACCA, CFA, ACIB, CRC, or related certifications will be an added advantage.
• MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

Experience:

• Strong knowledge of CBN credit regulations, lending compliance requirements, and portfolio risk management.
• Proven experience managing collections, recoveries, and delinquency portfolios.
• Must have 4–6 years in senior credit or lending leadership roles.
• Strong experience in retail lending, SME lending, digital lending, and loan portfolio management.
• Must have 8–12 years experience in Credit, Lending,or Financial Services.
• Experience working in startup or fast-growth financial institutions is an added advantage.
• Experience in microfinance banking, fintech, digital banking, or commercial banking environments is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of digital lending ecosystems, automated underwriting, and credit scoring models.

Skills:

• Credit Risk Analysis
• Financial Analysis & Portfolio Monitoring
• Collections & Recovery Management
• Digital Lending Platforms
• Loan Operations & Administration
• Credit & Lending Management
• Credit Underwriting & Risk Assessment
• Digital Lending Operations
• Regulatory Compliance
• Strong Analytical & Decision-Making Skills
• Credit Policy Development
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management
• Retail & SME Lending
• Loan Portfolio Management
• Delinquency & PAR Management

Other Requirements:

• Strong commercial and business development mindset.
• Must be proactive, structured, and capable of building scalable lending systems, policies, and portfolio management frameworks from the ground up.
• Strong leadership and team management capability.
• Strong understanding of fintech lending models and digital financial ecosystems.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and credit discipline.
• Ability to work independently and provide strategic direction with minimal supervision.

Remuneration

• Salary: N800,000 - N1,000,000 / Month.
• Performance-based incentives linked to performance.