Credit & Business Development Officer at Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT)

Job Purpose

To effectively handle credit functions and operations in order to ensure growth of the portfolio in the defined region of coverage and a quality loan book.

The responsibility is also on recruiting of clients and visiting prospective clients and business to assess credit worthiness.

Credit & Business Development Job Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Identification of potential borrowers and process their loan applications
• Assess loan requests or commercial credit applications through interviews with applicants and checking application forms, references, credit ratings, credit scores, pay slips and other information.
• Recommend approval of loans and credit applications within policy guidelines and Head of Credit & Business Development approval
• Prepare papers setting out conditions and periods of loans, rates of repayment and the setting out of trading terms.
• Prepare reports of loans and accounts which have outstanding (unpaid) amounts to share with the debt recovery
• Ensure portfolio Loan disbursement according to policy and in consultation with the portfolio Finance Officer
• Prepare reports on credit ratings of customers
• Prepare appraisal reports for consideration by the Credit Committee
• Assist with regular monitoring of approved Loans.
• Prepare quarterly and annual reports on performance of the portfolio.
• Ensures maintenance of accurate client records
• Develop business plans for lending as a requirement for seeking loans and thereafter guides operations;
• Ensures that partner institutions offering credit to farmers and SME respond to market needs;
• Administers company credit application process by reviewing the credit application and establishing lines of credit.
• Conduct financial analysis including third party report review and makes recommendations for approval.
• Assist with regular monitoring of approved Loans.
• Ensures preparation of quality assessment notes appropriately highlighting relevant risks in the SME &
• Medium enterprise portfolio loan applications (e.g. market risk, business risk, and financial risk) and incorporating suitable mitigates covenants, and term and conditions & making suitable recommendations to the approving authorities.
• Prepares/supervises Credit Appraisal / Assessment Notes, with recommendations to approving authorities.
• Highlight and update the approving authorities of any changes in the risk profile based on important risk indicators (financial, market, transactional, etc.)
  Opens new accounts
• Prepare reports of loans and accounts which have outstanding (unpaid) amounts to share with the debt recovery
• Where a credit decision is required escalates the application to the next authority for direction, review, comment and approval.

Academic Qualifications / Skills requirements for the Credit & Business Development Job

• Degree in Business related field, Economics, Agribusiness, Finance or equivalent
• At least 5 years post-qualification experience in the financial sector with exposure in SME lending.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Sound financial analytical skills
• Good negotiation, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle pressure and work with minimum supervision
• A team player with the drive to improve performance