Lending & Portfolio Manage

SUMMARY:
Are you an experienced lending or financial services professional with a strong understanding of credit, portfolio management and growing lending businesses?

An opportunity is available for a hands-on manager to take responsibility for the growth and performance of a lending portfolio focused on affordable housing and finance solutions for the low- to middle-income market.

The role combines lending operations, credit and risk oversight, sales strategy, product development and stakeholder management. You will work across the full lending lifecycle, from developing new channels and partnerships through to portfolio performance, collections and operational delivery.

POSITION INFO:
This is a strong opportunity for someone who enjoys combining commercial thinking with sound credit and risk management, while leading teams and developing lending solutions that meet real customer needs.

Key Responsibilities
Lending & Portfolio Management

• Drive the growth and performance of the lending portfolio while managing credit and portfolio risk.
• Develop and implement sales strategies to grow the loan book.
• Monitor portfolio quality, affordability, collections and lending performance.
• Identify opportunities to expand lending channels and market share.
• Develop relationships with key partners and alternative distribution channels.

• Manage the lifecycle of lending and housing improvement finance products.
• Develop lending strategies for urban, peri-urban and rural markets.
• Explore and develop financial solutions suited to different customer and housing needs.
• Identify opportunities across building-material finance, employer-assisted lending and other alternative lending channels.
• Support competitive pricing and sustainable portfolio profitability.
• Improve digital lending processes to support efficient, high-volume loan originations.

• Oversee credit underwriting, scoring criteria and responsible lending practices.
• Establish appropriate credit risk parameters for customers with both formal and informal income.
• Monitor and manage collections and default prevention.
• Oversee portfolio rehabilitation strategies where required.
• Ensure lending activities comply with relevant financial services legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor disbursements to ensure funds are used for their intended purposes.
• Support audit and risk management processes.

• Manage lending operations and ensure productivity and service targets are achieved.
• Monitor operational reporting, data and performance metrics.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve processes and eliminate errors.
• Work with support teams to improve systems and operational tools.
• Develop and maintain operational procedures and policies.
• Ensure teams follow established processes and compliance requirements.
• Manage technical assessment teams responsible for verifying building milestones before funds are released.

• Develop and maintain relationships with building merchants, housing developers, alternative builders and other lending partners.
• Develop lending channels through intermediaries, employers and merchants.
• Manage relationships with government agencies, public entities and other relevant stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with bond originators, aggregators and alternative distribution channels.

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team.
• Provide guidance and operational support to staff.
• Allocate work and manage team performance.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Work closely with credit, audit, maintenance and operational teams to resolve issues and improve performance.

• Grade 12 / Senior Certificate.
• BCom, equivalent degree or national diploma.
• 5+ years' experience within financial services or lending.
• 3+ years' experience in a management or senior management position.
• Experience within incremental housing finance or a closely related lending environment.
• Experience managing sales teams and lending operations.
• Strong understanding of credit, affordability, collections and portfolio quality.
• Experience developing partnerships or alternative channels to generate lending business.
• Strong Excel and reporting capability.
• Experience with Power BI and lending systems is advantageous.
• Experience with Run a Loan and ALLPS.
• Working knowledge of NCA, FICA, POPIA and relevant financial services legislation.
• Excellent Excel, Word and Outlook experience.
• Building-material finance experience is advantageous.
• Hardware or merchant partnership experience is advantageous.
• Payroll or alternative lending channel experience is advantageous.
• Strong people-management and leadership skills.
• Strong commercial and analytical ability.
• Excellent communication and decision-making skills.
• Financial acumen, planning and organizing ability.
• Proactive and target driven approach.
• Ability to adapt and respond to change.