Credit Manager (Maternity Reliever) at Umba – Nairobi

Location: Nairobi
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Supervises: Credit and Collections Team

About Umba

Umba is a pan-African digital bank serving customers in both Kenya and Nigeria. Our mission entails providing accessible and cost-effective financial services across Africa, enabling our customers to take charge of their financial well-being. We are committed to seizing a unique opportunity to transform the financial landscape in Africa by harnessing the power of machine learning to develop intelligent, affordable financial products tailored for emerging markets. Our machine learning models are continuously improving, and we leverage AI and automation to deliver banking solutions at the lowest possible cost to our expand in customer base.
Umba is headquartered in Nairobi Kenya. Our primary focus is to offer a comprehensive range of digital banking products through Android, iOS and Web Apps, and we take pride in our culture of consistently surpassing customer expectations, which has fueled our rapid expansion.
Umba acquired a deposit taking microfinance bank in Kenya in 2023, which has now been named Umba Microfinance Bank. The bank has achieved fast growth since launch with average monthly growth rate of 19% and 6x revenue growth in 2024.

Job Summary
As the Credit Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing credit and collections operations. Your primary objective will be to manage the credit evaluation process, ensure efficient loan disbursements, strengthen collections strategies, and mitigate credit risks to drive the overall success of the loan portfolio.
You will also be tasked with developing and implementing effective debt recovery processes, monitoring portfolio performance, and ensuring timely collections while maintaining positive customer relationships. This role requires a strong understanding of the industry, exceptional leadership skills, and a proven track record in both credit management and collections.

Responsibilities

1. Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Provide strong leadership, guidance, and mentorship to the credit and collections teams, including training and performance management.
• Set clear performance targets for both credit underwriting and collections, and ensure the team consistently meets or exceeds them.
• Foster a high-performance culture that promotes accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

2. Credit & Collections Operations Management

• Oversee the end-to-end credit lifecycle, including loan application review, credit evaluation, approval, disbursement, and post-disbursement monitoring.
• Develop and implement efficient credit and collections policies, procedures, and workflows to enhance operational effectiveness.
• Strengthen collections strategies, ensuring timely follow-ups, debt recovery, and resolution of delinquent accounts.
• Collaborate closely with sales and other departments to ensure seamless operations and a positive customer experience.

3. Risk Assessment, Portfolio Monitoring & Mitigation

• Assess the creditworthiness of applicants through detailed analysis of financial information, credit reports, and supporting documentation.
• Make informed credit decisions while balancing Business growth and risk.
• Monitor portfolio performance, including arrears, delinquency trends, and recovery rates.
• Implement proactive risk mitigation and collections strategies to minimize defaults and optimize portfolio quality.

4. Compliance & Regulatory Adherence

• Ensure all credit and collections activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Maintain adherence to internal policies as well as AML and KYC requirements.
• Work closely with compliance teams to uphold data integrity and proper documentation standards.

5. Reporting, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Prepare and present regular reports on credit and collections performance, including key metrics such as approval rates, portfolio quality, and recovery rates.
• Analyze data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide actionable insights and recommendations to enhance credit processes, strengthen collections, and improve overall portfolio profitability.

How to apply:
Qualified candidates to apply by COB 17th April 2026.
Due to the urgency, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Umba Microfinance Bank is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants on any basis