Agora Microfinance Zambia Limited (AMZ) Recruiting Now


Agora Microfinance Zambia Limited (AMZ) is a licensed microfinance lending company that currently operates in the Western and Central provinces of the country. The mission of AMZ is to ‘Contribute to the economic well-being of the poor through effective provision of appropriate financial services.’ The Company currently operates from 4 branches in Mongu, Chibombo, Kaoma, and Mumbwa and has a support office (head office) in Lusaka with total staff strength of forty – eight (48) across all locations. AMZ is looking for the highly motivated and qualified SGL Credit Advisors in order to deliver SGL products to the clients in Western (Kaoma and Mongu) and Central (Mumbwa, Chibombo) regions of Zambia. AMZ is an equal opportunities employer.

Job Title: Small Group Loans (SGL) Credit Advisors

Core competencies required for the position:

Responsibilities

  • The SGL Credit Advisor will be responsible for the establishment and growth of Small Group loan product in AMZ branches
  • They will be required to train and build capacity of branch staff to efficiently promote and delivering the product
  • Analytical skills and problem solving by focusing on analysis and trends
  • Ability to manage resources efficiently (human resources as well as physical assets)
  • Responsibility for compliance with policies and procedures, ability to comply himself or herself as well as to enforce it in other staff members in order to achieve increased efficiency
  • Overall management and building capacities of staff involved in SGL activities as required
  • This includes, Implementation or Execution of SGL Plans
  • Implementation of the SGL Plans, target clients by COs, making sure growth takes place according to projections (or exceeding them)
  • Implementation of the cost reduction-strategies designed by Branch Managers (BM)s to manage the branch budget
  • Monitoring and guaranteeing that SGL COs fully comply with AMZ policies in general and particularly with SGL policy procedures
  • Planning and Forecasting
  • Develop and review marketing and business plans for the branch
  • Prepare necessary cash flow projections, performing necessary due diligence of borrowers and projects
  • Planning SGL activities, creating repayment schedules and coordinating activity planner at branch level, assessing efficient caseloads and workloads for COs and ensuring that all necessary activities are covered within the weekly plans
  • Weekly accurate forecasting of collections, pipeline of maturing SGLs, arrears forecasting, disbursements (top-ups, repeat SGLs, new SGLs) and corresponding cash planning at branch level
  • Identifying geographic areas for growth and areas where improvements in cost/efficiency are possible in the short or medium term (with BM/CO/alone)
  • CO Monitoring and Supervision
  • Monitor actual activity for COs on daily and weekly basis and assess its deviation against the activity planner
  • Sample Cashflows from COs before the Cashflow Committee (to increase efficiently of the Committee and provide timely feedback to CO)
  • Cashflow revisions as part of the Cashflow Committee, to be able to assess quality of new portfolio and performance of COs
  • Arrears management: daily late repayment and arrears reports review, assessment and weekly planning of arrears collection to guarantee efficient use of resources with AMs
  • Regular client monitoring in the field and following-up on complaints
  • Attending group meetings
  • SGL Lending Development and Portfolio Monitoring
  • Implementation of SGL Lending Development and Portfolio Monitoring techniques including developing new lending forms
  • Develop and recommend changes into SGL products to the Management
  • Supervision and participation in Credit Committees for loan approvals
  • Strengthening internal credit policies, procedures, credit portfolio management procedures, including the introduction and strengthening environmental due diligence procedures
  • Introduce appropriate monitoring and reporting practices
  • Performing credit analysis of SGL lending portfolio, assessing overall credit performance of each client, and identifying new SGL credit opportunities
  • Supervise the valuation of collateral or management of overdue loans and other exposures
  • Communications and Coaching
  • Daily morning briefings with COs to discuss activities planned (as part to all staff meeting or independent meetings, as appropriate)
  • Daily afternoon briefings with COs to discuss deviations between actual events and planned activities regarding collections, disbursements, arrears, monitoring
  • Weekly discussions with COs to discuss deviations between actual events and planned activities regarding portfolio performance (collections, disbursements, arrears, cashflow reviews, monitoring)
  • On-going guidance/on-the-job training and mentoring COs in problem-solving and in complying with the latest changes in policies and procedures
  • Discussing with each COs the work implications of OM or BM’s analysis of the monthly portfolio performance
  • Identifying training needs for Loan Officers and building their capacities including those of the BM’S and AM’s
  • Elaborate training courses to Loan Officers and delivering classroom and on-the-job training to them in the field of credit analysis, financial modelling, environmental and integrity due diligence, loan marketing, sales
  • Develop career path for SGL CO’s
  • Portfolio Performance Report (weekly and monthly)
  • Late repayment (daily) and arrears report (daily or weekly)
  • Collaborating with BMs and OM in rolling-out the collection and disbursement pipeline in the branch
  • Prepare Weekly Monitoring Reports and highlight to BM those cases in high-risk from COs Weekly Monitoring
  • All documents required for Cash Collateral Administration by the OM or the Bad Debt Committee
  • All document required for timely write-off of deceased clients
  • Reporting to BM any issues that affect or can affect the branch (staff, IT issues) so that BM to contact the head of the corresponding department
  • Any other report, analysis of documentation as required by BM
  • Any other tasks are requested by the Operations Manager
  • Line Management
  • All SGL COs under her or his allocated groups and branches
  • Reporting to The SGL Credit Advisor reports to the Operation Manager and collaborates closely with the Branch Manager

Qualifications
Diploma in business, finance, economics, development or related field
Experience or knowledge in microfinance operations and service delivery maintenance
Good leadership, communication, supervision, training or coaching skills
Good written and spoken English

How to apply
Send your applications to the undersigned below:

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