Job Description

Our client, a trade financial co-operative company is currently looking to recruit an efficient and proactive Lending Officer to support their operations in Ghana.

Role Profile:
The position requires a dynamic and proactive individual, who will support the Lending Manager (LM WA) in delivering new business by developing and building contacts in region and helping to draft proposals for lending. And also develop relationships with existing customers through regular contact and visits as required. And will act as main point of contact when LM WA is absent from the office.

Duties and Responsibilities

Core tasks

• Works in an assigned geographical area to maximise lending income, in line with corporate objectives, business plan, lending targets and lending limits
• Assists the LM WA to deliver new lending proposals for the region, collating key data, inputting and analysing financials and preparing written proposals ensuring they are in line with credit policy.
• Establishes, develops and maintains excellent relationships with both existing and potential customers through effective communication (telephone, Zoom, email, letter, etc.)
• Contributes to the annual business planning and budget process by providing accurate regional sales forecasts based on market analysis.
• Manages their own portfolio of customers and handles the annual review of their facilities, helping to ensure that all required information is submitted.
• Carries out due diligence visits across the region.
• Carries out agreed visit plans and provides detailed visit reports.
• Follows up any customers not fully utilizing their facilities or where further investigation is required (e.g. bad debts)
• Supports actions required for any arrears management in the region
• Attends trade fairs, partner forums and other ad hoc activities involving customers & potential customers as required by the LM WA
• Develops relationships with networks and partners within the region
• Keeps abreast with competitors’ activities in the region
• Acts as main point of contact when the LM WA is overseas or absent from the office
• Willingness and ability to travel widely (occasionally alone) within the region and overseas
• Supports the work of the Foundation in region.
• Supports administrative tasks for the regional office, to include maintaining the files and databases and Organising travel arrangements

People

• Communicates regularly with the LM WA to ensure good information and workflow and no duplication
• Works closely with UK colleagues in Lending Team as required
• Liaises with other Lending Officers
• Builds and maintains relationships with both new and existing customers
• Maintains relationships with other social lenders
• Maintains relationships with key networks (regional initiatives of WFTO and other regional FT & certifying bodies)

Key Business reporting and administration

• Keeps LM WA abreast of the status of proposals in the pipeline, of travel plans and budgets (travel & operational budgets)
• Provides regular updates to the LM WA during and on return from travelling
• Provides regular updates to the Credit Services Manager regarding customers in arrears
• Maintains accurate records using the agreed systems and ensures all local customer files are well organised with all documentation in English as well as the local language
• Contributes to the overall Lending documentation, making recommendations for improvement as and when required (e.g. proposals, customer relationship database, reporting etc.)
• Provides all relevant input (e.g. pipeline business, barriers/issues to achieving objectives and deadlines) to allow quarterly results assessments by the LM WA
• Provides case studies, articles and other reporting/internal communication as required in a format suitable for publication in customers’ and members’ newsletters and Is Social Accounts

Miscellaneous

• Carries out any other work necessary to maintain excellent customer service, and any other duties commensurate with this post, or as reasonably requested by senior management

Required Skills or Experience

• Degree level or equivalent (ideally in business, sales, finance or equivalent training in business or sales management)
• At least 5 years’ experience of working in a customer-facing role

Requirements

• Fluency in English and French, both written and verbal
• Excellent customer relationship management skills
• Aptitude in credit appraisal and able to understand and interpret financial reports and information
• Sound business analysis skills
• Experience of working in and being sensitive to different cultures
• Detail-conscious and accurate
• Excellent report writing
• Experience of working, and building relationships, with others who are based remotely and good at building and managing relationships by phone
• Excellent communication, influencing and listening skills, including presentation skills and verbal and written communications with a wide range of people from different backgrounds
• Results-focused, evidence of achievement of meeting and exceeding sales targets
• Excellent team-working and team-building skills
• Excellent networking skills
• Ability to deliver to tight deadlines – a completer/finisher
• Extensive local, regional knowledge
• IT literate – MS Office and the internet
• Self-motivated proactive, organised and able to use initiative, work remotely and to prioritise in a multi-task environment

Desirable:

• Experience of working internationally
• Experience of working with SMEs/co-operatives
• Experience in a lending environment
• Experience of developing and maximizing partnerships with other organizations e.g. NGOs, banks etc
• International Development background (Fair Trade an advantage)
• An understanding of the agriculture sector

Essential

• Strong social motivation: commitment to, and empathy with, the aims and objectives of the Society and Foundation
• Flexibility: In general, as a small organisation, you may well be asked to cover for other members of staff during sickness, annual leave etc. As our clients work across different time zones, you will also need to be flexible regarding your hours of work
• Team working: As a small organisation, getting along with your colleagues is essential. As part of your personal development programme, you will be asked to be a member of various cross-departmental project teams in Lending team to meet specific objectives
• Fair trade and overseas development: it is essential for our employees to have an understanding of the main issues.