Credit & Loan Recovery Officer

Role purpose

This position is focused on protecting the institution’s loan portfolio by helping ensure strong credit decisions at the point of origination and by leading the recovery of overdue and non-performing accounts. The role supports the preservation of earnings, helps limit provisioning costs, and ensures alignment with CBG prudential standards and the bank’s credit policy.

Core duties

Credit assessment and underwriting support

• Check loan files for completeness, proper KYC documentation, and compliance with product eligibility rules and the bank’s credit standards.
• Assess affordability and repayment ability across the five customer groups: salaried clients, micro-traders, mass market customers, diaspora clients, and corporate/SME borrowers.
• Confirm the adequacy of collateral, guarantors, and supporting documents before recommending disbursement.
• Draft credit memoranda and submit them within delegated approval authority, escalating cases above the assigned limit.

Loan monitoring and portfolio quality

• Track repayment behaviour and maintain early-warning monitoring for accounts moving into arrears.
• Update ageing analysis and Portfolio at Risk (PAR) buckets, and escalate signs of deterioration to line management.
• Support loan classification and provisioning processes in line with CBG requirements and IFRS 9 staging rules.

Delinquency management and recovery

• Carry out a structured recovery process for overdue accounts, including reminders, demand notices, restructuring discussions, field visits, and escalation to legal or external recovery agents when necessary.
• Negotiate repayment arrangements and restructures within policy limits, and ensure all borrower interactions and recovery steps are properly recorded.
• Support collateral recovery and guarantor enforcement when negotiation does not resolve the delinquency.
• Keep detailed recovery logs and prepare recovery updates for management and Board reporting packs.

Compliance, governance, and reporting

• Ensure recovery practices comply with the Labour Act, CBG regulations, and fair treatment / consumer protection standards.
• Maintain files that are ready for audit and assist with internal control and audit reviews.
• Prepare weekly and monthly reports on recovery activity and portfolio quality.

Performance expectations

• Maintain PAR within the threshold approved by the Board.
• Deliver the targeted recovery rate on the assigned delinquent book.
• Help reduce the NPL and write-off ratio.
• Meet turnaround expectations for credit review work.
• Avoid any negative audit or compliance findings related to recovery conduct.

Candidate profile

• A bachelor’s degree in Banking & Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related discipline is required.
• At least 2–3 years of experience in credit analysis, loan monitoring, or recovery within a bank or MFI is expected.
• Experience in Gambian banking or microfinance is considered an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of CBG prudential and provisioning rules, microfinance lending methods, and collateral/documentation perfection is important.
• Hands-on ability in financial analysis, repayment-capacity assessment, negotiation, disciplined record-keeping, and Excel is needed; familiarity with SeamlessHR or a core banking system is a plus.
• The role suits someone who is resilient, ethical, target-focused, and willing to travel for field recovery work.