Credit Risk & Portfolio Manager

Role Overview

The Credit Risk & Portfolio Manager will play a pivotal role in driving Kifiya’s risk management and portfolio oversight agenda in collaboration with partner banks and financial institutions. This role is central to ensuring that the lending products enabled through Kifiya’s platforms are designed, monitored, and executed within acceptable risk appetites, while delivering value to MSMEs, farmers, and other underserved segments. The Manager will be the custodian of portfolio health and a key contributor to shaping credit risk strategies that balance financial inclusion with sustainability.

The manager will be directly responsible for overseeing credit risk policies, portfolio strategies, regulatory compliance, and performance monitoring across Kifiya’s lending partnerships. They will prepare detailed monthly and quarterly performance review memos, engage with partner banks and regulators, and provide senior management with actionable insights into credit performance trends, emerging risks, and opportunities for optimization. By combining data-driven analysis with stakeholder engagement, the manager ensures that Kifiya and its partners maintain resilient, compliant, and profitable credit portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

1. Credit Risk & Portfolio Strategy

• Translate Kifiya’s credit risk and portfolio strategy into operational frameworks and monitoring tools.
• Define, review, and update risk appetite statements in collaboration with bank partners.
• Establish portfolio targets, thresholds, and monitoring KPIs to ensure controlled growth and risk-adjusted returns.

2. Portfolio Oversight & Performance Management

• Monitor lending portfolios across multiple banks, identifying trends in delinquency, NPLs, vintage analysis, and sector exposures.
• Conduct portfolio segmentation and stress testing to assess vulnerabilities and recommend proactive interventions.
• Develop early warning systems for emerging risks and ensure escalation protocols are followed.
• Provide input to product design teams to ensure loan features align with portfolio performance and risk appetite.

3. Policy, Risk Governance & Regulatory Compliance

• Participate in the drafting, implementation, and enforcement of credit policies, underwriting standards, and portfolio guidelines.
• Ensure full alignment with regulatory requirements and partner bank policies.
• Support internal and external audits and maintain proper documentation of credit risk frameworks.
• Contribute to model governance by ensuring AI/ML scoring models are explainable, validated, and regulator ready.

4. Reporting & Insights

• Prepare and deliver monthly performance reports on bank portfolios, highlighting key risk metrics and trends.
• Draft quarterly review memos with in-depth analysis and recommendations for senior management, boards, and regulators.
• Generate scenario-based forecasts for portfolio growth, credit losses, and capital requirements.

5. Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• Act as the primary risk contact for partner banks, ensuring alignment of policies and addressing escalated issues.
• Engage proactively with regulators to maintain trust and credibility in Kifiya’s risk practices.
• Support business development discussions by providing risk perspectives on new partnerships and products.

6. People Leadership & Capacity Building

• Supervise and mentor risk analysts and portfolio analysts, providing technical guidance and performance feedback.
• Build the capacity of junior team members through training on credit risk frameworks, analytics, and compliance.
• Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making and proactive risk management.

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Statistics, Risk Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree (MBA, MSc in Finance/Risk) is highly desirable, especially with focus on risk management, financial modeling, or portfolio strategy.
• Advanced coursework or exposure to data analytics, or quantitative methods is a strong advantage.

Professional Experience

• 7+ years of progressive experience in credit risk management, portfolio oversight, or financial risk roles, with at least 3–5 years in a managerial or lead capacity.
• Proven track record of managing credit portfolios across MSME, agrifinance, retail, or SME segments, ideally within fintech or digital lending contexts.
• Experience in policy development, credit frameworks, and regulatory compliance within financial services.
• Direct exposure to portfolio reporting and performance monitoring, including preparation of board-level review documents.
• Hands-on experience working with Banks, Fintechs, or regulators, demonstrating ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of credit policy, credit scoring models, and portfolio risk frameworks.
• Advanced analytical capability: ability to interpret complex datasets, conduct stress testing, forecasting, cohort/vintage analysis, and scenario planning.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g. Excel, SQL, Power BI, Tableau)
• Solid grounding in regulatory requirements and prudential guidelines relevant to credit and portfolio risk in emerging markets.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with ability to engage with senior executives and directors.