The Credit Officer is responsible for supporting the Company’s lending operations through effective credit appraisal, loan monitoring, and recovery activities. The role focuses on ensuring that loan applications are assessed in line with approved credit policies, risks are identified and managed, and loan portfolios remain healthy and compliant with internal and regulatory requirements. The Credit Officer contributes to sustainable portfolio growth by balancing credit quality with business objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Credit Appraisal and Loan Processing

• Receive, review, and assess loan applications in accordance with approved credit policies and procedures.
• Conduct borrower analysis, including income verification, affordability assessments, and repayment capacity evaluation.
• Perform Know Your Customer (KYC) and documentation checks to ensure compliance with regulatory and internal requirements.
• Prepare credit appraisal reports and recommendations for approval or rejection.
• Support loan structuring by proposing appropriate loan amounts, repayment periods, and terms based on risk assessment.

Loan Monitoring and Portfolio Management

• Monitor active loan accounts to ensure timely repayments and compliance with loan agreements.
• Track portfolio performance indicators, including arrears levels, PAR, and delinquency trends.
• Identify early warning signs of potential default and escalate concerns promptly.
• Conduct post-disbursement follow-ups, including phone calls and field visits where necessary.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date loan records in the loan management system.

Collections and Recoveries

• Follow up on overdue accounts through calls, messages, emails, and physical visits.
• Engage delinquent clients to agree on repayment plans or restructuring options where applicable.
• Maintain detailed records of arrears, follow-ups, and recovery actions taken.
• Support escalation of default cases to legal recovery or external collectors in line with company procedures.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure all lending activities comply with company policies, credit procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Prepare regular portfolio and arrears reports for submission to the Credit Manager or Management.
• Support audits, inspections, and compliance reviews as required.

Customer Engagement

• Educate clients on loan terms, repayment obligations, and consequences of default.
• Handle loan-related inquiries and complaints professionally and in a timely manner.
• Contribute to maintaining positive client relationships while enforcing credit discipline.
• Perform any other duties assigned from time to time.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Banking, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in credit, lending, microfinance, or financial services.
• Knowledge of Malawi’s lending and microfinance environment is an added advantage.
• Proficiency in loan management systems and basic financial analysis tools.

Key Competencies

• Strong credit analysis and risk assessment skills.
• Good understanding of loan products, credit policies, and recovery processes.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in reviewing financial and client information.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple loan accounts.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.

Performance Metrics

• Quality of credit assessments and adherence to credit policies.
• Portfolio performance, including arrears levels and repayment rates.
• Timeliness and accuracy of loan processing and reporting.
• Effectiveness of follow-ups and contribution to collections performance.
• Compliance with regulatory and internal credit procedures.

• Receive, review, and assess loan applications in accordance with approved credit policies and procedures.
• Conduct borrower analysis, including income verification, affordability assessments, and repayment capacity evaluation.
• Perform Know Your Customer (KYC) and documentation checks to ensure compliance with regulatory and internal requirements.
• Prepare credit appraisal reports and recommendations for approval or rejection.
• Support loan structuring by proposing appropriate loan amounts, repayment periods, and terms based on risk assessment.
• Monitor active loan accounts to ensure timely repayments and compliance with loan agreements.
• Track portfolio performance indicators, including arrears levels, PAR, and delinquency trends.
• Identify early warning signs of potential default and escalate concerns promptly.
• Conduct post-disbursement follow-ups, including phone calls and field visits where necessary.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date loan records in the loan management system.
• Follow up on overdue accounts through calls, messages, emails, and physical visits.
• Engage delinquent clients to agree on repayment plans or restructuring options where applicable.
• Maintain detailed records of arrears, follow-ups, and recovery actions taken.
• Support escalation of default cases to legal recovery or external collectors in line with company procedures.
• Ensure all lending activities comply with company policies, credit procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Prepare regular portfolio and arrears reports for submission to the Credit Manager or Management.
• Support audits, inspections, and compliance reviews as required.
• Educate clients on loan terms, repayment obligations, and consequences of default.
• Handle loan-related inquiries and complaints professionally and in a timely manner.
• Contribute to maintaining positive client relationships while enforcing credit discipline.
• Perform any other duties assigned from time to time.

• Strong credit analysis and risk assessment skills.
• Good understanding of loan products, credit policies, and recovery processes.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in reviewing financial and client information.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple loan accounts.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Banking, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in credit, lending, microfinance, or financial services.
• Knowledge of Malawi’s lending and microfinance environment is an added advantage.
• Proficiency in loan management systems and basic financial analysis tools.