Microfinance Business Manager

MICROFINANCE BUSINESS MANAGER

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Microfinance, the Business Microfinance Manager will be responsible for developing microfinance business and supervising microfinance and Group Lending staff.

The Manager will also be responsible for designing products targeting the targeted clients, implementing them, looking after the quality of accounts, and coordinating with concerned officers and/or other units related to the processing and servicing of loan applications and loan clients. This position is critical for the Bank to offer superior and relevant banking services to microfinance customers so as to enhance the bank’s positioning as a very committed actor in financial inclusion, considering that most customers in microfinance are still unbanked and living in vulnerable livelihoods.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identifying and pursuing new market opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams to expand Microfinance’s reach and market share.
• Analyzing market trends, customer needs and sustainable demands, and competitor activities to inform strategic decision-making and identify areas for innovation and differentiation.
• Submitting strategic and sustainable proposals with regard to what relates to the core mission of the Bank
• After thorough market analysis, designing relevant savings and loan products that matched properly with the targeted client requirements.
• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with key customers, partners, and stakeholders to drive business growth and foster long-term partnerships.
• Participating in the business development strategies and planning processes for the microfinance business.
• Representing the Bank at industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to promote brand awareness and generate leads in the microfinance field.
• Submitting proposals, endorsing strategic decisions, and developing and implementing strategies to promote the growth of the microfinance portfolio
• Promoting and upgrading VSLAs by drawing them into the Bank through the provision of sustained access to savings and other financial services.
• Developing a stimulating marketing plan for the Bank’s products and business.
• Tracking and analysing microfinance and economic trends and making any recommendations to enhance business growth while appraising the quality of the innovation’s the innovation’s response to the market response.
• Assisting in evaluating and analyzing performance against targets and implementing strategies to ensure targets are met while including Universal Standards for social and environmental performance monitoring and documentation.
• Creating and promoting new leads and, with the help of various approaches, strengthening prospective accounts.
• Highlighting the objectives of sales, motivating the team to fulfill the objectives, and meeting specified targets.
• Creation of financial projections for growth and profitability.
• Monitoring key performance indicators (KPls) and metrics to track the commercial performance and effectiveness of microfinance products
• Periodic review of existing and new products to ensure that they are profitable and meet the needs of customers
• Assisting in the development of an effective ESG strategy
• Assisting in driving the bank’s mission-critical portfolio

Qualifications/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, banking and finance, business administration, public administration, development administration, or any other relevant field from a recognized and accredited university
• Six (6) years of experience in microfinance services/sector, three (3) of which should at least have been at the manager or supervisory level.
• Appetite for and exposure to field missions in deeply vulnerable rural and urban areas.
• Ability to build and maintain productive working relationships in a multi-functional environment.
• Strong presentation skills, including excellent oral communication skills, a passion to make yourself understood, and engaging in a pleasant way.
• Good negotiation skills
• Being a proven proactive professional.
• High integrity and dependability, as well as the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Applications for the Position:

Interested applicants with the required qualifications and experience should submit their applications, along with a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) with the names of three traceable referees, to the Head of Human Resources and Administration, Centenary Bank, PO Box 31567, Lilongwe, or e-mail recruitment@centenarybank.co.mw.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is Monday, 8th July, 2024

Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged.