General Manager, Special Assets at Equity Bank Kenya

JOB PURPOSE:

The General Manager, Special Assets, will play a crucial role in managing the Group's problem accounts. This individual will lead strategy development, oversee the portfolio, present to the Credit Committee and Board Credit Committee, and forecast potential provisions to ensure they stay within budget. They will also manage high-value complex recoveries and distressed assets, aiming to mitigate further deterioration. 

Reports to the Country Credit Director and Group Head, Special Assets.

Job Responsibilities/ Accountabilities:

• The General Manager, Special Assets will play a key role in the success of the Group’s management of problem accounts.
• Ensure that the high-risk portfolio is well managed to mitigate against potential provisions and achieve write backs where provisions have been booked by the Bank.
• Responsible for leading in strategy setting, oversight over the portfolio, presentations to Credit Committee and Board Credit Committee, forecasting potential provisions and management of provisions to be within budget.
• Responsibility of negotiating and recommending settlement proposals of all substandard, loss and doubtful loans, including recommending write offs to the appropriate authority.
• Manage high value complex recoveries and distressed assets with a view to mitigating further deterioration.
• Recommend the appropriate structure of facilities to preserve the bank's position and maximize the prospects of recovery.
• Oversight over recoveries of the written off book.
• Review contracts with external lawyers and participate in negotiations to finalize and sign in accordance with sanction terms and to follow up for oversight of implementation of Legal Strategy in cases where legal action has been recommended or is being already undertaken.
• Ensure proper implementation and follow up on the operational aspects of the account management with timely and proper internal administration and record keeping. Monitor the recoveries of the assigned portfolio.
• Participate in the determination of the provisioning requirements as per CBK guidelines.
• Lead in the preparation of all MIS reports, recovery budgets, quarterly provisions reviews, Independent Business
• Reviews (IBR), portfolio stress testing, and other relevant exercises to aid the management of the portfolio

Qualifications

Key Critical Competencies:

• Good credit risk skills
• Good relationship management skills
• Strong analytical and numerical skills
• Strong communication and report writing skills
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet/database applications
• Strong planning, coordination, and time management skills
• Proficiency in use of internal IT systems.
• A minimum of five years of relevant management special assets in the corporate segment is required
• Knowledge and understanding of Cash flow lending required.
• Ability to manage deals simultaneously.
• Clear and concise communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to coach, mentor, train, and transfer skills to others.
• Experience in engaging senior executives in facilitating decision-making and reporting.
• Strong understanding of overall banking operations, systems, and processes.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Willingness to travel.
• They must be well versed on matters pertaining to turning around accounts, recovery strategies, processes where customers have defaulted and a good understanding of legal matters pertaining to the distressed portfolio.

Academic Qualifications and Competencies: 

• A university degree in a Business-related field. A Masters’ Degree will be an added advantage. 
• A minimum of seven years of banking experience in turning around accounts, recoveries and portfolio management experience.
• Loan approval authority experience.
• Any professional qualifications related to credit, business recovery and turning around accounts.
• Experience in working in banking environment will be an added advantage