Strategic Leader for Credit, Collections & Operations

STRATEGIC LEADER FOR CREDIT, COLLECTIONS & OPERATIONS

A leading financial institution is seeking a Strategic Leader for Credit, Collections & Operations to oversee the strategic direction, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance of its credit, collections, and quality assurance teams. This pivotal role offers you the opportunity to shape the future of credit and collections management in a rapidly evolving banking landscape, working closely with senior executives to align team objectives with broader business goals. You will be empowered to drive process improvements, foster a culture of continuous learning, and ensure that all activities adhere to the highest standards of ethics and compliance. With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and professional growth, this position provides an exceptional platform for you to make a significant impact while enjoying flexible working opportunities and access to ongoing training.

• Play a key role in shaping the strategic agenda for credit and collections management by collaborating directly with executive leadership and cross-functional teams across the organisation.
• Lead high-performing teams in credit, collections, and quality assurance, ensuring operational efficiency, risk mitigation, and adherence to industry best practices.
• Benefit from a supportive environment that values professional development, encourages knowledge sharing, and promotes flexible working arrangements tailored to your needs.

What you'll do:

As Strategic Leader for Credit, Collections & Operations, you will play an instrumental role in guiding the strategic direction of credit underwriting, collections processes, and quality assurance initiatives. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve close collaboration with senior leaders to develop forward-thinking strategies that enhance operational effectiveness while supporting the organisation’s long-term vision. You will work alongside diverse teams—ranging from data analytics to fraud management—to design robust frameworks that underpin every aspect of credit decision-making. By championing process improvements and embedding best practices throughout your teams, you will help maintain high standards of service delivery while managing risk exposure. Your ability to balance business performance with cost control will be crucial as you monitor key metrics such as NPLs and LLPs. In addition to overseeing daily operations, you will also play a vital part in nurturing talent within your department by ensuring all team members are well-trained, supervised appropriately, and motivated to achieve excellence. Through your leadership, you will cultivate an environment where ethical conduct is paramount, regulatory requirements are met without compromise, and continuous professional development is encouraged at every level.

• Provide strategic guidance and support to senior leadership in developing operational strategies that align with the overall business objectives for credit management and collections.
• Design, implement, and continuously refine credit and collections management strategies in partnership with internal stakeholders to ensure robust infrastructure and effective processes.
• Embed frameworks for credit management operations across teams, ensuring clear communication of expectations and consistent application of policies.
• Drive ongoing improvements in operational efficiency by identifying opportunities for process optimisation within credit, collections, and quality assurance functions.
• Balance delivery of business performance targets with cost management considerations while maintaining rigorous risk controls within established appetites.
• Monitor acquisition quality metrics to ensure alignment with organisational standards and proactively address any deviations from set triggers.
• Oversee non-performing loan (NPL), recovery, and loan loss provision (LLP) targets to ensure they remain within budgetary constraints through effective team management.
• Make informed decisions on loan applications within delegated authority levels while upholding compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
• Ensure all critical roles within the department are filled by suitably skilled professionals who receive appropriate supervision to mitigate risks effectively.
• Foster a culture of ethical behaviour, accountability, continuous learning, and risk awareness by leading through example and promoting active training initiatives.

What you bring:

You will bring extensive experience from the banking or financial services sector—particularly in lending disciplines—alongside a proven history of managing large teams responsible for credit underwriting and collections. Your background should reflect not only technical proficiency but also strong interpersonal skills that enable you to build trust-based relationships internally across multiple departments as well as externally with partners or regulators. A deep understanding of current market developments—including technological advancements influencing retail banking—is essential for anticipating challenges before they arise. Your approach should be grounded in empathy for both customers’ needs and colleagues’ perspectives while remaining steadfastly committed to ethical conduct at all times. The ideal candidate will demonstrate resilience under pressure when balancing competing priorities such as cost control versus risk mitigation; possess excellent presentation abilities; show initiative when driving change; display loyalty through consistent support for team members; exhibit sensitivity towards regulatory obligations; nurture talent through mentorship; share knowledge generously; respond thoughtfully during periods of uncertainty; encourage communal achievement over individual gain; promote inclusivity throughout hiring practices; yield gracefully when consensus-building is required; support others’ growth ambitions wholeheartedly; empathise deeply during difficult conversations; connect meaningfully across cultural boundaries; cooperate willingly even amidst ambiguity—and above all else—remain dependable regardless of circumstance.

• Bachelor’s degree relevant to lending or financial services is required; additional financial literacy training is highly valued.
• At least five years’ experience in lending or related disciplines within a financial institution is essential for success in this role.
• A minimum of ten years’ managerial experience overseeing multi-disciplinary teams in banking or financial services environments is expected.
• Demonstrated expertise in credit underwriting processes coupled with hands-on experience managing collections operations at scale.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing effective policies for both credit approval and debt recovery functions.
• Comprehensive understanding of market trends affecting banking, fintech innovations impacting retail lending, and emerging opportunities within financial services.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments including IT, legal, finance, marketing, compliance, customer experience, fraud management, analytics, HR, business planning, operations—and externally with partners or service providers.
• Exceptional communication skills enabling you to present complex information clearly to senior stakeholders while fostering positive relationships at all organisational levels.
• Commitment to upholding integrity through ethical decision-making combined with diligence in meeting regulatory requirements for fit-and-proper roles.
• Membership in good standing within relevant industry or professional organisations demonstrates your dedication to ongoing professional development.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a leader in the financial services sector due to its unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace where collaboration thrives. Employees benefit from access to comprehensive training programmes designed not only to enhance technical skills but also nurture personal growth through mentorship opportunities. The company places great emphasis on work-life balance by offering flexible working arrangements tailored around individual needs—enabling staff members at all levels to flourish both professionally and personally. Its culture is built upon shared values such as integrity, transparency, mutual respect—and above all—a genuine desire for collective success rather than individual accolades. By prioritising open communication channels between departments (and encouraging regular feedback loops), this employer ensures everyone feels heard regardless of their position within the hierarchy. Furthermore—with its proactive approach towards embracing new technologies—the company remains agile enough not just adapt but lead industry-wide transformations that benefit employees as much as customers alike. If you are looking for an environment where your contributions matter—and where your career can progress alongside like-minded peers who value kindness just as much as competence—then this is the place for you.

What's next:

If you are ready to take on a transformative leadership role where your expertise can truly make a difference in shaping the future of credit management operations—this opportunity awaits your application!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided below—your next career milestone could be just one step away.

Due to the high volume of applications we are experiencing, our team will only be in touch with you if your application is shortlisted.