Collections Manager job at Access Financial Services Uganda

JOB DETAILS:
Job Specification – Collections Manager, Uganda
Overview

Select Africa Limited trading in Uganda as Access Financial Services is an Isle of Man company, established more than 20 years ago with the intention of owning a number of retail financial services businesses in Africa, outside of South Africa. It is the holding company of the Select Africa group of companies (“Select Africa”).

The controlling shareholder of Select Africa Limited is the African Alliance Group – an investment banking group owned by management and also operating in Africa. Select Advisors (Pty) Limited is the South African affiliate of Select Africa. The business focuses on financial services, including property development (www.malkernssquare.com) in Africa and currently owns loan book operations in Eswatini, Lesotho, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi. Select Africa is a supplier of both housing and housing micro-finance solutions, utilising various collection mechanisms but primarily that of a salary deduction model.

Main Purpose of the Role
The Collections Manager will be responsible for overseeing and managing the entire collections process and staff of Uganda. This will include the management of and reporting on both early and late-stage collections to ensure accurate processing and collections of payments, within targeted and budgeted requirements as well as providing leadership and guidance to all collections staff.

Key Deliverables of the Collections Manager – Uganda
1. Ensure monthly collections remain at an acceptable group level:
a. Ensure all payments from employers are obtained each month and follow up with UCLA and, where applicable, follow up with the employer, on any outstanding payments.
b. Ensure MOUs are in place for all approved employers prior to entering into any loan agreements, where applicable, and the reservations of loans are obtained where required.
c. Payroll collections to be improved to and maintained above 95%.
d. Second-tier debit order platform collections to be improved to levels above 50% on a consistent basis.
e. Strive to improve arrears to levels below 3%.
f. Strive to improve provision levels below 5%.
g. Ensure the correct collections strategies and campaigns for early and late-stage collections are implemented to maintain loan book provisions at the agreed rate.
h. Ensure failed collections are analysed and categorised timeously and appropriate actions to collect are put in place and followed through by the Collections Team.
i. Source, contract and supervise all internal and external collections partners, such as credit bureaus, external collections agents and trace partners, as well as legal partners.
j. Ensure that all uncollectable debt is appropriately motivated and timeously written off, based on standing company policies and industry regulations, after all efforts to collect outstanding amounts have failed.
k. Support the Chief Executive Officer, Regional Collections Manager and Head of Credit and risk in interpreting failed collections and arrears information and in the implementation of corrective actions to recover losses and prevent future occurrences.
l. Adhere to all company and collections Standard Operating Procedures (“SOPs”).
2. Relationship management: a. Ensure that sound relationships are created and maintained with key staff and management at the payrolls of all Government Ministries, UMRA Departments and Agencies (“MDAs”) and private entities which Access deals with, as well as with external service providers (UCLA).
a. Ensure that the names, contact numbers and details of all interactions are documented, indexed and preserved.
b. Ensure that relationships are structured to ensure that there is a high level of redundancy (backup) by ensuring that the relationships exist across a broad set of Access staff members.
3. Arrears category management:
a. Ensure that all categories of arrears are equitably and timeously monitored, managed and reported on, and that the data, process and results are well documented, indexed and preserved.
4. 4. Reporting:
a. Ensure that all relevant performance and management data is timeously and accurately collected, collated, analysed and disseminated.
b. Compile the daily, weekly, monthly and ad-hoc collections reports to be presented during the monthly Exco and other forums.
c. Prepare reports and presentations as required by Executive Management and other stakeholders.
d. Ensure the availability of timeous, accurate and correctly presented information to support business decision-making.
5. 5. Management of collections staff: a. Provide leadership, guidance and training to develop personnel and ensure the transference of skills and efficient achievement of goals and objectives.
a. Ensure that all collections staff receive regular, documented coaching sessions.
b. Ensure that all collections staff are adequately trained and skilled to ensure quality collection strategies and client service.
c. Ensure that each staff member is monitored and managed daily against an agreed-upon set of measures and that the process and results are well documented, indexed and preserved.
6. 6. Reconciliation of the “Expected vs Collected”, ensuring payments are followed up timeously.
7. 7. Management of overpayment and underpayments from Private Payroll Payments and Government Payments (Votes).
8. 8. Management of the AR clearing account ensuring that outstanding balances match the Employer Control Account and all payments received in the bank are identified and cleared timeously.
9. 9. Maintain fluency in product knowledge, the loans management system and collections procedures necessary to carry out collections processes and conduct client interviews.
10. 10. Recommend and develop strategies for improving the operations of the department.

Reporting Line
The Collections Manager – Uganda will report to the Chief Executive Officer with a reporting function to the Regional Collections Manager.

The Candidate
We seek the following in our desired candidate:

Qualification Requirement
1. A relevant tertiary qualification (such as a B Com Degree) is preferred.
2. Preference will also be given to candidates with applicable certificates in Collections and Credit Management.

Experience / Background Preference
1. The company will only look at candidates who have no less than FIVE years of relevant, working experience of which at least two should have been in a similar role.
2. Government payroll and/or other payroll loan collections experience is essential.
3. Ugandan Microlending or related financial services experience is essential.
4. Knowledge of Uganda laws relating to financial services, particularly with regard to Microlending, is essential.
5. A strong command of English, both written and verbal is a requirement of the job.

Key Competencies
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the following ability:
1. Self-assurance and a confident manner.
2. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
3. Proven people management and leadership skills.
4. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess complex situations and use creativity to solve problems.
5. Strict attention to detail.
6. Established negotiation skills.
7. Strong presentation skills.
8. A self-starter who shows initiative and assumes responsibility for projects.
9. Proven ability to operate independently and exercise significant latitude for independent judgement, discretion and action.
10. Ability to prioritise and handle multiple tasks within strict time frames in a fast-paced environment.
11. High energy levels.
12. The ability to debate in a constructive manner and to challenge conventional wisdom.
13. The ability to build strong relationships with team members, company management and clients.

Location
The position is based at our Uganda Head Office located at Western Wing, Second Floor, Social Security House, Jinja Road, Kampala.

Compensation
An annual cost-to-company remuneration package, which will be commensurate with the technical skills and experience of the successful candidate.

Job application procedure
Please forward applications to matakad@afs.co.ug

Previous applicants need not apply.
If you do not hear from us within two weeks, please consider your application for this vacancy unsuccessful. In this instance, please be assured that we shall retain your application and will be in touch should a suitable opportunity arise in the future.

Deadline: 20th November 2023

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