Head of SME Business at Umba
Job Description
Job Summary
To drive SME business growth through client acquisition, lending expansion, deposit mobilisation, and strong team leadership, while maintaining portfolio quality and profitability.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
1. SME Client Acquisition & Lending Growth
- Drive acquisition and onboarding of SME and MSME clients.
- Deliver SME and MSME lending disbursement targets.
- Build and manage a strong pipeline and improve conversion rates.
2. Portfolio Productivity & Revenue Optimisation
- Manage average loan size and yield to ensure profitability.
- Drive utilisation of approved credit limits.
- Ensure sustainable and quality growth of the SME loan book.
3. Deposits Mobilisation & Liability Growth
- Deliver net deposit growth targets across SME customers.
- Increase proportion of low-cost deposits (CASA).
- Optimise cost of funds on SME deposits.
- Drive fee income from SME transactional banking activities.
4. Portfolio Quality & Risk Management
- Maintain portfolio quality within acceptable thresholds.
- Ensure early identification and resolution of arrears.
- Uphold strong credit underwriting, monitoring, and reporting standards.
- Ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
5. Market Intelligence & Business Strategy
- Monitor SME market trends, customer needs, and competitor activity.
- Provide input into product development and commercial strategy.
6. Sales Leadership & Team Management
- Lead SME sales teams to achieve aggregated targets.
- Drive staff productivity (business per staff).
- Conduct performance management, coaching, and development.
- Maintain acceptable attrition levels and succession planning.
Educational Qualifications, Experience, & Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field
- Master’s degree is an added advantage
- Minimum 7–10 years’ experience in SME banking or business development
- Proven track record in lending, sales, and portfolio management
- Experience managing and leading sales teams
- Strong sales and negotiation skills
- Leadership and team management capability
- Commercial and financial acumen
- Credit and risk understanding
- Relationship management and networking ability
- Strategic thinking and execution
- Results-driven with strong performance orientation
