Remedial Officer at Ecobank
Job Description
Job Summary
The Remedial Officer will be responsible for managing non-performing loans (NPLs) and delinquent accounts to minimize credit losses and improve loan recovery performance. The role focuses on monitoring overdue accounts, engaging customers for repayment solutions, restructuring facilities where necessary, and ensuring compliance with credit policies and regulatory standards. This position is ideal for a credit risk or collections professional with strong analytical and negotiation skills.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Business and Financial Performance
- Continuously review the assigned non-performing loan portfolio and formulate optimal recovery strategies.
- Present the recommended recovery strategies for each assigned non-performing credit to the Head of Remedial and BCC for approval prior to implementation.
- Ensure that Business units initiate the required remedial actions for Stage 2 loans as outlined in the policy and escalate instances of non-compliance with the established remedial procedures by business units.
- Undertake periodic customer visits as well as meetings for the assigned portfolio and prepare and submit detailed call reports on the findings on the ground as well as points of discussion with the customers and action plans thereof.
- Prepare and submit for approval credit classification memorandum to classify accounts in line with IFRS9 and Central Bank Prudential Guidelines
- Working with the business teams prepare credit applications for loan restructures restructured
- Hold periodic meetings with services providers such as lawyers, debt collectors, investigators, auctioneers, etc and submit minutes of such meetings to Head of Remedial and Director, Credit Risk.
- Undertake periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the service providers such as lawyers, debt collectors, investigators, auctioneers, etc and handling of the various assigned NPLs.
- Share lessons learnt during recovery with BCC and business units to help improve credit origination
- Review assigned portfolio and recommended further downgrade in line with the prudential guidelines or upgrade based on performance by way of preparing a CCM and submitting for approval as per policy.
- Ensure completeness of the customer file for all NPLs assigned. All correspondence, decisions, actions taken must be documented and filed the customer file.
- Review and recommend restructuring, repackaging or repayment plan on past due and nonperforming accounts.
- Closely monitor performance of restructured NPLs
- Prepares credit proposals, management, internal and external reports Attending auction whenever there is a sale by public auction if nominated to attend
- Negotiate and prepare letters to borrowers on repayment or compromise proposal.
- Issuing instructions on follow ups with the appointed debt recovery agents/lawyers
- Endorsed accounts to Legal Department for appropriate filing of legal action.
- Provision of timely reports on the status of the assigned portfolio and recovery actions.
- Undertake credit monitoring actions for NPL portfolio names including client calls and collateral inspections as require by the GCPPM
Client Centricity
- Official visit to assigned branches to up step recovery at the Branch
- Liaising with borrowers and their advocates on settlement proposals
- Discussing and negotiating with borrowers’ acceptable restructuring and payment terms for distressed loans
- Advising the bank on restructure for default borrowers who have shown willingness to recommence payment of their loans
Leadership and People Management
- Liaise with branches and business units on various actions prescribed under the GCPPM & Remedial Policy and ensuring the agreed actions are documented and follow-up done
- Guide business units to diagnosing the underlying issues with overdue accounts and offering advice on the best action to cure the issue
- Coordinate with business units to ensure that recovery/restructures credit memos are done in a timely manner and the structures are booked/implemented to avoid further deterioration of the portfolio health
Process, Control and Operational Performance
- Active participation in watchlist/monitoring sessions to ensure Senior management are well appraised in the actions and status of the recovery strategy
- Undertaking appropriate remedial actions as prescribed by the GCPPM and Remedial policy on overdue accounts in the portfolio
- Issuing demand letters to borrowers who are in adverse arrears on their loans
- Ensuring instructions are issued to Auctioneers to issue Notices where borrowers have not responded to statutory notices
- Negotiating fees, terms of engagement and issuing instructions to service provider for various recovery actions
- Instruct external advocates to issue Statutory Notices where arrears are long overdue in cases of commercial loans & mortgages
- Working with legals review portfolio of NPL names under litigations and from time to time attend to litigation matters as Bank appointed witness.
Educational Qualifications, Experience, & Skills Required
- Degree preferably a graduate of Economics or Business Course
- At least 2 years of Banking experience mainly in credit environment
- Relevant experience in credit.
- Proficient in oral and written communication, particularly on report writing,
- Knowledge of basic computer application such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and practical experience in use of relevant MS Office applications.
- Good customer relationship
- Can work independently and with minimum supervision
- Good interpersonal skills with great emphasis on teamwork.
- High level of responsiveness and ability to operate with a high degree of urgency and work in a pressurized environment
- Strong drive for results, able to plan, track and follow through.
- Ability to work on own initiative.
- An efficient and confident communicator.
- Organized and disciplined, ability to handle demands and priorities
- Team player, Strong technical skills; Strong analytical skills; Strong communication skills; Strong planning and execution skills; Customer service orientation
