CREDIT OFFICER
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Job summary
The Credit Officer is responsible for growing and managing a quality loan portfolio within an assigned territory. You will identify creditworthy clients, walk them through the loan application process, assess their businesses and repayment ability, disburse approved loans, and follow up consistently to ensure timely repayment. You will also be expected to educate clients on responsible borrowing, collect field data accurately, and flag early warning signs of repayment risk before they become defaults.
Min Qualification:
Bachelors
Experience Level:
Entry level
Experience Length:
1 year
Language Requirement:
English
Working Hours:
Full Time - 8 to 5
Applicant Location:
Uganda
Job descriptions & requirements
Department: Credit & Lending Operations
Reporting To: Branch Credit Manager
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent |
ABOUT KENTY MICROFINANCE
Kenty Microfinance is a growing financial institution committed to improving the livelihoods of small business owners, farmers, and low-income households by providing them with access to affordable credit and financial services. We believe that every person with a genuine business idea and the willingness to work deserves a chance to grow, and our Credit Officers are at the very heart of making that happen.
We are looking for motivated individuals who understand the communities they serve, take pride in their work, and can build lasting relationships with clients while maintaining the financial discipline that keeps our institution strong. This is not a desk job. It is a field role that requires energy, empathy, and a strong sense of personal responsibility.
JOB PURPOSE
The Credit Officer is responsible for growing and managing a quality loan portfolio within an assigned territory. You will identify creditworthy clients, walk them through the loan application process, assess their businesses and repayment ability, disburse approved loans, and follow up consistently to ensure timely repayment. You will also be expected to educate clients on responsible borrowing, collect field data accurately, and flag early warning signs of repayment risk before they become defaults.
Beyond the numbers, the Credit Officer is often the face of Kenty Microfinance in the community. How you carry yourself, how you treat clients, and how you resolve issues in the field directly shapes how the institution is perceived. We therefore need someone professional, ethical, and genuinely invested in the success of the clients they serve.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Client Recruitment and Loan Origination
You will be expected to actively identify and recruit potential clients within your assigned area. This means visiting markets, trading centres, agricultural communities, and other business environments to understand what people do, what they need, and whether a loan from Kenty Microfinance could realistically help them grow.
- Carry out structured field visits and community outreaches to identify and engage potential borrowers.
- Educate prospective clients on Kenty Microfinance's loan products, terms, eligibility requirements, and repayment expectations before they submit an application.
- Assist clients in completing loan applications accurately and guide them on the supporting documents required.
- Maintain a healthy and growing client pipeline, hitting agreed monthly targets for new loan applications and disbursements.
2. Credit Analysis and Loan Appraisal
Before any loan is recommended for approval, the Credit Officer must independently verify the information provided by the client. This is not a formality; it is the foundation on which responsible lending is built.
- Conduct on-site business assessments to verify the client's income, business activity, assets, liabilities, and general financial behaviour.
- Carry out household visits where necessary to understand the client's broader financial obligations and living situation.
- Prepare thorough credit appraisal reports that give the credit committee a clear and honest picture of the client's creditworthiness.
- Identify and document any risk factors that could affect the client's ability to repay, and recommend an appropriate loan amount and repayment period based on actual cash flow — not just what the client is asking for.
- Verify collateral offered by the client and ensure all security documents are properly collected and filed before disbursement.
3. Loan Disbursement and Account Management
- Coordinate with the branch team to ensure approved loans are disbursed promptly and that clients understand the repayment schedule from the moment of disbursement.
- Ensure all loan documentation, including loan agreements, repayment schedules, and security documents, is complete, signed, and properly filed before any funds are released.
- Maintain up-to-date and accurate records for every client in your portfolio, whether on the institution's management information system or in physical files as required.
- Conduct post-disbursement follow-up visits to verify that loan funds have been used for the stated purpose and to address any early concerns.
4. Portfolio Quality and Loan Recovery
The quality of your loan portfolio is the most direct measure of your performance as a Credit Officer. A good Credit Officer does not just disburse loans — they manage them actively and ensure that repayments come in as scheduled.
- Monitor your portfolio regularly and maintain a repayment rate consistent with institutional targets.
- Contact clients proactively ahead of repayment dates through phone calls, SMS reminders, and field visits to prevent missed payments.
- When a client misses a payment, respond immediately — visit the client, understand the reason for default, and develop a clear, documented recovery plan.
- Escalate accounts showing serious delinquency to the Branch Credit Manager promptly and support the recovery team in following up on non-performing loans.
- Maintain a Portfolio at Risk (PAR) ratio within the institution's acceptable threshold and work continuously to reduce arrears within your assigned book.
5. Client Relations and Financial Education
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with clients throughout their loan cycle — from the first meeting through to full repayment and loan renewal.
- Provide clients with basic financial literacy guidance, including budgeting, saving, and the importance of maintaining a good credit record.
- Handle client complaints and concerns professionally, resolving issues at the field level where possible and escalating only those that require management intervention.
- Identify opportunities to cross-sell or upsell other Kenty Microfinance products to existing clients based on their demonstrated needs and repayment behaviour.
6. Reporting and Compliance
- Prepare and submit accurate daily, weekly, and monthly field reports covering loan activity, collections, client visits, and portfolio performance.
- Ensure all lending activity under your management complies with Kenty Microfinance's internal credit policies, the Bank of Uganda's regulatory requirements for microfinance institutions, and any applicable consumer protection guidelines.
- Report any suspected fraud, misrepresentation, or policy violation immediately to the Branch Credit Manager and cooperate fully with any internal investigations.
- Participate actively in branch credit committee meetings, contributing informed observations from the field to support sound lending decisions.
HOW PERFORMANCE WILL BE MEASURED
Your performance as a Credit Officer at Kenty Microfinance will be assessed based on the following indicators, which are reviewed monthly and quarterly:
1. Number of active loans and total loan portfolio size against agreed targets.
2. Portfolio at Risk (PAR) ratio — specifically PAR 1 and PAR 30 — kept within the approved institutional threshold.
3. Monthly disbursement volumes and growth in the number of active borrowers.
4. Accuracy and completeness of loan files, credit appraisal reports, and field documentation.
5. Timeliness and quality of daily and weekly reports submitted to the branch.
6. Client retention rate and the proportion of existing clients who renew their loans.
7. Adherence to the institution's credit policies and code of conduct.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Academic Background
A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Microfinance, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Agriculture, or Development Studies is required. Candidates holding a Diploma in Microfinance or a closely related field and who can demonstrate strong, relevant work experience will also be considered.
Work Experience
At least one year of direct experience in microfinance credit operations, retail banking, or a related client-facing finance role is required. Experience working with group lending methodologies, individual lending, or agricultural finance is a strong advantage. Candidates who have previously worked with community-based savings and credit organisations (SACCOs) or NGO credit programmes are also encouraged to apply.
Technical Skills
a) Ability to carry out a credible business and cash flow assessment using field observations and basic financial statements.
b) Competency in using a loan management or microfinance information system. Familiarity with systems such as Musoni, Mambu, or Temenos is an added advantage.
c) Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for tracking and reporting purposes.
d) Ability to prepare clear and well-structured credit appraisal reports.
e) A valid riding permit and ability to operate a motorcycle is a strong advantage, given the field nature of this role.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are not just looking for someone who can tick boxes. The kind of person who thrives in this role tends to have the following qualities:
1. Honest and ethical: Follow the rules even when no one is watching, and you do not allow personal relationships to compromise sound lending decisions.
2. Self-driven: Can plan your own day, manage your time in the field without being micromanaged, and still hit your targets consistently.
3. Commercially minded: Understand that the institution's sustainability depends on loan repayment, and you take that personally.
4. Community-oriented: Respect the clients you work with, understand the context of their lives, and approach your work with empathy rather than condescension.
5. Resilient and persistent: Loan recovery is not always pleasant, but you handle it with professionalism, and you do not give up easily.
6. Strong communicator: Can explain a repayment schedule clearly to a market vendor and write a credit report for a committee meeting with equal confidence.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit the following documents in a single PDF or Word document to the address or email provided below:
a) A cover letter of no more than one page explaining why you are the right person for this role and what specifically draws you to working in microfinance.
b) An updated curriculum vitae clearly showing your educational background, work history with dates, and at least two professional referees.
c) Copies of your academic certificates and any relevant professional training certificates.
Applications should be addressed to:
The Human Resource Manager
Kenty Microfinance
Email: kentymicrofinance@gmail.com
Physical Address: Head office in Kanyanya, opposite Gaz petrol station, Gayaza Road, Kampala, Uganda
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Kenty Microfinance is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from women and persons with disabilities.
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