Company Description Alexandria Business Association (ABA) SME Project is a financial institution with over 30 years of experience in promoting development and financial inclusion for micro and small business owners. Guided by a vision of continuously evolving to meet clients’ changing needs, ABA offers both financial and non-financial services that support economic, social, and health improvements. The organization invests in human resources and technology to deliver sustainable impact while balancing financial and social performance. ABA provides a wide range of financing products through individual and group lending programs,
Job Information
Department: Executive Management | Reports to: Executive Director | Direct Reports: 9 employees
Supervises: Operations Sector Heads; Operations Support, Arrears Management, Customer Service, Branch Expansion and Customer Insurance Department Managers.
Job Purpose
Assist the Executive Director in leading ABA’s operational performance and overseeing the quality and efficiency of lending operations, programs and services across branches and governorates. Ensure achievement of approved strategic objectives and operational targets by improving operational effectiveness, strengthening the marketing of financial products and services, developing products and services, driving geographical expansion, identifying growth opportunities, standardizing practices, strengthening coordination and ensuring compliance with Customer Protection Principles.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Operations and Branch Supervision
- Oversee Operations Sector departments, branches and branch-level lending activities to ensure timely, efficient service delivery and quality lending operations.
- Monitor strategic objectives and approved action plans; coordinate with relevant sectors to identify branch financial and staffing needs, secure required resources and address operational challenges.
2. Marketing, Product Development and Geographical Expansion
- Oversee the marketing of financial products and services; assess opportunities to improve offerings, expand product range and enter targeted governorates and areas.
- Develop marketing and expansion plans and initiatives; oversee market research and analysis of market capacity, growth prospects, competitors and market developments.
- Identify changing customer and market needs and recommend new or enhanced products and services to expand ABA’s reach, competitiveness and growth.
3. Operational Efficiency and Performance Monitoring
- Monitor and evaluate operational performance across branches and governorates against targets, standards, policies, management directives, internal controls and approved procedures; identify gaps, verify implementation quality and follow up corrective actions.
- Conduct customer field visits when technical or financial circumstances require.
- Monitor employee performance, particularly loan-program staff, review achievement reports and follow up assigned targets.
- Meet regularly with direct reports to review work plans, development initiatives and productivity improvements.
- Coordinate branch schedules and operational processes, including loan disbursement, repayment regularity and arrears control and management.
4. Coordination and Customer Protection
- Maintain effective communication with branches through Operations Sector Heads and Operations Managers, exchanging updates on implementation, performance, progress and challenges, and coordinating solutions.
- Promote consistent operating principles, rules, policies, controls and procedures, taking account of differences in crafts, business activities and operating environments while maintaining alignment with ABA requirements.
- Ensure consistent application of Customer Protection Principles and customer treatment standards across branches.
5. Data Analysis and Decision Support
- Analyze branch and Loan Officer performance data and reports; assess actual results against approved policies, directives, targets and controls.
- Identify performance gaps, development and expansion opportunities, and operational improvements through performance indicators and analysis.
- Present recommendations to management to improve efficiency, effectiveness and overall performance and support ABA’s vision and objectives.
6. Matters Referred by the Executive Director
- Review assignments and business matters referred by the Executive Director for compliance with ABA policies, directives and rules.
- Review, approve or authorize matters within delegated authority and submit reports, findings and recommendations to support decisions.
7. Additional Responsibilities
- Review proposed incentives and rewards for Operations employees and provide recommendations.
- Follow up financial processing of loan requests and review relevant financial documents and supporting records before authorizing disbursements.
- Oversee preparation and review of decisions concerning Operations employees before submission to Executive Management.
- Follow up legal actions to protect ABA’s rights, strengthen arrears collection and address underlying causes of arrears.
- Conduct communications, meetings and interviews or attend meetings as assigned by the Executive Director, and perform other delegated duties.
Job Requirements
Education, Experience and Knowledge
- Relevant university degree.
- At least 12 years of management and leadership experience, preferably in credit, banking or investment.
- Postgraduate degree or professional qualification in management, finance, risk management or a related field is preferred.
- Good knowledge of laws, regulations and supervisory requirements governing non-bank financial activities and Customer Protection Principles.
- Good understanding of risk management and corporate governance.
- Practical experience managing and monitoring operational and lending activities across a geographically distributed branch or business network.
- Experience developing financial products and services, conducting market and competitor analysis, and preparing geographical expansion plans.
Skills
- Strong leadership, communication, strategic and operational planning skills, including budget preparation and monitoring.
- Ability to develop operational and marketing plans, monitor targets and analyze performance, productivity and loan portfolio quality indicators.
- Effective team and change management, with the ability to improve work methods and operational procedures.
- Computer literacy and proficiency in relevant business applications.
- Good spoken and written English.
Competencies and Personal Attributes
- Strong attention to detail, accuracy and observation.
- Ability to manage performance, improve efficiency, productivity and service quality, and communicate new developments to teams.
- Sound judgment in unexpected situations; ability to review reports and correspondence promptly and effectively.
- Accountability, integrity and commitment to professional and ethical standards.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple responsibilities under pressure.
- Strong problem-solving, innovation and strategic planning capabilities.
Working Conditions
- Primarily office-based, with regular domestic and international travel for branch-related and business meetings and conferences.
- May require working beyond official hours in line with business needs.
