Key Responsibilities
- Assess the qualitative and quantitative risks associated with prospective SME borrowers and recommend appropriate credit decisions based on financial analysis, business performance, repayment capacity, and risk exposure.
- Lead the development and implementation of credit risk policies, procedures, risk appetite frameworks, credit scoring methodologies, and approval authorities.
- Identify, assess, measure, and mitigate credit, portfolio, operational, and other relevant risks, establishing appropriate controls and contingency plans.
- Monitor the performance and quality of the SME lending portfolio, identifying early warning indicators and implementing measures to prevent or reduce non-performing loans (NPLs).
- Develop and maintain portfolio monitoring frameworks, concentration limits, risk grading systems, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Review credit applications, annual credit reviews, and pending credit facilities requiring approval or clearance by the relevant committees.
- Assess portfolio provisions and impairment indicators to ensure their adequacy in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and accounting standards.
- Monitor portfolio concentrations by sector, borrower, product, and other relevant risk dimensions, ensuring compliance with approved limits and risk appetite.
- Prepare and present periodic credit risk reports, portfolio performance analyses, emerging risk assessments, and mitigation recommendations to senior management and the Risk Committee.
- Conduct portfolio-level stress testing, scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis, and risk forecasting to evaluate resilience under adverse economic and market conditions.
- Ensure the completeness and adequacy of credit documentation, collateral arrangements, guarantees, and contractual conditions, coordinating with Legal and other relevant functions where necessary.
- Oversee the effectiveness of collection-related risk controls and monitor collection performance and operating costs in coordination with the relevant teams.
- Establish and maintain risk management policies and procedures, ensuring regular updates and effective communication across the organization.
- Ensure compliance with applicable FRA regulations, Egyptian laws, internal policies, and relevant regulatory requirements governing SME financing and non-bank financial institutions.
- Support the development and enhancement of digital lending processes, automated credit decisioning, credit scoring models, and data-driven underwriting solutions.
- Work closely with Business, Credit, Collections, Finance, Compliance, and Technology teams to balance prudent risk management with business growth and operational efficiency.
- Keep abreast of developments in SME lending, credit risk methodologies, regulatory requirements, and financial technology to improve decision-making quality and consistency.
Qualifications & Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline. A postgraduate degree or relevant professional certification in Risk Management, Credit, or Finance is an advantage.
* Minimum 12 years of relevant professional experience* in credit risk, risk management, or lending within the financial services sector.
* Substantial hands-on experience in SME lending and credit risk management, preferably within a non-bank financial institution (NBFI), SME financing company, or fintech-enabled lending business.
* Proven experience in a senior risk management position, with the ability to establish risk frameworks, lead teams, and communicate effectively with senior management and board-level committees.
* Strong expertise in SME credit underwriting, financial statement analysis, cash flow assessment, creditworthiness evaluation, credit scoring, and credit approval frameworks.
* Demonstrated experience in managing lending portfolios, monitoring asset quality, controlling NPLs, and implementing early warning and remedial action mechanisms.
* Strong knowledge of portfolio risk measurement, provisioning assessment, concentration risk, stress testing, scenario analysis, and risk reporting.
* Good understanding of collateral assessment, guarantees, credit documentation, and the enforceability of credit protection mechanisms.
* Sound knowledge of the Egyptian SME financing market, applicable FRA regulations, and the regulatory framework governing non-bank financial institutions and digital financing activities.
* Experience in developing risk policies, risk appetite statements, credit authority matrices, portfolio limits, and effective monitoring controls.
* Strong analytical, quantitative, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance risk mitigation with commercial objectives.
* Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and team development capabilities.
* Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and risk reporting tools; familiarity with portfolio analytics and credit risk modelling is an advantage.
Preferred Qualifications Previous experience working with a fintech lending platform or technology-enabled SME financing business*.
* Exposure to digital loan origination, automated credit decisioning, alternative data, digital onboarding, and data-driven underwriting models.
* Experience implementing or enhancing credit scoring systems and portfolio analytics to improve the speed, consistency, and quality of lending decisions.
* Familiarity with fraud risk controls and risk monitoring throughout the digital lending lifecycle.