Business Manager, Retail SME

About the role

The Business Manager – Retail SME will lead the growth and profitability of the SME portfolio for a leading bank in Nigeria. Reporting to senior management, you will be responsible for driving acquisition, managing credit facilities, and overseeing a team of Relationship Officers.

Key responsibilities

• Drive SME portfolio growth through targeted acquisition strategies and market scans.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified SME prospects.
• Manage relationships with key SME clients, including top‑tier and growth accounts.
• Improve customer engagement across physical and digital channels and increase retention and wallet share.
• Review, structure, and recommend SME credit facilities and manage the loan portfolio for quality and performance.
• Lead and supervise SME Relationship Officers/Account Officers, conducting performance reviews and coaching.
• Achieve loan, deposit, and revenue targets while monitoring profitability, cost‑to‑income ratio, and cost of risk.
• Prepare and present weekly/monthly SME unit performance reports and contribute to budget planning.
• Collaborate with Risk, Credit, Operations, and other stakeholders to foster a high‑performing sales culture.

Required profile

• A first degree in any discipline; a master’s degree or professional qualification is an advantage.
• 6‑8 years of banking experience with strong exposure to SME sales and relationship management.
• At least 2 years in a supervisory or team‑lead role.
• Strong understanding of SME products, credit processes, and portfolio management.
• In‑depth knowledge of credit risk analysis, financial statement interpretation, and lending regulations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, problem‑solving, and decision‑making abilities.

Required skills