Recovery Team Lead (SME Lending/NBFI)

About the role

A Non-Bank Financial Institution (NBFI) providing financing to SMEs and traders is hiring a Recovery Team Lead in Lagos (Lekki) on a hybrid schedule. The role drives loan recovery, reduces non-performing loans and improves the quality of the loan portfolio, with personal management of seriously delinquent and written-off accounts and leadership of the recovery team.

Key responsibilities

• Take ownership of delinquent accounts from day 61 (especially 60-180+ days), develop resolution plans and personally manage serious delinquencies and written-off loans.
• Lead and supervise recovery officers, allocate accounts, set targets, run daily and weekly reviews, coach the team and ensure monthly targets are met.
• Use a tiered approach of structured payment plans, field visits and negotiated settlements; decide when to restructure, settle or escalate cases; engage borrowers and guarantors.
• Prepare case files for external solicitors, brief legal counsel, track litigation and enforcement, and liaise with the police only in fraud or dishonoured cheque cases.
• Monitor GPS-tracked vehicle assets, coordinate repossession and work with tracking companies, recovery agents and enforcement partners.
• Locate unreachable borrowers using guarantor networks, addresses, vehicle GPS data and employer verification.
• Submit weekly reports on 30-day recovery figures and projections to the Head of Credit, Risk & Recovery, and flag accounts near the write-off threshold.

Required profile

• B.Sc. or HND in a relevant discipline.
• 4-6 years of loan recovery experience in SME or trader lending, preferably in a Microfinance Bank, NBFI or finance company in Lagos.
• At least 2 years supervising or leading a recovery team.
• Proven track record of reducing NPLs and recovering delinquent and written-off loans.
• Experience with lawyers, recovery agents or the courts is an added advantage; a relevant certification such as CIBN is also an advantage.

Required skills

• Proficiency in Loandisk and Zoho CRM.
• Strong Microsoft Excel, especially for loan ageing analysis and portfolio tracking.
• Sound knowledge of loan documentation, guarantor management, collateral enforcement and debt-recovery regulations.

Performance is measured by monthly recovery targets, NPL reduction, recovery and resolution rates, team performance, report accuracy and the effectiveness of legal escalation and collateral enforcement. The compensation is a competitive base salary plus performance-based bonus and other benefits.