About The Role

Pesapal is a leading payment service provider in Africa, enabling businesses to accept payments from their customers through various channels. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Head of Credit to join our team in Nairobi, Kenya. The Head of Credit will be responsible for developing and implementing credit strategies, managing credit risk, and ensuring the financial health of the company.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive credit policies and procedures.
• Assess and manage credit risk for all clients and partners.
• Monitor and analyze credit portfolios, identifying potential risks and opportunities.
• Lead and mentor the credit team, fostering a culture of performance and accountability.
• Collaborate with sales, finance, and legal departments to ensure alignment on credit strategies.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and regulatory changes related to credit and payments.
• Prepare regular reports on credit performance and risk exposure for senior management.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 8–10 years of total experience in credit risk management, commercial lending, or digital microfinance, with at least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role (Head of Credit, Chief Risk Officer, or Senior Credit Manager).
• Fintech / Digital Lending Track Record: Direct experience working within a Tier 1/Tier 2 digital lender or a progressive commercial bank’s digital lending/MSME cash-flow lending division.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, or a related field. Professional certifications (e.g., CFA, FRM, or Certified Credit Analyst) are highly desirable.

Key Competencies & Traits

• Data-Driven Credit Mindset: Proficient in algorithmic scoring concepts. You understand that a merchant’s daily POS consistency is often more valuable than a physical asset or a 3-year audited financial statement.
• Balanced Risk Appetite: A business enabler who knows how to optimize risk rather than blindly avoid it—understanding when to tighten limits or loosen them to capture safe market share.
• Change & Scale Management: Proven ability to build structures, hire the right talent at the right time, and manage a team through high-growth operational friction.
• Regional Market Context: Deep operational understanding of the MSME ecosystem, merchant pain points, and regulatory terrains.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Portfolio Size: Safe growth of the active loan book toward the OLB milestone.
• Portfolio Quality: Maintenance of Non-Performing Loans (NPL) well within budgeted boundaries.
• Time-to-Decision: Optimization of automated approval rates to deliver instant or near-instant credit decisions to qualified merchants.
• Cost of Risk & Collection Efficiency: Minimizing recovery costs while maximizing the Net Recovery Rate on past-due obligations.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work with a dynamic and growing company.
• Professional development and growth opportunities.

• Develop and implement comprehensive credit policies and procedures.
• Assess and manage credit risk for all clients and partners.
• Monitor and analyze credit portfolios, identifying potential risks and opportunities.
• Lead and mentor the credit team, fostering a culture of performance and accountability.
• Collaborate with sales, finance, and legal departments to ensure alignment on credit strategies.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and regulatory changes related to credit and payments.
• Prepare regular reports on credit performance and risk exposure for senior management.

• Strong understanding of credit scoring models, loan origination, and debt collection processes.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in financial modeling and data analysis tools.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. A Master's degree or professional certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA) is a plus.