Relationship Manager

Role Overview

The Branch Manager leads day-to-day operations at a VisionFund Kenya microfinance branch, guiding staff to deliver responsible financial services while meeting client, portfolio, and business goals. The role balances lending quality, compliance, customer retention, team development, and local market growth, while representing the branch in its community.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply branch policies and internal controls, oversee client assessments and credit decisions, and convene credit committees and loan-quality reviews.
• Track field activity, arrears, and portfolio quality; act early on repayment risks, limit write-offs, and work toward keeping PAR over one day below 5%.
• Maintain compliance with applicable institutional and regulatory requirements, including KYC, anti-money-laundering, data privacy, client protection, and safeguarding standards; prepare for audits and target resolution of 85% of audit issues within 90 days.
• Plan staffing, assess performance, coach employees, identify training needs, support staff wellbeing and HR processes, and work toward staff retention of at least 90%.
• Prepare branch business and annual work plans, review results, recommend adjustments, and pursue disbursement, client growth, collections, and profitability targets.
• Build customer relationships and promote the branch’s products through outreach, market research, community engagement, and partnerships; work to retain at least 90% of existing clients.
• Ensure staff use core banking, field, and management information systems effectively; monitor lending and collections through system data and help staff and clients use digital channels.
• Provide accurate, timely branch reports; share market and competitor insights; support client financial-literacy and responsible-borrowing sessions, group engagement, and collaboration with other branches and head office.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in finance, business administration, economics, or a related discipline.
• At least three years of experience in microfinance or retail banking operations.
• Practical understanding of credit operations, financial services, regulatory compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, and fraud prevention.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop a team, with sound performance management and planning skills.
• Strong communication, organisation, reporting, and relationship-building abilities.
• Confidence using digital systems and willingness to support technology adoption and operational improvement.
• Resilience, sound judgement, integrity, and a demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership and inclusion.
• Must be a committed Christian, able to work across denominational differences and participate in leading daily devotions.