Department: Credit

Position: Debt Recovery Officer

Reporting to: Debt Recovery Manager

About SunCulture

Founded in 2012, SunCulture’s Vision is to build a world where people take control of their environment in rewarding and sustainable ways. We do this by developing and commercializing life-changing technology that solves the biggest daily challenges for the world's 570 million smallholder farming households. Over the last 5 years, the company has grown significantly and now has employed 100+ people around the world.

About the Role

Reporting to the Debt Recovery Manager,, the ideal candidate is responsible for collections of defaulted portfolio, tracing & recovery of all SunCulture assets assigned on credit but defaulted, issuance of Demand letters in the field & initiation of repossession rights on all non-performing credits above Sunculture’s PAYG credit policy guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Be accountable for reducing delinquency for assigned accounts

• Ensure allocated accounts are monitored on a daily basis and appropriate actions are taken to ensure that the collection portfolio remains within acceptable limits through the application of sound credit judgment within SunCulture PAYG credit policy guidelines.

• Investigate and resolve any customer queries and complaints through verbal or written correspondence in line with SunCulture PAYG credit policies.

• Issue out demand letters at field level to defaulters with the aim to get payments back to normalcy.

• Record new commitment to repay the debt (PTPs), determine if the debt can be collected, and accordingly recommend/initiate the recovery process.

• Contact defaulting customers either by calling or visiting them with an aim of negotiating a settlement of the arrears.

• Initiate repossession of SunCulture assets as necessary.

• Achieve the monthly collection targets as assigned by the supervisor

• Identify and escalate deceased or disabled customers to the Head of Credit for review or collection termination.

• Ensure all work queues are acted upon.

• Conduct field visit assessment before visiting the market areas.

• Manage relationships with local authorities and Security Officers

• Plan and organize field collection drives across all regions

• Conduct monthly reporting as per portfolio performance on delinquency.

Knowledge and skills for the Role

• Diploma or degree in Debt collection and Management, Business Information Science, Finance or Accounting

• At least 3-6 years’ work experience in debt collection in microfinance, the solar industry, or related organization

• Knowledge of relevant legal requirements and processes in microfinance and credit collections environment or any other financial institution

• Evidence of well-developed organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines.

• Integrity and ability to work in consumer finance with small scale farmers across Kenya

• Sound verbal communication skills including the ability to negotiate respectfully and communicate the rationale for decisions made.

• Demonstrated ability to follow policy and procedures.

• Sound judgment, analytical, and decision-making skills.

• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new systems and processes.

• Demonstrated commitment to service excellence.

• Proficiency in GSuite, Microsoft Office