Loan Officer - Kenya

Reports to: Credit Manager, East & Southern Africa
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Start Date: 1st March, 2014
Contact: Olivia Omindo
Human Resources and Operations Manager, Africa
jobsafrica@rootcapital.org

Summary

The Loan Officer, together with the Root Capital team, is responsible for the following activities in Kenya: actively work to identify potential borrowers; proactively make contact with loan leads and provide information on Root Capital’s credit services; analyze loan applicants using rigorous financial, environmental, and social criteria; present loan analysis to Root Capital’s internal and external credit committees for decision; close loans, including ensuring complete documentation; monitor existing loans to ensure timely repayment; and assist in coordinating training and technical assistance on financial management to selected candidates and clients. 

Mission and History of Root Capital

Root Capital’s mission is to grow rural prosperity by investing in small and growing agricultural businesses that build sustainable livelihoods in Africa and Latin America.

Root Capital is a nonprofit social investment fund that grows rural prosperity in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa and Latin America by lending capital, delivering financial training and strengthening market connections for small and growing agricultural businesses.

Root Capital clients include associations and private businesses that help create sustainable livelihoods by aggregating the products of hundreds, and often, thousands of farmers. Since our launch in 1999, we have provided more than $400 million in credit to over 460 small and growing agricultural businesses.

Root Capital envisions a thriving financial market serving agricultural businesses that generate long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability for small-scale farmers and their communities around the world. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Root Capital currently has associated offices in Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Kenya..

Responsibilities

Business Development: 

• Develop a pipeline of qualified loan candidates in Kenya. Develop networks of referrers, including value chain actors, technical assistance providers, and trade associations. Present Root Capital’s credit offerings to and invite loan applications from qualified businesses.

Credit Analysis

• Collect information about loan applicants as specified by Root Capital’s credit policies.
• Perform due diligence to verify client information, including conducting site visits and management interviews.
• Conduct financial, operational, and management analysis of applicant companies.
• Structure loans, present analysis, and make credit recommendations to Root Capital’s credit committees for decision-making, following Root Capital’s credit underwriting policies.
• Apply Root Capital’s social and environmental impact criteria. Support Root Capital’s portfolio servicing personnel to close loans, including ensuring proper documentation of loan agreements according to Root Capital’s internal policies.

Credit Risk Management

• Ensure that all proposed loans meet Root Capital’s criteria for credit quality and security.
• Work with the Risk Manager and loan monitoring staff in Nairobi to track performance of active loans.
• Lead communication with Root Capital clients to address identified deficiencies in active loans. In heightened risk situations, collaborate with Risk Manager to devise and implement a collections strategy.

Financial Advisory Services (FAS)

• As necessary, collaborate with the FAS Coordinator in Nairobi to address financial management weaknesses of prospective and existing clients as necessary by facilitating training provision through qualified local consultants.
• Conduct client needs assessments, help to develop a training plan, and work with local trainers to ensure effective implementation.

Organizational and Administrative Responsibilities

• Participate in one-on-one meetings with regional Credit Manager or designated representative.
• Submit regular expense reports.
• Communicate in a timely fashion within the team and between the team and other departments of the organization.
• Participate in all-staff meetings of Root Capital’s East Africa lending team.
• Perform other duties as directed or as necessary.

 Qualifications and Experience

• 5-8 years of experience working in agricultural, commercial, and/ or SME finance, in Kenya and/ or elsewhere in east and southern Africa. Banking experience or investment analysis is necessary. Advanced knowledge of financial analysis. Experience with small and medium-sized agricultural businesses is desirable.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), finance, economics, or related field, or equivalent experience is desirable.
• Professional experience or academic qualifications related to agricultural value chains is desirable.
• Ability to work independently, while coordinating with others in a team effort.
• Ability to work under pressure, establish and maintain deadlines, and coordinate a wide variety of activities at the same time. Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to travel to rural areas of Kenya, East and Southern Africa.
• Fluency in English, including strong writing skills and ability to make public presentations, is required. Fluency in Kiswahili is also desirable.
• Strong ability with Microsoft Word and Excel is necessary. Additional knowledge of financial and/or database management software is a plus.
• Ability to handle confidential information about the transactions and business activities of Root Capital and our clients.
• Strong interest in the field of socially and environmentally responsible investments, and commitment to Root Capital’s mission to enhance rural livelihoods through lending and financial education.
• Authorized to work in Kenya.

Applications and Nominations

More information about Root Capital is available at www.rootcapital.org

Applications are due by January 17th, 2014, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Applications including a resume and cover letter describing your interest, qualifications, salary requirements, earliest availability, and how you learned of the position should be sent to: jobsafrica@rootcapital.org.  Please type “Loan Officer” followed by your name (Last, First) as the subject line of your email (e.g. “Loan Officer – Neema, Truphosa”). Finalist candidates will be required to provide at least three work-related references.

Root Capital is an equal opportunity employer.