Head of Collections - Strategy, Transformation & Performance

Nairobi
Permanent
Full-time

2 months ago
Apply easily

FairMoney is a pioneering mobile banking institution specializing in extending credit to emerging markets. Established in 2017, the company currently operates primarily within Nigeria, and it has secured nearly €50 million in funding from renowned global investors, including Tiger Global, DST, and Flourish Ventures.In alignment with its vision, FairMoney is actively constructing the foremost mobile banking platform and point-of-sale (POS) solution tailored for emerging markets. The journey began with the introduction of a digital microcredit application exclusively available on Android and iOS devices. Today, FairMoney has significantly expanded its range of services, encompassing a comprehensive suite of financial products, such as current accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, and state-of-the-art POS solutions designed to meet the needs of both merchants and agents. FairMoney thrives on its diverse workforce, bringing together talent from over 27 nationalities. This multicultural team drives the company’s mission of reshaping financial services for underserved communities.To gain deeper insights into FairMoney’s pivotal role in reshaping Africa’s financial landscape, we invite you to watch informative .Note: This role is only open to candidates who are willing to fully relocate to Nigeria or candidates who are willing to stay atleast 2 weeks in Nigeria every monthJob ResponsibilitiesEnd-to-End Ownership

Full accountability for cash collected, arrears, roll-rates, PAR/NPL, and recovery economics
Own outcomes, not activities or excuses
Actively shape upstream inputs (Risk, Product, CX, Tech) to improve downstream collections performance

Strategy & System DesignDesign and execute a multi-horizon collections strategy:

Short-term cash optimisation
Mid-term recovery improvement
Long-term customer behaviour change

Build structured approaches to:

Early vs late-stage collections
Segmentation-driven treatment strategies
Behavioural and incentive-based interventions

Introduce clear experimentation frameworks (control vs test, ROI-driven rollouts)Data-Led Decision MakingUse data to drive decisionsPartner deeply with Risk and Data Science on:

Roll-rate optimisation
Behavioural analytics
Treatment effectiveness measurement
Unit economics and ROI of collections actions
Demand transparent, decision-ready reporting with clear accountability

Team & Bench Strength

Build a high-calibre leadership bench within Collections
Upgrade talent decisively where required
Develop leaders, not just agents
Create a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement

Cross-Functional Leadership

Actively influence Product, Risk, Tech, and CX — do not wait for alignment
Challenge constructively where design or policy decisions harm recoveries
Be a respected, firm voice at senior leadership and ExCo forums

Customer & Brand Balance

Improve collections outcomes without damaging long-term customer value
Reduce escalations through system fixes, not firefighting
Balance firmness with fairness through smarter design, not leniency

Time-Bound Success ExpectationsFirst 90 Days (Stabilise & Diagnose)

Take full ownership of collections performance and escalations
Establish clear visibility on cash, arrears, roll-rates, and recovery drivers
Identify and begin fixing the highest-impact structural blockers
Deliver a credible, data-backed transformation roadmap with priorities and owners
Reset accountability standards and leadership expectations within the team

First 6 Months (Deliver Step-Change)

Demonstrate measurable improvement in:

Cash collected
Cash-to-arrears and cash-to-instalment ratios
Late-stage roll-rates
Implement segmentation-driven treatment strategies at scale
Reduce escalations and repeat failure points through system and process redesign
Strengthen leadership bench with clear successors and upgraded capability

Requirements

Minimum of first degree in any related field of study.
Minimum of 8 years proven experience in Collections with good leadership experience.
Senior leadership experience in collections within lending, fintech, or credit-led businesses
Proven track record of turning around or materially improving collections performance
Experience operating in data-rich, fast-moving environments
This role is only open to candidates who are willing fully relocate to Nigeria or candidates who are willing to stay atleast 2 weeks in Nigeria every month.

Mindset & Traits

Builder, not caretaker
Strong personal ownership — “the buck stops with me”
Comfortable with ambiguity and transformation
Proactive, commercially minded, and decisive
Willing to challenge peers and leadership when required
Low tolerance for excuses; high tolerance for accountability

Benefits

25 days paid vacation, Sick & Public Holidays to B2B contractors.
Remote (timezone must have significant overlap with CET).
Training & Development budget.
Paid company business trips.
Relocation allowance

Recruitment Process

A screening interview with one of the members of the Talent Acquisition team.
Technical interview with Global Head of Operations
Final Interview with Chief Credit Officer

FairMoney