Reporting to the Head- Retail Credit Origination, the Credit Analyst is responsible for evaluating the creditworthiness of retail customers, conducting financial assessments, preparing credit reports, and providing recommendations to support the bank’s lending decisions. The role is key in minimizing risk and maintaining a profitable loan portfolio, while advising on policy and process improvements to enhance agility and meet evolving customer demands.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Analyze and prepare well-structured credit proposals to facilitate timely approvals from the credit team, managing customer expectations for credit exposures within retail credit, offering appropriate financing structures, pricing the risk and advising business teams (RMs, PBs, BBs) and customers on complex credit matters to ensure compliance with lending regulations (FIA, Bank Credit Policy).
• Exercise sound judgment within delegated credit limits or escalate recommendations to the appropriate credit approval level.
• Member of the Branch Credit Committee Forums and Secretary to the Regional / Branch Credit Committee Forums-responsible for scheduling the meeting and preparing minutes. Also, Joint Approval / sanctioning of credit proposals / applications within their discretion (processed under regional and branch credit forums) in adherence with dfcu Bank internal policies, risk management control document and other required regulations including BOU, FIA and funders.
• Monitor credit exposures regularly to maintain a high-quality asset portfolio, seeking full compliance with bank policies and lending guidelines through participation in weekly and bi-weekly high-risk meetings.
• Make physical visits, inspect, and confirm the existence of the business for proposed credit facilities to ensure that customer business is in line with the bank’s acceptable credit risk appetite.
• Review existing credit facilities annually, recommending renewals, restructures, or adjustments on facility structure in line with the changes in the business risk profile to minimize arrears and mitigate the risk of non-performing assets (NPAs), while enhancing customer retention and revenue stability.
• Set, review and monitor the Asset portfolio in terms of covenants, conditions and risk triggers at facility processing and reviews to ensure excellent performance of the credit facility granted.
• Propose appropriate pricing of credit applications in line with the Bank policies and product papers to grow the revenue lines and avoid income leakage.
• Conduct training and provide financial and non-financial advice to different stakeholders (Business teams and branches) in credit-related aspects.
• Liaise with other units/departments to ensure that credit limits are approved in a timely manner to manage customer expectations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• A Degree (Business Studies, Management, Economics)
• Credit analysis and underwriting training.
• Two (2) years working experience in credit analysis in banking industry or any related field.
• Advanced credit analysis skills – interpretation of financial information.
• Have a thorough understanding of bank products and general knowledge on current trends in the market.
• Quality underwriting skills.
• Customer service/centric skills.
• Excellent communication skills – both written and oral.
• Forecasting and business modelling.
• Computer competence.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage time and pressure effectively to ensure no loss of efficiency.
• Good presentation and communication skills.
• Organized and efficient i.e., goal and task oriented to complete multiple priorities and with the dynamic demands of the different teams in relationship management, credit sanctioning, disbursement, legal etc.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to deal with clients directly.
• Ability to keep abreast of changes in the market, customer requirements, competitors’ responses, and the bank’s ability to use information to identify new business opportunities and threats.
• Ability to identify new business /products on the market, opportunities, and threats in order to carry out a comprehensive credit analysis.
• Good interpersonal skills – ability to quickly build rapport with new people.
• Have a thorough understanding of bank products and general knowledge of current trends in the market.