Collection & Recovery Lead At Strivo Labs
full-time
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Collections & Recovery Lead to oversee the recovery of outstanding device financing obligations across the retail and channel network.
The successful candidate will lead the Collections & Recovery team, develop and execute effective recovery strategies, monitor portfolio performance, identify emerging credit risks, and ensure delinquent accounts are recovered professionally and within regulatory and company guidelines.
The ideal candidate should be highly target-driven, assertive, persistent, and experienced in managing collections teams within a fintech, microfinance bank, credit, or device financing environment.
Key Responsibilties
Recovery Strategy & Execution:
Lead the end-to-end collections and recovery process for device financing accounts, from early-stage delinquency through to write-off recommendations.
Develop and implement structured recovery strategies based on delinquency age, risk tier, customer profile, and portfolio characteristics.
Set, monitor, and drive achievement of monthly, weekly, and daily recovery targets.
Track key recovery metrics including Portfolio at Risk (PAR), recovery/conversion rates, delinquency levels, and cost of collection.
Continuously review recovery performance and implement strategies to improve collection efficiency.
Team Leadership & Performance Management:
Lead and manage all Collection & Recovery Officers and Supervisors.
Set clear daily and weekly performance expectations for the collections team.
Coach team members on negotiation, customer engagement, field recovery techniques, and effective follow-up.
Monitor individual and team performance against recovery targets.
Hold Supervisors and Collection Officers accountable for achieving agreed recovery KPIs.
Build a disciplined, high-performance, and target-driven collections culture.
Risk Identification & Escalation:
Identify emerging risk patterns within the credit portfolio, including fraud indicators, default clusters, and channel-specific delinquency trends.
Monitor high-risk and severely delinquent accounts and ensure timely escalation.
Provide clear recommendations on significant credit and recovery risks.
Ensure all recovery activities comply with applicable regulations, consumer protection requirements, and internal policies.
Recommend appropriate escalation actions, including legal recovery or write-off where necessary.
Stakeholder Management:
Manage relationships with field recovery agents, third-party collection/recovery partners, and legal counsel.
Work closely with Credit and Risk teams to identify trends and improve credit decision-making.
Collaborate with Retail and Finance teams to ensure effective resolution of outstanding obligations.
Provide recovery insights that can support improvements in underwriting, credit policies, and customer management.
Reporting & Analysis:
Prepare regular collections, recovery, and portfolio risk reports for the CCO and senior management.
Analyse recovery data and translate findings into clear, actionable business insights.
Provide updates on recovery performance, delinquency trends, portfolio risk, and collection effectiveness.
Maintain accurate records of recovery activities, outcomes, and escalated accounts.
What Sucess Looks Like
Consistent achievement of recovery and collections targets.
Reduction in portfolio delinquency and PAR.
Improved recovery/conversion rates.
Effective management and performance of the collections team.
Timely identification and escalation of high-risk accounts.
Controlled cost of collection.
Strong compliance with internal policies and applicable regulations.
Requirements
Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related discipline.
A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field is an advantage.
Experience:
5 - 7 years of relevant experience in collections, recovery, credit risk, or debt recovery.
Minimum of 2 years' experience leading a collections or recovery team.
Experience within a fintech, microfinance bank, financial institution, credit, lending, or device financing environment is strongly preferred.
Proven experience working in a high-pressure, target-driven collections environment.
Demonstrable track record of improving recovery rates and converting delinquent accounts.
Professional Certifications:
Certification in credit or collections practice, such as Certified Credit and Collections Administrator (CCCA) from NICA, or an equivalent qualification, is an advantage.
Risk management certifications such as CIBN, RIMAN, CRMI, or AERMP will be an added advantage.
Technical Skills:
Strong debt collection, negotiation, and recovery skills.
Strong understanding of credit and collections processes.
Ability to work with and interpret PAR, recovery/conversion rates, delinquency, and cost-to-collect metrics.
Strong analytical and reporting skills.
Familiarity with device, asset, or consumer financing recovery processes is an advantage.
Proficiency with relevant collections, CRM, and reporting tools.
Key Competencies:
Strong leadership and people management skills.
Highly results-oriented and target-driven.
Assertive, persistent, and disciplined.
Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability.
High level of accountability and attention to detail.
Ability to operate effectively under pressure.
Strong stakeholder management skills.
Professional and ethical approach to debt recovery.
Strong understanding of regulatory and consumer protection requirements