MD/CEO

Our client is a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-licensed finance company providing credit, investment, and financial solutions to individuals, SMEs, and corporate clients. The Company is committed to delivering sustainable growth through customer-focused service, prudent risk management, operational excellence, and innovative financial solutions.

Job Objective:

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic direction and operational leadership for the institution, ensuring sustainable business growth, sound financial performance, regulatory compliance, and effective corporate governance.

The role is responsible for leading the implementation of the institution's strategic and business plans, strengthening operational efficiency, expanding the customer base, and fostering a high-performance culture to achieve the organisation's objectives.

Job Responsibilities:

Strategic & Business Leadership

• Develop, execute, and continuously review the company's short- and long-term strategic plans to expand market share and achieve aggressive revenue targets.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities and strategic partnerships.
• Cultivate and manage high-level relationships with key corporate clients, High Net-worth Individuals (HNIs), and strategic partners to generate robust deal flow and drive deposit/investment mobilization.
• Drive customer acquisition, portfolio growth, and revenue generation.
• Strengthen relationships with customers, regulators, investors, and business partners.
• Promote innovative products and services that meet customer needs.

Credit Risk & Financial Management

• Establish and enforce a rigorous credit culture, ensuring that all lending activities align with the Board-approved risk appetite and credit policies.
• Proactively monitor the loan portfolio to maintain Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) well below the regulatory threshold, driving aggressive recovery strategies where necessary.
• Take full ownership of the company's Profit and Loss (P&L), ensuring optimal capital allocation, liquidity management, and cost-to-income efficiency.
• Supervise the treasury function to optimize funding costs and ensure adequate liquidity buffers are maintained at all times.
• Oversee budgeting, financial reporting, and performance monitoring.

Operational Management

• Provide overall leadership for the institution's operations and financial performance.
• Streamline back-office operations to improve turnaround times (TAT) for credit approvals and enhance the overall customer experience.
• Improve operational processes and service delivery.

Corporate Governance & Regulatory Compliance

• Serve as the primary liaison with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other regulatory bodies, ensuring 100% compliance with all prudential guidelines, reporting requirements, and AML/CFT laws.
• Provide the Board of Directors with transparent, accurate, and timely reports on financial performance, risk exposures, and strategic milestones.
• Ensure a robust internal control environment is maintained, working closely with Internal Audit and Risk Management functions to mitigate operational and financial risks.]

Leadership & People Management

• Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing management team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance.

Required Skills & Qualification:

• A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• A Master's degree or MBA will be an added advantage.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as CFA, ACCA, ICAN, CIS, or similar certifications will be desirable.
• A minimum of 10 to 15 years of relevant experience within the financial services industry, capital markets, finance house sector, or banking industry.
• Demonstrable leadership experience at senior management or executive level.
• Strong pedigree in corporate and retail credit, a vast network in the Lagos business ecosystem, and the visionary acumen to position the company as a top-tier finance institution.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements and corporate governance practices.
• Proven capabilities in business development, strategic planning, stakeholder management, Credit Appraisal, Risk Management, and Commercial/Retail Lending within the Lagos macroeconomic environment, and operational oversight.
• Demonstrable experience leading a financial institution through a phase of digital transformation or aggressive scaling.
• A clean regulatory and compliance record and the ability to satisfy all applicable fit and proper requirements of the relevant regulators.

Core Competences:

• Strategic Acumen: Deep understanding of the macroeconomic drivers affecting the Nigerian credit market.
• Credit Structuring: Advanced ability to structure complex corporate and SME credit facilities.
• Executive Presence: Strong negotiation, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Integrity: Unblemished record of ethical conduct and corporate governance.