Company Profile

Advans is a leading microfinance group established in 2005. Advans mission is to respond to the need for financial services of small businesses and other populations who have ill-adapted, limited or no access to formal financial services. The Advans Group currently spans nine countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tunisia and Myanmar. As at end October 2019, the group served more than 1,000,000 clients and employed more than 7,300 staff. Headquartered in Luxembourg with support services in Paris, the group’s shareholders are EIB, KfW, FMO, CDC Group plc, FISEA (AFD Group) and IFC.

Advans Ghana, subsidiary of the international microfinance group Advans, started its activities in 2008. The institution offers a full range of adapted financial products and services to micro, small and medium sized enterprises in Ghana. The institution serves more than 64,000 clients through a network of 20 points of sale and over 650 employees.

Job Description

Do you want to work in an international environment with a focus on developing countries? Do you have a passion for negotiating payments/payment arrangements, handling debtor inquiries, and providing administrative assistance? Then Advans has the position for you! In joining the Recovery team as a Recovery Officer you will be responsible for the collection of debts before legal recovery proceedings commence.

The position is a permanent role and is open in all our branch networks. Candidates from Techiman, Kumasi and Sunyani are strongly encouraged to apply

What will your role be?
Reporting to the Head of Recovery:

• The Recovery Officer is responsible for: the collection of debts before legal recovery proceedings commenced, negotiating payments, handling defaulters’ inquiries, and providing administrative assistance.
• Providing assistance in implementing the operational policies, procedures, and guidelines and work on prevention, detection, and correction of risks related to the above-mentioned core activities. Most importantly prevent Advans Ghana from losing more than it has invested.
• Overseeing the Pre-Litigation portfolio (PAR 90 and Write-Off loans) and working closely with the Client Relationship Officer to recover any amount owed to Advans. Officers will be assigned to a team.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• To meet agreed performance targets and provide a quality service with a high level of Customer Care. To develop and operate effective working practices that promote the smooth running of the Unit.
• To be prepared to visit debtors to prompt payment and personally serve Demand Notices to debtors while adhering to Advans Ghana policies and procedures.
• To develop and maintain a working knowledge of policies, procedures, and guidance and to work with them. And be able to keep abreast of changes in legislature, and national and local trends.
• Must be able to investigate and locate absconded clients and recover any amount due.
• To liaise directly with relevant external agencies, Police, Valuators, Auctioneers, and Lawyers.
• To identify risk and prevent fraudulent applications by other team members as well as clients. And must be able to advise on major risk issues on the market for implementation.
• To ensure cash collection on payment control is administered in line with Audit requirements.
• To take part in Performance Management reviews with the team leader to ensure that individual targets are achieved to support the aims and objectives contained in the service plan
• To promote and apply the standards and principles of Advans Ghana and manage resources ensuring that the delivery of services continues to be cost-effective.
• To undertake other relevant duties that may be required.

GENERIC ACTIVITIES

• Prospection, Recovery

CHALLENGES

• Dealing with difficult defaulting clients.
• Poor addressing system impedes the search for the location of clients and guarantors.
• Delays in court processes tend to affect recoveries of bad debt.

Required Skills or Experience

• At least an HND and/or Bachelor’s Degree
• A minimum of one (1) year of work experience in Banking/microfinance and specifically Debt Recoveries in a financial institution.