About us:

ASA Microfinance Zambia Limited is a subsidiary of ASA International. ASA International is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing international microfinance institutions offering socially responsible loans to unbanked, low-income female micro-entrepreneurs in Asia and Africa (“ASA International”). ASA International promotes financial inclusion and has successfully shown that access to financial services helps to reduce poverty and promotes social-economic progress for its predominantly female client base.

ASA International owns and operates microfinance institutions, including deposit-taking microfinance banks, in India, Pakistan, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Myanmar, Zambia, and Sierra Leone and has its head offices in Amsterdam and Dhaka.

ASA International is listed on the London stock exchange as a premium listed company.

Increasing financial inclusion and promoting the social and economic development of our clients and their communities is at the heart of ASA International’s mission. As of 31 December 2022, the Company has 2,028 branches and a gross loan portfolio of USD 351.2 million. ASA International employs 13,600 plus staff worldwide.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and diligent Risk Officer to join our microfinance institution. As a Risk Officer, you will play a crucial role in identifying, evaluating, and managing potential risks to ensure the MFI’s financial stability and adherence to regulatory requirements. Your expertise will be pivotal in maintaining a strong risk management framework, protecting the MFI’s assets, and promoting sustainable growth

Key Responsibilities:

• Analyze various risks that could impact the microfinance institution, including credit risk, operational risk, liquidity risk, market risk, IT risk and regulatory compliance risk.
• Collaborate with different departments and conduct risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities and areas of concern.
• Establish and implement risk management policies, procedures, and guidelines to mitigate identified risks effectively.
• Evaluate risk appetite tolerance benchmark for the entity, and continuously monitor performance against the benchmark. Familiarity is needed with financial ratio analysis on MS Excel.
• Evaluate and monitor the credit risk exposure of the MFI’s loan portfolio.
• Assess the creditworthiness of potential borrowers and ensure that appropriate risk rating models are utilized.
• Stay up-to-date with relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards pertaining to risk management in microfinance banking and ensure compliance.
• Implement effective risk monitoring tools and techniques to track the MFI’s risk exposure continuously.
• Prepare regular risk reports for management and the board of directors, highlighting key risk metrics and trends.
• Present risk-related findings and recommendations to the management team and board as needed.
• Conduct training sessions for MIS’s staff on risk awareness and risk management practices.
• Foster a risk-aware culture within the organization and promote a proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation.
• Develop and maintain contingency plans to address potential crisis situations and ensure business continuity in times of heightened risk.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field. Advanced degrees or professional certifications in risk management will be advantageous.
• Familiarity with Central Bank requirements for risk management at financial institutions.
• Proven experience of at least 3-5 years in risk management within the financial services sector, preferably in microfinance banking.
• In-depth knowledge of microfinance products, operations, and regulatory landscape.
• Familiarity with risk assessment methodologies, risk modeling, and analytical tools.
• Strong understanding of credit risk management principles and practices.
• Advanced user of MS Excel.

Core Competencies:

• A humble, hardworking, and confident professional.
• Ability to quickly dig down the processes and data; however, also take a step back and take in the overview of the situation.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Self-starter, proactive, and decisive.
• Ability to communicate complex risk concepts clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Sound decision-making abilities and the capability to work independently and collaboratively.
• A team player who continuously improves self and the people around him/ her.

Reporting Line:

The Risk Officer shall report to the CEO with a dotted line reporting to the Group Risk.