Relationship Officer

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type:

Job Description:

VisionFund Kenya is a dynamic financial services company and a key investment of World Vision Kenya, committed to fostering sustainable financial inclusion. We provide financial services to underserved communities, empowering families and businesses to improve their livelihoods. Learn more at www.visionfundkenya.co.ke.

The Relationship Officer will be responsible for identifying potential clients, assessing their creditworthiness, recommending suitable loan products, supporting loan disbursements, managing collections, and providing client training and advisory services. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong sales and analytical skills, integrity, and a commitment to excellent customer service and sustainable financial inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sales, Marketing & Client Recruitment (10%)

• Identify, recruit and onboard new clients in line with the branch's business growth targets.
• Assess client needs and recommend appropriate loan products and financial services.
• Achieve assigned targets for new borrowers, repeat borrowers, outstanding loan balance (OLB), and product uptake.
• Apply the 5Cs of credit when assessing prospective clients.
• Build strong client relationships, address customer concerns and promote client retention.

2. Loan Disbursement, Collections & Portfolio Quality (20%)

• Ensure loan applications meet the required credit policy and documentation standards before disbursement.
• Monitor loan repayment schedules and conduct timely follow-ups on outstanding balances.
• Use T24 reports, including delinquency, client status and group status reports, to guide disbursement and collection decisions.
• Ensure compliance with group lending and arrears eligibility requirements before further disbursements.
• Identify early warning signs of delinquency and implement appropriate collection and recovery measures.
• Contribute to maintaining Portfolio at Risk (PAR) within approved organizational targets.

3. Client Training & Advisory Services (10%)

• Conduct pre-loan training in accordance with VisionFund Kenya's policies and procedures.
• Facilitate monthly post-loan training on business management, financial literacy, loan repayment and responsible borrowing.
• Educate clients on loan products, terms, conditions and repayment obligations.
• Provide appropriate business and financial advisory services to clients.
• Promote client awareness, satisfaction, transformation and retention.

4. Group Management & Client Relationships (5%)

• Attend scheduled group meetings and maintain accurate attendance registers.
• Ensure all required client and group documentation is complete and up to date.
• Monitor group activities, repayment commitments and compliance with group lending procedures.
• Conduct and document client business visits before and after loan disbursement.
• Ensure loan appraisal discussions and approvals are properly documented in group meeting minutes.

5. Loan Appraisal & Administration (30%)

• Conduct baseline surveys and client assessments before recommending loans.
• Evaluate clients' creditworthiness through business assessments, cash-flow analysis, income verification and repayment capacity reviews.
• Apply the 5Cs of credit to assess lending risks and ensure responsible lending decisions.
• Verify client information and supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.
• Facilitate effective group credit committee processes in accordance with established policies.
• Prepare accurate loan appraisal reports and recommendations within the applicable approval framework.
• Maintain complete and reliable loan records in accordance with credit policies and procedures.

6. Portfolio Monitoring & Risk Management (10%)

• Monitor loan portfolio growth, repayment performance and quality at individual and group levels.
• Identify and escalate emerging credit risks, suspected fraud, deteriorating repayment capacity and other portfolio concerns.
• Conduct follow-up visits and implement corrective measures in collaboration with the Relationship Manager.
• Support the reduction of delinquency and the improvement of borrower retention.
• Ensure portfolio-related issues are addressed promptly and in accordance with organizational procedures.

7. T24 Reporting & Data Management (5%)

• Generate, interpret and utilize T24 reports for loan appraisal, disbursement, collections and portfolio monitoring.
• Reconcile client and group records against system reports and resolve discrepancies through approved procedures.
• Maintain accurate, complete and timely client information.
• Explain loan balances, repayment schedules and portfolio records accurately to clients.
• Ensure compliance with data management and reporting requirements.

8. Income Generation & Cost Management (3%)

• Contribute to assigned income, active borrower and portfolio growth targets.
• Manage field activities and operational expenses within approved budgets.
• Promote cost efficiency while maintaining service quality and portfolio standards.

9. Compliance, Ethics & Client Protection (5%)

• Comply with VisionFund Kenya's credit policies, KYC requirements, AML/CFT controls, data protection, safeguarding and client protection standards.
• Maintain high levels of integrity, professionalism and accountability in all client dealings.
• Avoid conflicts of interest, unauthorized business dealings, solicitation of favours and unprofessional relationships with clients.
• Never handle client cash or loan repayments outside authorized organizational procedures.
• Promptly report suspected fraud, misconduct, safeguarding concerns and policy breaches.

10. Other Duties as Assigned (2%)

• Undertake other reasonable duties assigned by the supervisor, consistent with the role and organizational requirements.
• Support branch operations and other activities that contribute to VisionFund Kenya's business objectives.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Required Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• Diploma in Business Administration, Marketing, Sociology or a related field.
• Relevant experience in microfinance, credit, sales, collections or customer relationship management is an added advantage for the Relationship Officer position.
• For the Relationship Intern position, demonstrated willingness to learn, initiative and interest in microfinance and financial inclusion are essential.
• Sound understanding of lending principles, credit assessment, client relationship management and responsible lending practices.
• Strong analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess creditworthiness and identify potential risks.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation and customer service skills.
• Ability to work in a target-driven environment and achieve agreed performance objectives.
• Computer literacy and willingness to learn financial systems, including T24.
• High levels of accuracy, integrity, discipline, reliability and accountability.
• Ability to work independently in the field and collaboratively within a team.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extensive field travel, approximately 70% of the working time.
• Willingness and ability to ride a motorbike where required, subject to the appropriate licence and safety requirements.
• Commitment to VisionFund Kenya's Christian identity, organizational values and standards of professional conduct.

Application Instructions

The care and protection of children and vulnerable adults is our top priority. We take our responsibility to protect those we work with seriously. We have extensive Child and Adult Safeguarding policies and protocols in place to safeguard children and the communities we serve. We condemn all forms of exploitation or abuse of children or adults and have a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of violence, especially against children.

All candidates must be professing and practicing Christians whose conduct and depth of character are governed by personal Christian convictions.

Interested and suitably qualified individuals should forward their applications, attaching copies of their academic and professional certificates, a detailed CV indicating work experience, daytime contact details, and addresses of three professionally relevant referees, to reach VisionFund Kenya on or before 31st October,2026.

Important Notices:

• The CV must be in PDF format, and all attachments must be scanned and combined into one PDF document.
• VisionFund Kenya is a registered data processor and controller. By submitting your application, you consent to the use of your personal data for recruitment purposes.
• VisionFund Kenya is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• WE DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

Applicant Types Accepted: