Collections & Recovery Lead

MTF Finance; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Performance incentives

Flexible leave options

Staff perks

Dunedin lifestyle

Job summary

MTF Finance is seeking a Collections & Recovery Lead in Dunedin to steer the national team responsible for managing arrears, recovering assets, and ensuring compliance with credit policy and regulations.

You will partner with originators and the Credit Analytics team to lift standards, shape recovery outcomes, and drive disciplined processes across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to coach and performance-manage a team to achieve targets.
• Experience setting and managing team performance against SLAs, budgets, and targets.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a debt recovery or financial role within finance.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the collections & recovery team to deliver high service standards and meet SLAs.
• Monitor arrears and portfolio performance, taking timely action to keep results on track.
• Drive recoveries through regular reviews, budget management, and reporting variances.
• Support the network of originators with arrears management and asset recovery actions.

Skills

People leadership

Debt recovery experience

Performance management

Budget management

Office 365 suite

Education

Relevant business qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Office 365

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

At MTF Finance, our mission is to help New Zealanders get ahead by making lending about people again. We’re New Zealand’s money experts helping locals all over New Zealand, powered by a world-class funding system.

100% New Zealand owned and operated since 1970, MTF provides personal and business loans to New Zealanders through our nationwide network, made up of 55 Franchises and more than 150 vehicle dealers and business partners. We’ve grown to be one of New Zealand’s largest specialist lenders, with assets of more than $1.2B.

There is a strong sense of pride in the work we do. We have a love for our Dunedin heritage but we’re a national business, and a team, who reach communities and customers right across the country

When you join MTF, you join a dynamic, innovative and highly trusted team. Whether you join our National Office, or one of our franchises, you’re joining a team who share a deep passion for the communities we serve and doing the best for our customers, while also having an unwavering commitment to help our own people learn, grow, and thrive.

About the role:

Lead the team that protects MTF from credit losses and keeps our business moving. As Collections & Recovery Lead, you’ll set the standard for collections and recovery across MTF by coaching your team, driving SLA performance, keeping arrears in check, achieving recoveries targets, and managing within budget. You’ll partner with our nationwide originator network and Credit Analytics team to lift standards, support facility reviews, and shape smarter credit outcomes.

Just some of the things you’re responsible for:

Leading the collections & recovery team

• Lead, coach, and develop the collections & recovery team to deliver consistently high service standards, strong performance, and clear accountability against agreed SLAs.
• Monitor team and portfolio performance to keep arrears within approved benchmarks, taking timely action when trends or results fall off track.
• Drive recoveries performance through regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and active budget management, including monitoring spend and reporting variances.

Supporting the MTF network

• Ensuring the team responds promptly to all enquiries in relation to customer loans where financial or non-financial default is imminent or has occurred, stepping in on complex or escalated matters.
• Directing and reviewing the team’s support to our network of originators with arrears management, asset recovery, and debt collection activity, ensuring consistent standards are applied.
• Ensuring originators are supported to comply with MTF credit policy and regulatory requirements as they relate to the recovery of an asset and any legal proceedings, escalating and resolving compliance concerns as they arise.
• Leading the development of training and communications content relating to collections and recovery for MTF originators and staff.

Identifying and managing impaired loans and the default process

• Oversee impaired customer loans from identification through to reinstatement or settlement, ensuring caseloads, arrears, follow-up activity, and default records are managed accurately and within agreed SLAs.
• Lead the team’s engagement with customers, originators, legal partners, solicitors, credit bureaux, and other third parties on impaired loans, default management, hardship, disputes, and complex or high-risk cases.
• Direct appropriate recovery and enforcement action, including originator recourse obligations, secured loan positions, legal proceedings, asset recovery, storage, and sale activity, in line with MTF’s values, policies, legislation, and procedures.
• Partner with Credit Analytics to identify default and credit risk trends across the portfolio, maintain accurate internal registers, and direct the team’s response to emerging risks and required actions.

Exception management and general credit processes

• Maintaining oversight of the list of authorised MTF repossession and trace agents.
• Leading regular monitoring of managed and supervised ledgers, liaising with our Commercial team regarding any concerns with arrears and default management, including directing recommendations for remedial action.

Exception management and general credit processes

• Oversee the team’s support to Credit Analytics and the wider business, including lending exceptions, delegated approval requests, originator facility reviews, operational tasks, back-up support, and relevant business projects or enhancements.
• Lead communication, training, and continuous improvement activity across collections, recovery, ledger management and credit processes, using your industry expertise to lift capability and deliver better outcomes for MTF, originators, and stakeholders.

You’ll need to have:

• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to lead, coach, and performance-manage a team to achieve service, quality, and financial targets, including managing underperformance.
• Experience setting and managing team performance against SLAs, budgets, and targets, with a track record of driving improved arrears and recoveries outcomes.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a debt recovery role and/or financial role within the finance sector.
• Proven success leading and improving financial processes that achieve measurable results in improved business performance.
• Relevant business qualification, or equivalent professional experience in a senior role which requires strong commercial acumen.
• Experience contributing to continuous improvement, demonstrating increased efficiency and delivery of great outcomes.
• High competency in Office 365 particularly Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook with an ability to adapt to new systems and technologies.

What you’ll receive in return:

Join a proudly New Zealand owned business, based in Dunedin and on a mission to be New Zealand’s favourite finance company.

Be part of a connected, collaborative team that celebrates success, supports one another, and takes pride in being MTFers.

Grow your career through ongoing development, coaching, mentorship, and opportunities to contribute to meaningful business projects.

Enjoy a competitive package, including medical insurance, performance incentives, flexible leave options, staff perks, and the best of Dunedin lifestyle.

Did you know?

Studies show women and people from diverse backgrounds may not apply for jobs if they don't tick every box on the job advertisement.

If you're keen on any role at MTF Finance but feel like you're not a 100% match, don’t worry! We still want to see your unique spark, so go ahead and apply. We appreciate varied perspectives and believe every individual brings something special to our team. In a nutshell - we want you to work here because you’re you!

Our recruitment process is fair and inclusive and just like most things in life, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t fit most. We think that approach is 'meh' anyway. If you need any special arrangements or a little extra support during your journey with us, that’s okay - just let us know either in your application or when you’re chatting with one of our lovely People and Capability team members.

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Candidates must possess a verified form of photo identification and the legal right to work in New Zealand. Any offer of employment is subject to clear reference checks, credit, Dow Jones Watchlist and criminal history checks. Please be advised that only those candidates shortlisted will be contacted.