Head of Collections - Strategy & Analytics

FairMoney; Johannesburg; Remote; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days paid vacation

Remote (timezone overlap with CET)

Training & Development budget

Paid company business trips

Relocation allowance

Job summary

FairMoney, a pioneering mobile banking institution, seeks a senior leader to own end-to-end collections across cash collection, arrears and recovery economics in a fast-growing fintech environment.

You will design segmentation-driven treatment strategies, partner with Risk, Product, CX and Tech, and build a high-calibre leadership bench while ensuring accountability and continuous improvement. The role requires spending at least one week per month in Nigeria.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 8+ years proven experience in collections with leadership responsibility.
• Senior leadership experience in collections within lending, fintech or credit-led businesses.
• Proven track record of turning around or materially improving collections performance.
• Experience operating in data-rich, fast-moving environments.
• Role requires willingness to spend at least one week per month in Nigeria.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end collections strategy, cash, arrears, roll-rates and recovery economics.
• Shape upstream inputs (Risk, Product, CX, Tech) to improve downstream collections.
• Design and execute multi-horizon collections strategy with segmentation-driven treatment strategies and ROI-focused experiments.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Product, Risk, Tech and CX to optimize recoveries.
• Balance customer value with firm collections discipline and system fixes to reduce escalations.

Skills

Leadership

Collections

Data analytics

Stakeholder management

Education

First degree

Job description

FairMoney is a pioneering mobile banking institution specializing in extending credit to emerging markets. Established in 2017, the company currently operates primarily within Nigeria, and it has secured nearly €50 million in funding from renowned global investors, including Tiger Global, DST, and Flourish Ventures.

In alignment with its vision, FairMoney is actively constructing the foremost mobile banking platform and point-of-sale (POS) solution tailored for emerging markets. The journey began with the introduction of a digital microcredit application exclusively available on Android and iOS devices. Today, FairMoney has significantly expanded its range of services, encompassing a comprehensive suite of financial products, such as current accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, and state-of-the-art POS solutions designed to meet the needs of both merchants and agents. FairMoney thrives on its diverse workforce, bringing together talent from over 27 nationalities. This multicultural team drives the company's mission of reshaping financial services for underserved communities.To gain deeper insights into FairMoney's pivotal role in reshaping Africa's financial landscape, we invite you to watch informativevideo.

Job Responsibilities

End-to-End Ownership

• Full accountability for cash collected, arrears, roll-rates, PAR/NPL, and recovery economics
• Own outcomes, not activities or excuses
• Actively shape upstream inputs (Risk, Product, CX, Tech) to improve downstream collections performance

Strategy & System Design

• Design and execute a multi-horizon collections strategy through short term cash optimization, mid term recovery improvement and long term customer behaviour change

• Build structured approach to early vs late stage collections, segmentation driven treatment strategies and behavioural & incentive based interventions
• Introduce clear experimentation frameworks (control vs test, ROI-driven rollouts)

Data-Led Decision Making

• Use data to drive decisions
• Partner deeply with Risk and Data Science on roll-rate optimisation, behavioural analytics, treatment effectiveness measurement, unit economics and ROI of collections actions and demand transparent, decision-ready reporting with clear accountability

Team & Bench Strength

• Build a high-calibre leadership bench within Collections
• Upgrade talent decisively where required
• Develop leaders, not just agents
• Create a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Actively influence Product, Risk, Tech, and CX — do not wait for alignment
• Challenge constructively where design or policy decisions harm recoveries
• Be a respected, firm voice at senior leadership and ExCo forums

Customer & Brand Balance

• Improve collections outcomes without damaging long-term customer value
• Reduce escalations through system fixes, not firefightingBalance firmness with fairness through smarter design, not leniency

Time-Bound Success Expectations

First 90 Days (Stabilise & Diagnose)

• Take full ownership of collections performance and escalations
• Establish clear visibility on cash, arrears, roll-rates, and recovery drivers
• Identify and begin fixing the highest-impact structural blockers
• Deliver a credible, data-backed transformation roadmap with priorities and owners
• Reset accountability standards and leadership expectations within the team

First 6 Months (Deliver Step-Change)

• Demonstrate measurable improvement in cash collected, late stage roll rates and then cash-to-arrears & cash-to-instalment ratios
• Implement segmentation-driven treatment strategies at scale
• Reduce escalations and repeat failure points through system and process redesign
• Strengthen leadership bench with clear successors and upgraded capability

Requirements

• Minimum of first degree in any related field of study.
• Minimum of 8 years proven experience in Collections with good leadership experience
• Senior leadership experience in collections within lending, fintech, or credit-led businesses
• Proven track record of turning around or materially improving collections performance
• Experience operating in data-rich, fast-moving environments
• This role is open only to applicants willing to spend at least one week per month in Nigeria.

Benefits

• 25 days paid vacation, Sick & Public Holidays to B2B contractors
• Remote (timezone must have significant overlap with CET)
• Training & Development budget
• Paid company business trips
• Relocation allowance

Recruitment Process

• A screening interview with one of the members of the Talent Acquisition team
• Technical interview with Global Head of Operations
• Business Case Study
• Final Interview with Chief Credit Officer