Head of Collections Strategy, Analytics & Client Performance

Network Recruitment; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Recruitment in Johannesburg seeks a strategic leader to head Collections Strategy, Analytics & Client Performance. You will drive data-led decisions, own predictive collections strategies, and influence executive stakeholders to enhance client outcomes.

Lead analytics across portfolios, develop AI-enabled models, and deliver high-impact dashboards and reports for board-level discussions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in quantitative field and 8–10 years in analytics or collections.
• Proven leadership of analytics or performance teams and client-facing experience.
• Experience presenting to executive, COO, Board or C-suite audiences.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and storytelling with data.

Responsibilities

• Lead collections analytics and performance teams across portfolios.
• Develop predictive collections strategies and AI-driven recovery models.
• Present insights and recommendations to executive stakeholders.
• Create executive dashboards and client scorecards.
• Drive strategic initiatives across collections lifecycle and optimisations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Executive reporting

Advanced analytics

AI & ML

Collections lifecycle

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Statistics

Bachelor's Degree in Data Science

Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics

Bachelor's Degree in Economics

Bachelor's Degree in Finance

Bachelor's Degree in Business Analytics

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

Related quantitative field

Tools

SQL

Power BI

Tableau

Python

SAS

Excel

BI platforms

Predictive Analytics

AI & ML platforms

Dialler / campaign systems

Job description

Are you passionate about using data, analytics, technology, and strategic thinking to deliver measurable business results?

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded leader to join a market-leading organisation as the Head of Collections Strategy, Analytics & Client Performance.

This is not a traditional collections role. You will not be managing day-to-day collections activities. Instead, you will take ownership of improving collections performance, recovery outcomes, operational efficiencies, and client satisfaction through data-driven decision-making, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and strategic leadership.

Reporting directly to the COO, you will play a critical role in influencing business strategy, driving innovation, optimising operations, and delivering exceptional results for clients.

If you enjoy solving complex problems, uncovering insights from data, engaging with executive stakeholders, and developing innovative collections strategies, this could be the ideal opportunity for you.

Key Responsibilities:

Collections Performance Analytics

Lead the analysis of collections performance across multiple portfolios and clients to identify opportunities for improvement and growth.

You will:

• Analyse collections campaigns and recovery performance
• Identify trends impacting collections success rates
• Evaluate team and operational performance metrics
• Investigate customer journey drop-off points
• Assess collections strategy effectiveness
• Monitor recovery rates and portfolio health
• Develop actionable recommendations to improve outcomes

Leverage advanced analytics and emerging technologies to improve collections effectiveness and operational efficiency.

You will:

• Develop and implement predictive collections strategies
• Utilise AI-driven models to improve recovery outcomes
• Apply predictive analytics to identify high-risk accounts
• Segment customers based on behavioural and payment profiles
• Identify optimal customer contact strategies
• Evaluate collections treatment paths and outcomes
• Support automation initiatives across collections operations
• Use Business Intelligence tools to generate actionable insights

Key questions you will help answer:

• Which customers are most likely to pay?
• Which accounts present the highest risk of default?
• What is the most effective collections strategy for different customer segments?
• When is the best time, channel, and approach to engage customers?
• How can recovery rates be increased while reducing operational costs?

Client Engagement & Executive Reporting

Act as a trusted advisor to clients by translating complex analytical findings into practical business solutions.

You will:

• Build strong relationships with key client stakeholders
• Present collections performance results and strategic insights
• Develop executive-level reporting and dashboards
• Create client scorecards and performance frameworks
• Deliver board-level and COO-level presentations
• Explain trends and recommendations in clear business language
• Lead strategic client review meetings
• Identify growth and optimisation opportunities for clients

The successful candidate must be comfortable engaging with senior executives and able to tell compelling stories using data.

Collections Strategy & Recoveries Optimisation

Drive collections strategy across the full credit lifecycle.

This includes:

• Pre-delinquency strategies
• Early-stage collections
• Mid and late-stage collections
• Recoveries and rehabilitation strategies

You will continuously evaluate opportunities to improve performance through:

• Customer communication strategies
• Workflow improvements
• Automation initiatives
• Resource allocation improvements
• Process redesign and innovation

Workforce Optimisation & Quality Management

Provide oversight and strategic direction across quality assurance and workforce management functions.

You will:

• Monitor quality assurance frameworks
• Develop performance scorecards and KPIs
• Review workforce planning and capacity models
• Evaluate operational productivity metrics
• Identify coaching and development opportunities
• Improve agent effectiveness and efficiency
• Drive operational best practices
• Support resource planning initiatives

Strategic Leadership

As a member of the senior leadership team, you will play a critical role in shaping business performance.

You will:

• Lead collections analytics and performance teams
• Drive strategic initiatives across the business
• Influence operational and commercial decisions
• Implement innovative data-driven solutions
• Engage with executive leadership and C-suite stakeholders
• Support organisational growth strategies
• Champion analytics and AI-driven decision-making
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Bachelor's Degree in:
• Statistics
• Data Science
• Mathematics
• Actuarial Science
• Economics
• Finance
• Business Analytics
• Computer Science
• Related quantitative field
• Minimum 8-10 years' experience within:
• Collections
• Recoveries
• Credit Risk
• Operational Analytics
• Performance Optimisation
• Proven leadership experience managing analytics, strategy, or performance teams
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder engagement experience
• Experience presenting to Executive, COO, Board, or C-suite audiences
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capability
• Strong understanding of the collections and recoveries lifecycle

Preferred Experience

We would love to speak to professionals currently operating as:

• Head of Collections Analytics
• Head of Credit Strategy
• Head of Performance & Analytics
• Collections Strategy Manager
• Recoveries Analytics Manager
• Credit Risk Strategy Manager
• Business Intelligence Lead within a collections environment
• Senior Data & Analytics Manager
• Operational Analytics Leader

Technical Skills

Experience in one or more of the following:

• SQL
• Power BI
• Tableau
• Python
• SAS
• Excel
• Business Intelligence platforms
• Predictive Analytics
• AI & Machine Learning solutions
• Collections technology platforms
• Dialler and campaign management systems

For Finance Roles: