Head of Department - Collections 2

Liquid Thought; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Provident Fund

Performance-based incentives

Job summary

Liquid Thought Group is seeking a dynamic Head of Collections to lead our collections operations, drive recoveries, and ensure compliant, customer-focused performance in a fast-paced lending environment.

You will shape strategy, manage senior managers, monitor portfolios, optimize processes, and report to executives while ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements such as the National Credit Act and POPIA.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years' experience in collections, credit, or debt recovery environments.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior management role.
• Experience within financial services, lending, or call centre operations.
• Proven experience managing large collections teams and portfolios.
• Strong knowledge of collections systems and reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement collections strategies to maximize recoveries and reduce delinquency.
• Lead and manage Collections Team Managers
• Monitor portfolio performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Drive operational efficiency and productivity within the collections environment.
• Manage collections budgets, forecasting, and operational costs.
• Ensure compliance with the National Credit Act, POPIA, and company policies.
• Oversee collections systems, reporting, and performance management.
• Build a high-performance and accountable collections culture.
• Provide strategic reporting and insights to Executive Management.

Skills

Leadership

Analytics

Communication

Negotiation

Attention to detail

Operations management

Performance management

Decision making

Education

Business Management

Finance

Credit Management

Operations Management

Commerce

Job description

Our client is looking for a dynamic, results-driven, and strategic Head of Collections to lead and optimize our collections operations. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced collections leader to play a critical role in driving portfolio performance, operational excellence, customer engagement, and regulatory compliance within a fast-paced lending environment.

The Role

The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of the Collections Department, ensuring the effective recovery of outstanding debt while maintaining high levels of customer service and compliance.

This role requires a strategic thinker with strong operational capability, leadership skills, and a proven track record in collections management within the financial services or lending sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement collections strategies to maximize recoveries and reduce delinquency.
• Lead and manage Collections Team Managers
• Monitor portfolio performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Drive operational efficiency and productivity within the collection's environment.
• Manage collections budgets, forecasting, and operational costs.
• Ensure compliance with the National Credit Act, POPIA, and company policies.
• Oversee collections systems, reporting, and performance management.
• Build a high-performance and accountable collections culture.
• Provide strategic reporting and insights to Executive Management.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Relevant Degree or Diploma in:
  • Business Management
  • Finance
  • Credit Management
  • Operations Management
  • Commerce or related field

Experience

• 8–10 years' experience in collections, credit, or debt recovery environments.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior management role.
• Experience within financial services, lending, or call centre operations.
• Proven experience managing large collections teams and portfolios.
• Strong knowledge of collections systems and reporting tools.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Excellent communication and negotiation ability
• High attention to detail and accountability
• Strong operational and performance management capability
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, target-driven environment
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills

What We Offer

• Competitive market-related salary
• Performance-based incentives
• Opportunity to lead a high-impact operational function
• Career growth within a dynamic and growing business
• Professional and collaborative working environment
• Medical Insurance and Provident Fund