Vision Fund Micro Finance Institution (S.C) is an Institution established according to proclamation No. 40/96 to provide financial services to the productive poor in the rural and urban areas of Ethiopia. Vision Fund MFI is currently operating in five of the Regional States of the country.

SUMMARY

Vision Fund MFI is looking for competent candidates for the position of Area Operation Manager for South Area Operation Office. The successful candidates will have skills and experience that meet the following requirements:

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning and Implementation

• Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs and controls operational activities and personnel of the Area Office;
• Prepares an action plan to be practiced throughout the year with regards to the operations of the Area Office and Branches under it;
• Follows up the proper management of financial resources i.e., loan disbursement, saving, insurance, loan collection, etc., of Branches according to policies and procedures of VF MFI;
• Ensures healthiness of loan portfolio through continuous follow ups and monitoring activities;
• Keeps control of loan collateral documents;
• Verifies that calculation of interest on loans is done and the relative entries are passed and loan files are properly maintained;
• Follows up that sufficient stock of formats is maintained;
• Ensures prompt attendance of customers at the counter;
• Chairs the Loan Approving Committee of the Area Office & approves loans within discretionary limits. Forwards to Head Office loan approvals beyond his/her discretionary limits with the necessary documents;
• Informs decisions of the Area Office and/or Head Office to concerned branch in writing on high loan amounts;
• Approves all financial payments by the Area Office, including payroll payments & petty cash according to financial policies and procedures of VF MFI;
• Ensures safety and proper filing of all documents of the Area Office;
• Follows up that approved loans are disbursed in line with the conditions stipulated by the Company;
• Follows up that loans in arrears are repaid and defaulters are served with reminders;
• Reviews and recommends bad loans for legal action;
• Passes long overdue loans for legal action;
• Follows-up loan cases transferred to Legal Services;
• Follows up and ensures that funds disbursed are used as per Company’s policy and procedures;
• Reviews staff reports and investigates problems encountered in operations within the Area and acts on it immediately;
• Whenever staff are involved in fraud stops the employee from all kinds operation and reports to the Head Office;
• Approves all financial payments including payroll payments & petty cash according to financial policies and procedures;
• Ensures safety and proper filing of all financial and operational documents and assets of the branch;
• Follows up that efficient service are provided to the clients by coordinating the efforts of all branch personnel;
• Follows up that the cash requirements of each Branch are met as required;
• Ensures that audit activity is being carried out timely by Area Auditor(s) and each Branch takes corrective measures accordingly;
• Ascertains that all assets of the Area Office are insured, recorded and utilized properly;
• Ensures that all relevant information is collected from the Branches, compiled and periodic reports are forwarded to the Head Office timely;
• Checks and authorizes all the transactions of the Area Office and ensures that it complies with the established policies and procedures;
• Ensures and follows up that loans are collected timely by each Branch and takes corrective measures on deviations & defaults and reports to the Head Office when necessary;
• Ensures that no idle fund is kept by the Branches under it beyond the permitted level;
• Follows up the mobilization of new clients and ensures the growth of the performance of all Branches is in line with their performances;
• Plays a significant role in studying and recommending ways and measures to be taken to improve the performance of the Branches under it;
• Follows up that there is no corruption or malpractices in the provision of loans to clients;
• Attends to the complaints of clients and finds causes of the complaints and takes the necessary actions;

Staff management

• Manages and supervises, leads, guides and supports the staff under his/her supervision;
• Completes all performance management activities including: performance planning, monitoring, and annual performance appraisals of staff reporting to him/her;
• Maintains sound employee administration of the Area Office for better output with major emphasis to motivation, training and improving performance.

Coordination, Learning and Reporting

• Establishes and maintains formal and informal communication mechanisms with government, community, donors and other stakeholders in the operational area;
• Keeps up to date with developments in the micro and small-scale businesses, including best practice examples in-country and internationally, and ensures ongoing personal development and learning;
• Ensures that reports are prepared and submitted to the concerned-on time and in a professional manner.
• Prepares periodic progress reports of the Area Office and gives feedbacks on the performances of the Area Office as required by the DCEO – Operations
• Handles correspondences related to his/her duties and responsibilities;
• Performs other related activities assigned by the DCEO – Operations.

Job Requirements

• MA/MBA/BA Degree in Economics/ Accounting/ Management/ Banking/ Cooperative/ Agricultural economics/relevant social sciences/business fields and prolonged experience in credit and preferably deposit operations
• Must have at least 8/10 years working experience out of which 3 years in supervisory position in credit and saving operations or economic and business development institution
• Must have a clear understanding of micro finance industry and technology
• Must be proficient in Microsoft applications
• Local language skills is advantageous
• Good command of written & oral English skill is advantageous.