Head of Inclusive Finance

NB : "We are recruiting for a scheduled commercial bank"

Role : Head – Micro Assets

Department - Micro Assets

Reporting to - EVP – MB

Location - Thrissur, Corporate Office (with frequent travel to regions)

Job Purpose

Lead and manage the Micro Assets business (e.G., Joint Liability Group (JLG) loans, individual microloans, micro-enterprise loans) across the bank’s operational geographies to drive sustainable and profitable growth, ensure asset quality, develop scalable models, and deepen financial inclusion aligned with the Bank’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Strategy and Growth

Develop and implement the overall strategy for the Micro Assets business.

Achieve disbursement, portfolio outstanding (POS), and fee income targets.

Expand the Micro Assets portfolio into new geographies and customer segments.

Build strategic partnerships with NGOs, SHGs, and community-based organizations.

Drive credit underwriting policies balancing growth and asset quality.

Monitor portfolio quality (PAR, NPA, Write-off ratios) and take corrective actions.

Implement early warning systems and collection strategies.

Ensure credit risk is managed in line with the bank's risk appetite framework.

Develop new microfinance products tailored to customer needs.

Continuously review and enhance customer onboarding, loan processing, and disbursement processes.

Leverage technology to streamline operations and improve customer experience.

Lead a large team comprising regional, cluster, and branch-level micro-asset officers.

Set performance KPIs, monitor productivity, and drive team engagement.

Design and deliver capability-building programs to enhance field-force skills.

Ensure strict adherence to RBI regulations on priority sector lending (PSL) and microfinance guidelines.

Maintain strong governance practices, including credit audits and internal controls.

Prepare for regulatory and statutory inspections.

Work closely with Credit Risk, Collections, Audit, Compliance, Operations, and Technology teams.

Represent the Micro Assets vertical at internal governance committees and external forums.

Key Deliverables (KPIs)

Disbursement and book size growth targets

Portfolio quality (PAR 30, PAR 90, GNPA) metrics

Cost-to-income and productivity ratios

Customer acquisition and retention

Employee engagement and retention in the vertical

Compliance score in audits and inspections

1. Education

Post-Graduate Degree in Management (MBA / PGDM) / Finance / Rural Management / Social Work.

Preferably with certifications in Microfinance / Risk Management.

2. Experience

Minimum 15–18 years of experience in financial services.

At least 7–10 years in leadership roles managing microfinance or small-ticket retail lending (secured or unsecured).

Experience in a Small Finance Bank / NBFC-MFI preferred.

3. Skills and Competencies

Business Acumen : Deep understanding of microfinance business models, customer behavior, and rural market dynamics.

Credit Expertise : Strong knowledge of micro-lending underwriting, risk management, and collections.

Leadership Skills : Ability to lead large field teams across diverse geographies.

Analytical Skills : Data-driven decision-making, portfolio analytics, early warning mechanisms.

Process Orientation : Ability to design scalable processes and leverage technology.

Customer Centricity : Passionate about serving low-income and underserved customer segments.

Compliance Focus : In-depth knowledge of RBI microfinance guidelines and priority sector norms.

Communication : Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact at CXO, field, and regulator levels.