Regional Relationship Manager - SME (North-Eastern)

Qualifications and Experiences

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related field.
  
• At least eight (8) years of experience in commercial credit, financial analysis, or banking, four (4) years of which must be as a Business Client Advisor or similar role.
  

Key Competencies & Skills

• Strong understanding of organizational effectiveness and operations management.
  
• Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
  
• Exceptional leadership and management abilities.
  
• Skilled in developing, implementing, and reviewing policies and procedures.
  
• Expertise in overseeing budgeting, reporting, planning, and auditing processes.
  
• In-depth knowledge of relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
  
• Proficient in identifying and addressing challenges and opportunities for the company.
  
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  
• Outstanding organizational and time-management abilities.
  

ey Responsibilities

Business Development:

• Develop and implement annual and quarterly financial plans and budgets for the region.
  
• Manage borrowing and non-borrowing customers in the region to boost customer loyalty, reduce risk of loss, and drive business growth.
  
• Regularly assess and adjust strategic initiatives within the region/segments to ensure effective outcomes.
  
• Lead and direct efforts within the segments to grow the business and achieve set targets in optimal proportions.
  
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with both existing and potential customers, identifying and sharing market opportunities and insights to guide business and product development.
  
• Lead and conduct regular business visits to bank clients, prospects, and branch/affiliates to foster relationships and drive growth.
  
• Maintain a sustainable, profitable, and high-quality balance sheet by managing key financial metrics.
  
• Enforce cost optimization strategies to maximize resource efficiency and minimize expenses.
  
• Continuously evaluate and enhance customer value propositions for different customer segments.
  

Market & Customer Service:

• Collaborate with regional business stakeholders to develop and implement sales initiatives.
  
• Continuously gather and analyze market intelligence to identify new markets, customer trends, regional government directives, and policy changes.
  
• Represent and promote the Bank as its brand ambassador in all interactions.
  
• Contribute to the development and execution of strategies that strengthen and position the Equity brand within target markets.
  
• Coordinate and lead business banking marketing initiatives to drive awareness and engagement.
  
• Initiate, build, and sustain strategic business partnerships to support long-term growth.
  
• Position Equity Bank Kenya as the preferred banking choice in the market.
  
• Ensure strict adherence to the Bank’s customer service standards and policies.
  
• Drive market share growth in alignment with strategic goals, ensuring profitability, ethical practices, and sustainability.
  

Audit Risk & Compliance:

• Ensure the loan book quality across various segments within the region meets established standards.
  
• Actively participate in the Regional Credit Committee in accordance with policy guidelines.
  
• Enforce adherence to policies and procedures set by regulatory authorities, Equity Bank, and other stakeholders.
  
• Develop and implement effective Business Continuity Plans for each segment.
  
• Drive improvements in audit and risk ratings for the region, ensuring they remain within set thresholds based on key performance indicators.
  
• Communicate and clearly articulate the Bank’s risk and control environment to unit staff, ensuring a strong understanding and adherence.
  

People Management:

• Leverage existing competencies and create new ones to secure a competitive advantage.
  
• Ensure the recruitment and retention of skilled human resources to deliver exceptional service, achieve targets, and optimize business efficiency.
  
• Manage succession planning at the segment level, ensuring competent successors are in place for key positions to ensure business continuity and effective cost management.
  
• Mentor and coach staff to build their capacity and enhance performance in their assigned roles.
  
• Provide career guidance, offer learning opportunities, and assign tasks that support engagement and career development.
  
• Foster a positive work environment by maintaining high morale and keeping staff motivated across the region.
  
• Set clear performance expectations and conduct timely performance evaluations to maintain high performance standards.
  
• Conduct weekly performance review meetings with Business Banking officers in the region to monitor progress and address concerns.
  
• Drive regional staff growth and development by identifying talent and aligning them with appropriate opportunities.
  
• Identify staffing gaps and advise the Regional RM Business on the optimal deployment of staff across branches.
  
• Ensure compliance with HR policies in the management of employees.
  

Performance & Reporting:

• Optimize the Bank’s Management Information System to effectively manage staff performance.
  
• Ensure the proper segmentation of the Bank’s client database and implement targeted marketing strategies across various business segments.
  
• Submit relevant and timely reports to key stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
  
• Perform any additional duties as assigned by the line manager.