JOB SUMMARY
The Manager, Retail Credit Underwriting will be responsible for leading the end-to-end underwriting of retail credit exposures, ensuring high-quality credit decisions that support loan growth while maintaining strong portfolio quality. The role will oversee credit risk assessment, approval governance, and underwriting standards for retail lending, ensuring alignment with the organization's risk appetite, credit policies, and regulatory requirements. The role also provides insight into portfolio performance through underwriting trends and decision analytics, supporting continuous improvement in credit quality.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Credit Underwriting & Risk Assessment
Lead the review and assessment of retail loan applications (salary loans, personal loans, etc.)
Conduct detailed credit analysis including income validation, affordability (DTIR), and repayment capacity
Evaluate credit bureau reports, repayment history, and customer behavior
Approve or recommend credit decisions within assigned authority limits
Ensure all decisions align with credit policy, risk appetite, and regulatory standards
Approval Governance & Decision Quality
Maintain strong oversight on quality of credit decisions and underwriting discipline
Ensure consistency in risk acceptance criteria and decision-making frameworks
Review escalated or complex applications and provide structured recommendations
Track and analyze approval trends, decline reasons, and exceptions
Minimize approval of high-risk customers that could lead to early delinquency
Portfolio Feedback & Diagnostics (Underwriting Lens)
Analyze post-disbursement performance of booked loans to assess underwriting effectiveness
Identify patterns in: early-stage delinquency (0 - 30 DPD), paypoint/deduction failures, customer segments with elevated risk
Provide feedback into credit policy, product design, and risk frameworks
Support continuous improvement in underwriting models and scorecards
Turnaround Time (TAT) & Process Efficiency
Ensure timely processing of applications in line with defined service level agreements (SLAs)
Optimize underwriting workflows to improve speed without compromising quality
Coordinate effectively with Business teams to ensure smooth application flow and resolution of queries
Policy Compliance & Control
Ensure full compliance with credit policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
Enforce proper documentation and data integrity in all underwriting decisions
Maintain audit-ready records and support internal and regulatory audits
Escalate policy breaches and exceptions appropriately
Stakeholder Engagement
Work closely with: Business / Sales teams o Credit Administration, Risk Management, Product & Technology
Provide risk advisory support on deal structuring and customer selection
Balance business growth objectives with risk discipline
Team Leadership & Capacity Building
Lead and manage a team of retail underwriters
Set performance targets (quality, TAT, productivity)
Provide coaching and continuous development to improve analytical and decision-making capability
Drive a culture of accountability, quality, and consistency
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field
Minimum 7 - 10 years' experience in retail credit underwriting or credit risk
At least 3 - 5 years in a leadership role
Strong experience in retail lending products and underwriting frameworks
KEY COMPETENCIES
Strong credit analysis and risk assessment capability
Deep understanding of retail lending and customer behavior
Strong knowledge of credit bureau interpretation and affordability assessment
High attention to detail and sound judgment
Strong analytical and decision-making skills
Strong leadership and stakeholder management capability