OLUWAFEMI SAMUEL EZRA
Loan Recovery/Credit Analyst
Lagos,LA
Summary
Professional with strong background in collections and financial analysis. Adept at optimizing debt recovery processes, ensuring compliance, and implementing strategies to minimize delinquencies. Known for excellent communication, problem-solving skills, and ability to adapt to changing needs. Team player focused on achieving results and fostering collaboration.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Loan Recovery/Credit Analyst
Essential Finance Limited
09.2023 - Current
- Develop key relationships with clients, providing exceptional service, and fostering long-term partnerships.
- Evaluate the creditworthiness of potential borrowers using thorough research and analysis techniques, minimizing default risks.
- Analyze applicants' financial status, credit, and property evaluations to determine loan feasibility.
- Organize and finalize loan applications for underwriter review.
- Implement robust monitoring systems to track performance metrics of existing loans, identifying areas requiring attention or intervention.
- Check appraisals, title information, and insurance documents for each property.
- Conduct regular account reviews to proactively identify potential risks in the credit portfolio, taking corrective actions as needed.
- Enhance credit decision-making by conducting comprehensive financial analysis and risk assessments.
- Facilitate timely decision-making on loan applications through clear communication with internal stakeholders, and prompt resolution of any queries or discrepancies.
- Streamline loan approval processes with the development of standardized credit policies and procedures.
- Review and verify income, credit reports, and employment histories for each borrower.
- Devise collection recovery strategies to resolve customer issues and delinquent cases.
- Adhere to banking standards and government lending guidelines for loan services.
- Manage a diverse portfolio of commercial loans, maintaining strong client relationships, while mitigating risk exposure for the organization.
- Recommend approval or disapproval of commercial, real estate, or credit loans.
- Negotiate favorable terms with clients for both secured and unsecured lending products, resulting in mutually beneficial agreements.
- Reduce delinquency rates by implementing effective portfolio management strategies.
Debt Recovery Officer
Lendigo
06.2021 - 08.2023
- Managed a large caseload of diverse accounts, prioritizing tasks to maximize recovery rates and maintain client satisfaction.
- Coordinated cross-departmental efforts with sales, customer service, and finance teams to address potential risks or areas of improvement related to debt collection processes.
- Enhanced company reputation for effective debt recovery through consistent, professional interactions with both debtors and creditors.
- Assisted in the development of new policies and procedures to increase overall efficiency within the department, leading to improved team performance.
- Established positive working relationships with external agencies such as courts, lawyers, and bailiffs to facilitate smoother execution of legal actions towards debt recovery.
- Streamlined internal processes for faster results by optimizing workflows and prioritizing high-impact cases.
- Analyzed portfolio trends to identify potential risks or areas requiring improvement within the department''s operations, contributing to proactive strategy adjustments.
- Utilized skip tracing techniques to locate hard-to-find debtors, increasing the likelihood of successful collections efforts.
- Increased debt recovery rates by implementing efficient collection strategies and maintaining strong communication with clients.
- Conducted thorough research on debtor financial situations, enabling more targeted and effective collection strategies.
- Minimized company risk exposure by adhering strictly to federal regulations and industry best practices during all collection activities.
- Demonstrated a high level of empathy towards debtors while maintaining a firm stance on repayment terms, balancing the need for compassion with professional obligations to clients.
Collections Analyst
Lidya Global Finance
11.2019 - 05.2020
- Initiated negotiations for debt recovery through emails, telephone, and mail contact.
- Advise customers of necessary actions and strategies for debt repayment.
- Assist debtors in setting up payment plans to recover overdue accounts.
- Contacted clients with past-due accounts to formulate payment plans and discuss restructuring options.
- Compiled and analyzed data for review by senior management of loan loss reports to measure portfolio performance.
- Delivered exceptional customer service on all calls while maintaining a calm and professional demeanor in challenging circumstances.
- Improved delinquency rates by consistently monitoring and analyzing account portfolios.
- Verified and review customers' account information.
- Monitored accounts for compliance with established payment plans, and flagged those in violation.
- Processed payments, refunds, and resolved customer issues.
- Collaborated on collection and dispute resolution issues.
- Managed an extensive portfolio of accounts while maintaining excellent attention to detail, minimizing errors during the collection process.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to address root causes of late payments and implement corrective actions.
- Prevented revenue loss through diligent tracking of customer accounts and identification of high-risk situations.
- Enhanced cash flow for the company with timely collection efforts on overdue accounts.
- Maintained strong relationships with clients to ensure prompt payment and encourage repeat business.
- Increased customer satisfaction by effectively resolving disputes and negotiating payment arrangements.
- Served as a subject matter expert within the collections team, providing guidance and support to colleagues on complex cases.
- Assisted in developing policies and procedures for credit management, promoting a proactive approach to collections efforts.
- Developed positive rapport with customers by displaying empathy during difficult financial conversations while maintaining professionalism.
- Ensured compliance with relevant laws and regulations governing debt collection activities, reducing organizational risk exposure.
- Purged records when the debt has been satisfied.
Credit Risk & Recovery
Softhelp Poverty Alleviation and Economic Enhancement Foundation
01.2018 - 11.2018
- Analyzed credit proposals to evaluate projects feasibilities, risks and returns.
- Ensured compliance to credit policies as dictated by the company.
- Reviewed credit documents, credit requests and collateral documents in line with company credit policy.
- Supervised and monitor recovery actions by credit department.
- Conducted credit analysis and monitoring portfolio of approved loans.
- Ensured that lending unit is as per credit policies and standards.
- Reconciled payments to ensure software reflects the correct transactions.
- Completed reconciliation at regular intervals for all transactions.
- Checked facility letter and loan agreements and scrutinize the signed documents to ensure the correctness of contacts.
- Data flow management to ensure all transaction data was processed properly into company system to check fraudulent activities and errors
- Reconciled and verify bank deposits and payments against software entries.
- Confirm every bank entry with software entry and research items that do not match.
- Profile customers risks to determine the acceptability in line with company risk appetite.
- Analyzed the financial status of customers to determine repayment capacity.
- Ensured that all conditions precedent to draw-down (pr-disbursement) is met.
- Ensured that all terms and conditions of approval are met and security documents are in place prior to disbursement.
- Continuously ensure alignment and compliance to company credit risk framework.
- Performed verification and reconciliation of accounts.
Credit Risk & Recovery
Empire Trust Microfinance Bank, Limited
01.2016 - 12.2017
- Responsible for calling customers who are past due in payment to set up payment plans.
- Took incoming calls from credit customers to answer questions and make payment arrangements.
- Monitored past due accounts and contacting defaulters to make recovery attempts.
- Tracked of various stages of past due obligations and alerting management of required step to take to ensure full recover.
- Acted as resource for customers who would come to the office location to discuss past due accounts.
- Initiated the recovery of debts and monitoring progress via calls and location visits as may be required.
- Maintained bad debts recovery records.
- Liaised with relevant external agencies in the resolution of highly delinquent accounts cases.
- Recommended legal action when appropriate and required.
- Took incoming calls and giving customers the information, they need to settle their accounts.
- Wrote letters to customers and guarantors to notify of due accounts and consequences if such accounts are not settled.
- Loan/ remedial management that factors accrued interest till date and restructuring plan.
- Negotiated payment plans with delinquent customers
- Actively monitored the performance of all loan within officer assigned portfolio.
- Conducted credit check on customers prior to disbursement
- Checked for credit eligibility and viability on request for extended for extended terms
Internal Control/Compliance Officer
Cedar Microfinance Bank Limited
05.2013 - 12.2015
- Carried out periodic audits on clients as well as visit clients as deemed necessary.
- Monitored operational, administrative and lending compliance.
- Kept accurate and detailed log on each client with reminders for follow up.
- Ensured that all company standards, rules and policies as well as regulations of governing bodies are adhered to by members of staff.
- New and existing customer verification to determine credit worthiness prior to disbursement.
- Monitored violations of credit policies, provide analysis calculations and recommendation.
- Managed loan recovery, follow up on repayment and conduct monitoring visits to client businesses and impact of loan.
- Worked with relationship managers during transition to recovery to gain insight into the history of loan.
- Reduced hazardous exposure to credit risk by analyzing quantitative data of business to determine capacity to service facility.
- Maintained cash count and call-over reports.
- Ensured that cash amounts in company’s accounting ledgers agree with bank balances.
- Compared bank balances with company downstream system to ensure figures are in agreement.
- Reconciled and verified bank deposits and payments.
- Contributed to successful audit completion through diligent documentation and internal control compliance.
- Conducted thorough audits to ensure compliance with internal controls, legal requirements, and industry best practices.
- Ensured compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements while maintaining a robust internal control framework designed to prevent fraud or misconduct incidents from occurring within the workplace.
Credit Officer
Micro Leasing Limited
03.2011 - 04.2013
- Generated new business through presentation of company loan products and services.
- Oversee loan process including application, origination and closing
- Interviewed prospective loan applicants to determine eligibility and screen for approval
- Perform credit and collateral risk analysis to ensure compliance with set guidelines.
- Ensure loan applicants provide required information and supporting documentation.
- Educated and inform customers on terms of loan.
- Preview loan application documents for accuracy and completeness.
- Managed applicant’s expectations as regards processing time, interest rates and closing dates.
Marketing
Marketing & Research, Projects & Structured Finance Investment Banking
06.2009 - 12.2010
- Presentation of properties to prospects and ensuring conversion to sales.
- Maintained good relationship between company and clients.
- Wrote reports on weekly basis for management meeting purpose
- Carried out periodic market survey to enhance sales.
- Assisted clients with payment by advising on available options (mortgage, installment etc….)
- Advised management on viability on proposed projects by determining potential cost and returns
- Develop a consistent client base of realtors and borrowers to gain leads and referrals
- Implemented targeted marketing strategies for increased sales conversion rates.
Education
Bsc (Hons) - Banking and Finance
Kogi State University
01.2005
OND - Marketing
Federal Polytechnic
01.2001
Skills
Assertiveness in collections
Debt recovery expertise
Strong communication skills
Goal oriented approach
Active listening
Account reconciliation
Financial analysis proficiency
Teamwork and collaboration
Credit analysis
Multitasking
Organization skills
Excellent communication
Analytical and critical thinking
Payment scheduling
References
Yussuf Kazeem, Daniel, 0860457230, 2, Victor Chidi Street, Ijegun, Lagos
Timeline
Loan Recovery/Credit Analyst
Essential Finance Limited
09.2023 - Current
Debt Recovery Officer
Lendigo
06.2021 - 08.2023
Collections Analyst
Lidya Global Finance
11.2019 - 05.2020
Credit Risk & Recovery
Softhelp Poverty Alleviation and Economic Enhancement Foundation
01.2018 - 11.2018
Credit Risk & Recovery
Empire Trust Microfinance Bank, Limited
01.2016 - 12.2017
Internal Control/Compliance Officer
Cedar Microfinance Bank Limited
05.2013 - 12.2015
Credit Officer
Micro Leasing Limited
03.2011 - 04.2013
Marketing
Marketing & Research, Projects & Structured Finance Investment Banking
06.2009 - 12.2010
OND - Marketing
Federal Polytechnic
Bsc (Hons) - Banking and Finance
Kogi State University