Legal Officer Career Jobs – VisionFund Uganda (VFU)
Job Title: Legal Officer
Organisation: VisionFund Uganda (VFU)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Head of Legal/Company secretary
About US:
VisionFund Uganda (VFU) is a microfinance affiliate of World Vision Uganda and World Vision International. Its mission is to improve the lives of children by providing low income entrepreneurs with sustainable and integrated financial services that unlock their potential.
Job Summary: The Legal Officer will ensure proper supervision and management of the institution’s loan recovery activities in such a way that loss is minimized, controlled or avoided and thus enhancing sustainability and growth of the company. The incumbent will be responsible for the following;
- Ensuring that loan loss provision is kept under control for all branches
- Keeps track of documentation of all actions taken to collect from bad debts
- Coordinate and Monitor activities of external debt collectors in liaison with branch managers
- Coordinate and supervise the activities of the debt collector-logistics officers.
- Guide the Operations Manager on suitable strategies of bad debtcollection
- Prepare confidential reports on identified irregularities discovered leading to bad debts
- Deputies the company secretary in coordination of board activities
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Systems reviews, analysis and actions taken on bad debts: (30%)
- Carry out a daily review of the institution’s arrears position and advise on the progress of recovery of all loans above 60 days in arrears
- Identify and guide the Operations Manager on all delinquent accounts that require legal proceedings on a regular basis
- Initiate and monitor the transfer of non-performing loan portfolio to the recovery officers in liaison with the regional managers
- Prepare the authorization documents with appropriate daily recovery follow-up reports submitted to the Operations Manager
- Send documentation to Management operations Committee for approval or decision on realization of the bad debts
Adherence to policies and procedure: (25%)
- Ensure that proper procedures are followed in liquidation of customer collaterals and guide the branch and the recovery agents on the recovery process
- The incumbent will represent the institution in public auctions for sale of repossessed securities
- Issue repossession orders and co-ordinate the repossession of financed assets or those held as security in a timely manner and decisions on sale price to be accepted by the Institution is made without delay.
- Keenly monitor the provisions made on bad debts and ensure that the institution is compliant with the BoU regulations and advise the Operations Manager on loans requiring subjective provisioning
- Periodical review of the recovery procedures and advise Operations manager on the new development in the recovery process.
- Ensure that write off ratio is kept below 3% of the active portfolio
- Up-date Collateral monitoring reports
Monitoring and supervising activities of recovery officers: (20%)
- Monitor and coordinate the activities of the recovery officers and ensure that the Institution’s recovery agents give proper attention to the recovery of bad debts.
- Coordinate the allocation of bad loans to court bailiffs and ensure that proper approval is obtained at the time of allocation
- Tracks amounts recovered on stuck loans viz-a-viz target on a daily basis
Maintain a good rapport between Debt collectors and delinquent customers (10%)
- Conduct periodical visits to delinquent customer’s securities and give advice on the condition of the security
- Negotiate with Debtors and ensure that the Debtors repay the bad debts at a lowest cost to the Bank and as well follow recommended procedures for bad debt recovery
- Limited conflicts between customers and debt collections team
Training and Capacity building of staff: (5%)
- Mentor, train and guide staff on the best practices in the recovery of delinquent loans
- Prepare performance status reports submitted Operations Manager
Legal suits in: (5%)
- Initiate legal proceedings for delinquent accounts
- The jobholder will prepare the authorization documents with appropriate documentation to Management operations Committee for approval or decision on realization of the bad debts
- Represent the institution in court sessions in the cases instituted against the Institution’s debtors or against the Institution by a customer
- Receive and verify payment requests from court bailiffs prior to submission to the Operations Manager for approval
- Positive and successful track record for court suits
AOB (5%): Timely execution of any other duties as may be assigned from time to time
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the Vision Fund Uganda (VFU) Legal Officer job opportunity should hold an LLB( Bachelor of Laws Degree)
- Additional diploma in Legal practice
- Hold a Practicing certificate
- Possess good financial analysis skills.
- Broad knowledge and understanding of litigation procedures.
- Portfolio management skills.
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Team work oriented and willingness to guide and train others
- Strong emotional intelligence
- Demonstrated a high level of integrity
- Customer oriented
- Ability to transfer knowledge and provide guidance to others.
- Ability to work long hours without supervision.
- The applicant must be a committed Christian, able to stand above denominational diversities
- Ability to uphold VFU core values at all times
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send or hand deliver their applications, CVs, plus copies of their academic credentials and recommendations from 2 professional referees to the address below:
The Human Resource Manager,
VisionFund Uganda Ltd (VFU)
Plot 256, Makerere Kavule,
P.O. Box 24751, Kampala, Uganda.
Email to: info@visionfunduganda.co.ug
Deadline: 10th May 2017