SME Relationship Manager

The SME Relationship Manager will be responsible for originating, building, and managing SME relationships to support customer acquisition, retention, portfolio growth, and income generation across Assets, Liabilities, Trade Finance, and Cash Management products. The role requires a highly hands-on Relationship Manager capable of independently managing the full customer lifecycle, including business development, gathering and analyzing customer financial information, identifying financing needs, conducting preliminary financial analysis, structuring appropriate credit solutions, packaging customer credit proposals, portfolio monitoring, and relationship management. The position is advisory and solution-oriented, requiring an individual with strong SME relationship management capabilities, practical financial analysis skills, and the ability to understand customer businesses and recommend appropriate credit solutions.

• Drive SME balance sheet growth across Assets, Liabilities, and Off Balance Sheet exposures.
• Identify, develop, and pursue new business opportunities within the SME segment to grow profitable customer portfolios.
• Build and manage strong customer pipelines through proactive market engagement, networking, referrals, and relationship management activities.
• Increase the level of products and services consumed by SME clients and deepen relationships across customer supply chains through collaboration with other business units.
• Promote uptake of Trade Finance, Cash Management, Digital Banking, and other banking solutions across the assigned portfolio.
• Understand customer businesses, financial positions and financing requirements to identify appropriate credit solutions.
• Assess customer needs and determine suitable financing facilities based on their financial position and business requirements.
• Build and manage customer relationships through advisory engagement, referrals, networking and market knowledge rather than cold calling.
• Manage key customer relationships through regular client engagement, visits, and portfolio reviews.
• Cultivate strong rapport with SME customers and position the bank as the preferred financial partner for business growth and investment.
• Maintain high professional standards and provide quality service delivery and competitive banking solutions to customers.
• Develop a strong understanding of customer businesses, industries, operational challenges, and financing requirements to support relationship growth and retention.
• Conduct preliminary financial analysis and assess business viability before submission of credit applications.
• Support deal structuring and preparation of customer credit proposals in collaboration with Credit and Risk teams.
• Manage SME credit portfolio quality and maintain portfolio performance within approved risk thresholds.
• Monitor portfolio performance, customer activity, dormant accounts, and early warning indicators to manage portfolio risk proactively.
• Maintain sustainability and quality of the assigned portfolio through prudent relationship and credit management practices.
• Gather and review customer financial information, including Balance Sheets, P&L statements, Cash Flow Statements and Cash Flow Projections.
• Assess business profitability and understand the key drivers of profitability or under performance.
• Conduct preliminary credit appraisal to determine customer eligibility and appropriate financing requirements.
• Identify, structure and package appropriate credit facilities based on the customer's business and financial position.
• Assess customer financing needs before preparing and presenting credit proposals.
• Maintain high operational standards and adherence to Risk Management, Compliance, KYC, and AML guidelines in all customer eng

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field with basic grounding in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or CPA qualification.
• MBA or postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.
• Certification in Credit Analysis or strong exposure to financial statement analysis will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of five years of general banking experience with at least three years in SME Relationship Management within the Kenyan market.
• Strong practical exposure in analysing business financial statements and assessing SME credit viability.
• Experience in Credit Analysis, Relationship Management, Business Development, and Portfolio Management is required.
• Exposure to Trade Finance and SME business structuring will be an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of SME banking products, portfolio growth, customer relationship management, and credit risk management.
• Must have practical ability to understand and interpret SME financial statements, including balance sheets, P&L statements and cash flow statements.
• Commercial Acumen
• Financial Acumen
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Negotiation and Influencing Skills
• Adaptability and Resilience
• Communication and Presentation Skills