Head of Credit Risk: Credit Risk and Collections Strategy

homechoice is a leading South African homeware retailer. For over 40 years, we’ve been helping our customers create beautiful homes they love with an innovative range of quality products at prices they can afford.
We’re seeking a dynamic, highly motivated individual to lead our Credit Risk and Collections Strategy function. The role focuses on strategic credit risk decisions, collections optimisation, oversight of IFRS 9 provisioning, and input into fraud initiatives, while providing leadership, analytics, and governance across the credit life cycle.
What you will love doing in this role

• Oversee credit risk assessment processes, risk models, scoring systems, underwriting criteria, and end-to-end workflows.
• Lead and implement credit risk policies, collections, and recovery strategies to optimise customer accounts, debtor costs, and cash yields.
• Lead a high-performing team of analysts responsible for forecasting receivables provisions and recoveries.
• Own debtor costs in the income statement and work with Finance on forecasts and reporting.
• Collaborate with Credit Operations to execute and review strategies, recommending improvements as needed.
• Represent Credit Risk in collections strategy and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Design and maintain reporting tools (PowerBi), analytics, and forecasting models; utilise SAS, SQL and data analytics for insights.
• Engage with regulators, auditors, investors, and stakeholders to ensure compliance and manage emerging risks.
• Stay current with regulatory changes, industry trends, and emerging risks in credit management.
• Participate in talent management and capability-building within Credit Risk.
• Provide strategic leadership, fostering innovation, risk awareness, and continuous improvement.

What you’ll need to do this role
Qualifications & Accreditations

• Bachelor’s Degree in a numerate discipline (Statistics, Mathematics, or similar); Honors desirable.

Experience & Skills

• 8years’ experience in credit risk, collections strategy, or recoveries, with exposure to retail credit portfolios or related fields within banking, fintech, insurance, or financial services.
• Leadership experience, including managing teams of analysts or managers.
• Strong forecasting and risk strategy expertise with advanced Excel; proficiency in SAS & SQL preferred.
• Proven ability to design and deliver credit risk policies, scoring systems, and governance frameworks.
• Excellent reporting, presentation, and influencing skills at senior and executive levels (Example to prepare and present at Credit Committee and Collections Forum)
• Knowledge of IFRS 9 provisioning principles (oversight level including technical modelling understanding).
• Knowledge of fraud risk controls and early warning indicators in credit portfolios.

What we love about you

• A strong can-do attitude with energy, resilience, and a drive for results.
• An innovative thinker who thrives on solving complex business challenges.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
• Attention to detail and strategic mindset in equal measure.
• A collaborative leader who grows people while holding teams accountable for performance.
• Quick to learn, adaptable, and always looking to raise the bar in credit risk management.

Behaviors we love
Wow my customer

• Walk in my customers’ shoes
• Deliver on my promises
• Deliver insight-led solutions my customers need

Treat the business as my own

• Take accountability
• Be curious, creative & explore opportunities
• Do it right & at the right time

Play as a team

• Be helpful
• Be inclusive
• Find the fun