Position Summary
The Group Chief Risk Officer (GYRO) leads the development and implementation of AGF’s enterprise-wide credit and portfolio risk management strategy, ensuring comprehensive oversight across guarantee, counter-guarantee, and treasury operations with independent and objective governance.
This position drives the achievement of AGF’s portfolio growth targets while maintaining disciplined risk management, ensuring the preservation of the institution’s capital adequacy, financial stability, developmental mission, and credit rating integrity.
The GYRO spearheads the identification, evaluation, assessment, mitigation, and reporting of risks associated with AGF’s guarantee operations and treasury-related exposures, ensuring strict adherence to the Board-approved risk appetite, regulatory mandates, IFRS9 standards, and best practices in development finance.
As part of this position, you will provide strategic guidance to the Executive Committee and Board on matters concerning portfolio quality, expected credit losses, stress testing scenarios, concentration risks, utilization trends, and evolving market developments across AGF’s Pan-African operations.
Oversee and execute key duties and responsibilities with precision and accountability. Lead critical initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives while maintaining high standards of performance. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to drive efficiency and innovation across all assigned projects. Monitor progress, analyze outcomes, and implement improvements to optimize processes and outcomes. Serve as a primary point of contact for stakeholders, providing clear communication and strategic guidance. Ensure compliance with industry regulations and internal policies to uphold organizational integrity.
Our organization seeks a professional to oversee and implement a robust Risk Management Strategy & Governance framework, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and organizational objectives. This role demands expertise in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks while establishing clear governance policies to promote accountability and transparency across all levels. Key responsibilities include developing comprehensive risk frameworks, conducting regular risk assessments, and advising senior leadership on strategic risk decisions to safeguard company assets and enhance operational resilience.
Formulate and uphold the Group Risk strategy in accordance with AGF’s mandate and established risk appetite.
Responsible for designing and regularly evaluating credit risk policies, frameworks, and standards pertaining to guarantees.
As the primary advisor to the Executive Committee and the Board, you will provide strategic insights on credit risk trends, exposures, concentrations, and emerging risks.
Align strategic risk management with capital adequacy objectives and portfolio expansion goals.
Foster a culture characterized by analytical precision, responsibility, and proactive questioning within the Risk function.
We oversee the continuous assessment and mitigation of risks within investment portfolios, ensuring alignment with established risk policies and regulatory standards. This role involves evaluating market exposures, stress-testing scenarios, and monitoring key risk indicators to identify potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, we collaborate across teams to implement risk controls, enhance reporting frameworks, and provide actionable insights to senior management for informed decision-making.
Maintain stringent analytical standards, uphold consistency, and ensure quality assurance throughout transaction underwriting, portfolio analytics, and risk reporting processes across all regions and product lines.
Responsibilities include monitoring portfolio performance with a focus on Expected Credit Loss (ECL), as well as leading portfolio stress testing and scenario analysis to inform capital planning and strategic decision-making.
Implement and oversee early warning systems to identify and address deteriorating exposures, ensuring timely corrective actions are taken to mitigate risks.
Risk assessment, corrective action implementation, and recovery process management are integral components of this role.
Develop comprehensive frameworks to enhance data quality and streamline claims management, restructurings, and recovery processes.
Collaborate with Legal and Business Development teams to develop and implement remedial strategies for impaired guarantees.
Compile insights gained from defaults to enhance future underwriting decisions and refine policy frameworks accordingly.
We specialize in ensuring regulatory adherence, maintaining accurate accounting practices, and upholding stringent compliance standards across all operations. This role demands expertise in interpreting financial regulations, managing compliance frameworks, and overseeing accounting procedures to mitigate risks and ensure organizational integrity. Candidates must possess a strong background in finance or accounting, with a keen understanding of regulatory requirements and the ability to implement robust compliance measures. Additionally, the position requires meticulous attention to detail, analytical prowess, and the capacity to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to foster a culture of compliance and financial responsibility.
Ensure the framework’s resilience, clarity, and adherence to applicable prudential standards and IFRS 9 requirements.
Ensure compliance with Basel-aligned frameworks and donor-specific requirements.
Facilitate interactions with external auditors, rating agencies, regulators, development partners, and due diligence missions to address all risk-related concerns.
Ensure that all credit decisions are thoroughly documented, fully transparent, and consistently defensible to the highest standards.
Dynamic leadership is required to guide and inspire teams towards achieving organizational goals. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills to foster collaboration and drive performance. Responsibilities include setting clear objectives, delegating tasks efficiently, and ensuring accountability. The role demands strategic thinking to navigate challenges and promote innovation while maintaining high ethical standards. A proven track record in team management and a commitment to professional development are essential.
Spearhead the evolution of the Group Risk function into a top-tier team, characterized by analytical precision and strategic engagement, while providing leadership and mentorship to team members across all global regions.
Enhance the functionality, efficiency, and analytical capabilities of systems, tools, and data utilized in credit decision-making processes.
Serve as an impartial and trusted counterbalance to business origination efforts, providing objective and practical solutions with unwavering credibility and constructive input.
Desired qualifications, skills, knowledge, and relevant experiences include…
Full professional proficiency in both English and French is an absolute requirement for this position.
A master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Risk Management, or a closely related discipline is required.
Professional risk certifications such as FRM, PRM, or CFA are highly desirable.
Proficiency in IFRS 9, Expected Credit Loss modelling, portfolio analytics, and capital adequacy frameworks is essential.
We require a minimum of 15 years of hands-on experience in credit risk management, coupled with a proven track record of senior leadership responsibilities.
Extensive background in guarantee funds, development finance institutions, banks, or multilateral financial institutions is required.
A comprehensive grasp of SME, infrastructure, and development-oriented credit risk is required.
Board-level interactions are frequent, and there is significant exposure to regulatory frameworks.
Detail-oriented and highly analytical, with a strong commitment to intellectual rigor, precision, and the capacity to constructively challenge assumptions.
Political and cultural awareness, coupled with a proven ability to collaborate effectively across diverse groups, is essential for this role. The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience in navigating complex social and political landscapes while fostering constructive dialogue and cooperation among varied stakeholders.
African and international organizations operate across diverse geographical regions and within culturally varied environments.
Able to travel as necessary to meet organizational goals and foster stakeholder relationships.
We are seeking a motivated professional with a strong commitment and natural talent for empowering SMEs to achieve success.
Applications must be submitted via email, with your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant professional experience, along with the names and contact details of three referees familiar with your qualifications and work background, addressed to recruitment@africanguaranteefund.com. Kindly ensure the email subject line is labeled “AGF – Application for Group Chief Risk Officer.” This vacancy will remain open until June 30, 2026, or until the role is successfully filled.
Qualifications
MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
15 years
