Friday Benjamin

Results-driven Credit Risk and Portfolio Management professional with several years of experience across banking, lending, fintech and financial services. Experienced in developing and implementing credit risk strategies that balance portfolio growth, asset quality and profitability. Strong expertise in credit underwriting, credit assessment, risk appetite, portfolio monitoring, credit scoring, early-warning indicators, concentration risk, collections and recovery strategies.

Proven ability to establish credit policies and controls, assess borrower and transaction risks, monitor portfolio performance and implement corrective actions to minimise defaults and losses. Experienced in managing SME, consumer, commercial and asset-backed lending portfolios, with a strong understanding of cash-flow analysis, collateral assessment, KYC, credit bureau reporting and regulatory requirements.

Credit Risk Manager at SYTIAMO TECHNOLOGY LTD (2024-09 – Present)

• Strengthened Credit Risk Management: Developed and implemented credit assessment and risk-control strategies that improved loan quality, reduced avoidable credit losses and supported sustainable portfolio growth.
• Managed Large Credit Portfolios: Successfully managed and monitored credit exposures exceeding ₦6.8 billion, with focus on portfolio quality, risk concentration, repayment performance and early-warning indicators.
• Improved Underwriting Standards: Enhanced credit appraisal processes through stronger borrower assessment, cash-flow analysis, collateral evaluation, credit scoring and risk-based lending decisions.
• Enhanced Portfolio Monitoring & Recovery: Implemented proactive portfolio monitoring and recovery strategies, enabling early identification of delinquent accounts and timely corrective actions to improve collections.

Credit Risk Analyst at HERITAGE BANK PLC (2016-09 – 2024-06)

• Improved Credit Assessment: Conducted comprehensive analysis of borrower financials, cash flows, credit history and repayment capacity, supporting sound and risk-based lending decisions.
• Enhanced Portfolio Quality: Strengthened underwriting controls and risk assessment processes, helping minimise exposure to high-risk borrowers and reduce potential credit losses.
• High-Volume Credit Processing: Successfully reviewed and assessed multiple loan applications while maintaining accuracy, turnaround time and compliance with established credit policies.
• Risk-Based Lending Decisions: Applied credit scoring, financial analysis, collateral assessment and risk-rating techniques to determine appropriate loan amounts, pricing and repayment structures.
• Strengthened Credit Documentation: Improved the quality and completeness of credit appraisal reports and supporting documentation, enabling faster credit approvals and better audit and regulatory compliance.

Credit Risk Analyst at RICH-OAK INVESTMENT PLC (2014-01 – 2016-09)

• Delivered Accurate Credit Assessments: Conducted detailed analyses of financial statements, cash flows, bank statements, and credit bureau reports to provide sound credit recommendations that supported quality lending decisions.
• Improved Portfolio Performance: Identified and mitigated credit risks through thorough due diligence, borrower assessments, and continuous portfolio monitoring, contributing to improved asset quality and reduced loan defaults.
• Optimised Credit Processing Efficiency: Reviewed and processed high volumes of credit applications within agreed service level agreements (SLAs), improving turnaround times while maintaining strict adherence to underwriting standards and credit policies.
• Strengthened Compliance & Risk Controls: Ensured all credit recommendations complied with internal credit policies, CBN regulations, KYC/AML requirements, and organisational risk appetite, reducing operational and regulatory risks.

M.sc in Business Analysis – Indian Institute of Business Management (IIBM)

B.sc in Economics – Nasarawa State University, Keffi (2010)