Background

Equity Bank is a Pan African Financial Services is a leading Pan-African Financial Institution operating across six countries — Kenya, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan. We are executing a deliberate expansion strategy to extend our footprint into an additional six African markets by the year 2030.

Our diversified business spans banking, insurance, technology and social enterprise, enabling us to deliver integrated solutions that drive inclusive growth at scale. Our business model is anchored on a distinctive Tri-Engine framework— Social, Economic and Sustainability, which systematically strengthens value-chains, empowers communities and delivers long-term social and economic impact.

Our purpose, “Transforming lives, giving dignity, and expanding opportunities for wealth creation,” guides our strategic decision. We are driven by a bold vision “to be the champion of the socio-economic prosperity of the people of Africa,” and this ambition is embedded in our culture through our core values of professionalism, integrity, creativity and innovation, teamwork, unity of purpose, respect and effective corporate governance.

Our growth and impact agenda is clearly defined and operationalized through the Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), which serves as the strategic blueprint for sustainable expansion and long-term value creation across the continent.

Job Purpose

The Head of Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) & Financial Institutions (FIs) is responsible for providing overarching strategic, commercial and relationship leadership for the Bank’s Non-Bank Financial Institutions portfolio. This includes insurance companies, pension funds, SACCOs, microfinance institutions, development finance institutions, capital market participants, fintechs, fund managers, payment service providers and other regulated and unregulated financial entities.

The role holder is accountable for driving balance sheet growth, optimizing risk-adjusted returns, scaling transaction volumes, advancing sustainable finance initiatives and expanding the broader financial ecosystem while enforcing rigorous governance and compliance standards, deepening strategic partnerships and maximizing cross-sell and value creation across the Bank.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute the NBFI & FI sector strategy, aligned to the bank’s corporate and institutional banking objectives.
• Segment the market and design tailored value propositions for insurance firms, SACCOs, pension schemes, MFIs, fintech’s, payment providers, and DFIs.
• Deliver financial targets including loan growth, deposit mobilization, FX income, trade finance, and fee revenue.
• Lead the cross-functional coordination with risk, treasury, trade finance, digital banking, ESG, credit, and operations.

Business Development & Relationship Management

• Build and deepen strategic relationships with CEOs, CFOs, Boards, and senior leadership of NBFIs and FIs.
• Drive the origination and structuring of lending transactions, including term loans, structured finance, guarantees, trade facilities, and syndications.
• Grow deposit and liquidity management solutions, including escrow accounts, custodial services, cash management, and trust accounts.
• Cross-sell the bank’s full suite: payments, collections, treasury, cards, digital channels, insurance, and sustainable finance solutions.

Portfolio & Risk Management

• Manage the overall credit portfolio quality for NBFIs & FIs, including oversight of pipeline, reviews, early warning indicators, and watchlist management.
• Lead structuring risk-mitigated solutions such as secured lending, cash-flow backed facilities, insurance-guaranteed products, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
• Ensure compliance with CBK regulations, AML/KYC guidelines, Basel standards, and internal governance frameworks.
• Maintain updated sectoral insights and risk maps to guide decision-making.

Product Development & Innovation

• Develop and refine specialized products for financial institutions, including:
  • Insurance premium finance
  • Custodial & trust services
  • SACCO agency banking and digital collections
  • Fintech/payments integration
  • Treasury & liquidity solutions
  • ESG/sustainable finance products
• Work with digital and product teams to co-create solutions that deepen customer penetration and ecosystem connectivity.

Sustainable Finance, ESG & Partnerships

• Identify opportunities for green finance, ESG-linked lending, climate resilience projects, blended finance, and guarantee-backed facilities.
• Leverage partnerships with DFIs, multilaterals, development partners, payment networks, and fintech ecosystems.
• Position the bank as a leader in sustainable and inclusive finance within the financial sector ecosystem.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Lead, coach, motivate and develop a high-performing team of sector relationship managers and analysts.
• Build capabilities in relationship management, structured credit, sustainable finance, digital payments, and sector insights.
• Promote a performance-driven, customer-centric culture.

Qualifications

Key Technical Skills & Leadership Competencies

• Strong relationship and stakeholder management
• Expertise in credit analysis and structuring
• Deep understanding of the financial services ecosystem
• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks (CBK, IRA, SASRA, RBA, CMA, AML/KYC)
• Commercial acumen and financial modelling skills
• Negotiation and deal-closing capability
• Leadership, coaching and people management skills
• Digital and innovative mindset
• Understanding of ESG and sustainable finance frameworks

Experience Requirements:-

• Minimum 10–12 years in banking or financial services.
• At least 5 years in senior relationship management, corporate banking or institutional banking.
• Proven experience managing financial institutions (insurance, SACCOs, MFIs, pension funds, DFIs, fintechs).
• Strong experience in credit structuring, trade finance, treasury, and sustainable finance.

Academic Qualifications & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Business, or related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• CFA, ACCA, CPA, FRM, ACIB, or equivalent.
• ESG/Sustainable Finance certification is an added advantage.

• Develop and execute the NBFI & FI sector strategy, aligned to the bank’s corporate and institutional banking objectives.
• Segment the market and design tailored value propositions for insurance firms, SACCOs, pension schemes, MFIs, fintech’s, payment providers, and DFIs.
• Deliver financial targets including loan growth, deposit mobilization, FX income, trade finance, and fee revenue.
• Lead the cross-functional coordination with risk, treasury, trade finance, digital banking, ESG, credit, and operations.
• Build and deepen strategic relationships with CEOs, CFOs, Boards, and senior leadership of NBFIs and FIs.
• Drive the origination and structuring of lending transactions, including term loans, structured finance, guarantees, trade facilities, and syndications.
• Grow deposit and liquidity management solutions, including escrow accounts, custodial services, cash management, and trust accounts.
• Cross-sell the bank’s full suite: payments, collections, treasury, cards, digital channels, insurance, and sustainable finance solutions.
• Manage the overall credit portfolio quality for NBFIs & FIs, including oversight of pipeline, reviews, early warning indicators, and watchlist management.
• Lead structuring risk-mitigated solutions such as secured lending, cash-flow backed facilities, insurance-guaranteed products, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
• Ensure compliance with CBK regulations, AML/KYC guidelines, Basel standards, and internal governance frameworks.
• Maintain updated sectoral insights and risk maps to guide decision-making.
• Develop and refine specialized products for financial institutions, including: Insurance premium finance, Custodial & trust services, SACCO agency banking and digital collections, Fintech/payments integration, Treasury & liquidity solutions, ESG/sustainable finance products.
• Work with digital and product teams to co-create solutions that deepen customer penetration and ecosystem connectivity.
• Identify opportunities for green finance, ESG-linked lending, climate resilience projects, blended finance, and guarantee-backed facilities.
• Leverage partnerships with DFIs, multilaterals, development partners, payment networks, and fintech ecosystems.
• Position the bank as a leader in sustainable and inclusive finance within the financial sector ecosystem.
• Lead, coach, motivate and develop a high-performing team of sector relationship managers and analysts.
• Build capabilities in relationship management, structured credit, sustainable finance, digital payments, and sector insights.
• Promote a performance-driven, customer-centric culture.

• Strong relationship and stakeholder management
• Expertise in credit analysis and structuring
• Deep understanding of the financial services ecosystem
• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks (CBK, IRA, SASRA, RBA, CMA, AML/KYC)
• Commercial acumen and financial modelling skills
• Negotiation and deal-closing capability
• Leadership, coaching and people management skills
• Digital and innovative mindset
• Understanding of ESG and sustainable finance frameworks

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Business, or related field.
• Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• CFA, ACCA, CPA, FRM, ACIB, or equivalent.
• ESG/Sustainable Finance certification is an added advantage.