Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
### Why this Role is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
This Head of SME Business role stands out because it sits at the intersection of SaaS-style digital distribution and regulated financial services. Umba operates as a pan-African digital bank across Kenya and Nigeria, delivering products through mobile and web channels and highlighting machine learning, automation, and cost efficiency as part of how it serves customers. That combination makes the commercial remit meaningfully different from traditional branch-led SME banking, with performance tied to digital onboarding, product usage, and portfolio outcomes.
For SaaS career builders, the role offers exposure to several durable, cross-company levers: building repeatable acquisition engines, improving funnel conversion, and balancing growth with risk controls. Ownership across lending expansion, deposit mobilisation, and fee income also mirrors how many SaaS businesses think about multi-product revenue, unit economics, and retention, even when the underlying product is financial. Input into product development and commercial strategy adds a layer of go-to-market influence beyond pure sales management.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
About UmbaUmba is a pan-African digital bank serving customers in both Kenya and Nigeria. Our mission entails providing accessible and cost-effective financial services across Africa, enabling our customers to take charge of their financial well-being. We are committed to seizing a unique opportunity to transform the financial landscape in Africa by harnessing the power of machine learning to develop intelligent, affordable financial products tailored for emerging markets. Our machine learning models are continuously improving, and we leverage AI and automation to deliver banking solutions at the lowest possible cost to our expand in customer base.
Umba is headquartered in Nairobi Kenya. Our primary focus is to offer a comprehensive range of digital banking products through Android, iOS and Web Apps, and we take pride in our culture of consistently surpassing customer expectations, which has fueled our rapid expansion.
Umba acquired a deposit taking microfinance bank in Kenya in 2023, which has now been named Umba Microfinance Bank. The bank has achieved fast growth since launch with average monthly growth rate of 19% and 6x revenue growth in 2024.Job Summary:To drive SME business growth through client acquisition, lending expansion, deposit mobilisation, and strong team leadership, while maintaining portfolio quality and profitability.Responsibilities: 1. SME Client Acquisition & Lending Growth
- Drive acquisition and onboarding of SME and MSME clients.
- Deliver SME and MSME lending disbursement targets.
- Build and manage a strong pipeline and improve conversion rates.
2. Portfolio Productivity & Revenue Optimisation- Manage average loan size and yield to ensure profitability.
- Drive utilisation of approved credit limits.
- Ensure sustainable and quality growth of the SME loan book.
3. Deposits Mobilisation & Liability Growth- Deliver net deposit growth targets across SME customers.
- Increase proportion of low-cost deposits (CASA).
- Optimise cost of funds on SME deposits.
- Drive fee income from SME transactional banking activities.
4. Portfolio Quality & Risk Management- Maintain portfolio quality within acceptable thresholds.
- Ensure early identification and resolution of arrears.
- Uphold strong credit underwriting, monitoring, and reporting standards.
- Ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
5. Market Intelligence & Business Strategy- Monitor SME market trends, customer needs, and competitor activity.
- Provide input into product development and commercial strategy.
6. Sales Leadership & Team Management- Lead SME sales teams to achieve aggregated targets.
- Drive staff productivity (business per staff).
- Conduct performance management, coaching, and development.
- Maintain acceptable attrition levels and succession planning.
Qualifications & Experience- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field
- Master’s degree is an added advantage
- Minimum 7–10 years’ experience in SME banking or business development
- Proven track record in lending, sales, and portfolio management
- Experience managing and leading sales teams
Skills & Competencies- Strong sales and negotiation skills
- Leadership and team management capability
- Commercial and financial acumen
- Credit and risk understanding
- Relationship management and networking ability
- Strategic thinking and execution
- Results-driven with strong performance orientation
Method of Application
Umba is an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.
Please submit your application by 10th April 2026. Due to the urgency, interviews will be on a rolling basis.
