Chief Of Staff / Chief Operations Officer

Sewa Assets Management Limited, an asset management and finance consultancy firm, is recruiting a full-time Chief of Staff / Chief Operations Officer. Based in Lagos, this role is situated within the Executive Management department and reports directly to the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer.

As the principal advisor and execution partner to the MD/CEO, the successful candidate will assume a dual-capacity role combining senior operational management with strategic executive coordination. The position is tasked with translating Board directives, strategic goals, and central bank regulations into profitable, enterprise-wide outcomes.

• Executive Leadership & Strategy: Manage executive priorities, prepare Board papers, coordinate executive committees, and translate long-term corporate strategies into measurable operational KPIs.

• Operations & Service Delivery: Oversee core banking services, branch operations, administration, finance, and customer experience while driving cost-optimization and strict service-level standards.

• Credit & Portfolio Performance: Supervise loan operations—including appraisal, disbursement, and collections—while managing portfolio-at-risk (PAR) and non-performing loan (NPL) ratios according to risk thresholds.

• Risk, Governance & Compliance: Maintain compliance with CBN Microfinance Banking Regulations, NDIC, and AML/CFT laws, handle regulatory returns, coordinate internal audits, and direct business continuity planning.

• Technology & Digital Transformation: Lead digital banking expansion, core banking software optimization, automated process engineering, and fintech partnerships alongside strong IT governance and cybersecurity controls.

• Human Capital & Stakeholder Relations: Manage organizational restructuring, promote a high-performance culture, and represent the firm during capital raising or engagements with external regulators and tech vendors.

• Tenure: Minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience within banking, microfinance, fintech, consulting, or financial services.

• Leadership: At least 5 years operating in senior management or executive leadership capacities, with a proven track record of supervising multi-functional operations.

• Domain Knowledge: Deep familiarity with microfinance operations, core banking systems, digital banking transformations, and CBN regulatory frameworks.

• Degree: Bachelor's Degree in Banking & Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, Law, Engineering, IT, or a related discipline (Postgraduate qualifications like an MBA, MSc, or MPA are preferred).

• Certifications: Possession of one or more relevant professional credentials is required (e.g., ACIB, FCIB, ACA, ACCA, ICAN, PMP, PRINCE2, CISA, CRISC, or specialized Risk/Governance certificates).

• Strategic Execution: Achievement of annual targets, project completion rates, and closure velocity of audit or regulatory points.

• Financial Performance: Portfolio loan growth, deposit mobilization efficiency, and cost-to-income ratio reductions.

• Risk & Operations: Maintenance of PAR and NPL metrics, turnaround time metrics, and core platform availability/uptime.

• Customer & Compliance: Customer retention/satisfaction scores alongside clean compliance records with regulatory agencies.