Expires 3 weeks from now
Head of Public Sector, South Bank
full-time
Port Harcourt,
Rivers State,
Nigeria
Share this job
Job Summary
The Head of Public Sector, South Bank will provide strategic leadership for driving public-sector banking growth across the South-South and Mid-West regions, overseeing deposit mobilization, government relationship management, revenue optimization, and risk management. The South-South/Mid-West region supported by Wema Bank’s regional training and operational structure serves as a key hub for government institutions and parastatals. The role requires strong stakeholder management, deep public-sector ecosystem knowledge, expertise in structuring financial solutions, and ability to lead public-sector business expansion in an increasingly competitive environment.
Job Details
A. Public Sector Business Development
- Lead deposit growth and liquidity acquisition from state governments, local governments, ministries, agencies, parastatals, and public institutions.
- Develop strategies to grow public-sector deposits by 50% within 6 months (aligned with the broader corporate growth directive).
- Drive onboarding of new public-sector clients and deepen existing government wallet share.
- Identify and segment opportunities within:
- State MDAs
- Local government councils
- Educational institutions
- Judicial & security institutions
- Water boards, transport agencies, & state-owned enterprises
- Leverage Wema Bank’s digital and corporate banking capabilities to deliver tailored solutions in cash management, collections, TSA-compliant systems, payroll, trade services, and project financing.
- Develop relationship with all tiers of government.
B. Stakeholder Engagement & Government Relationship Management
- Serve as the primary liaison with state executives, commissioners, permanent secretaries, revenue boards, and institutional decision-makers.
- Lead negotiations for state-level partnerships, collections mandates, IGR optimization services, and digital revenue automation.
- Ensure consistent visibility at high-level government meetings, public-sector forums, and state economic summits.
C. Credit & Risk Asset Management
Support assessment, structuring, and monitoring of public-sector-linked credit exposures including:
- Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPO)
- Contract finance
- Salary-backed lending
- Infrastructure financing (PPP/JV models)
- Strengthen compliance with the bank’s credit evaluation and risk frameworks, ensuring high-quality credit proposals and alignment with regulatory standards.
- Drive portfolio diversification to reduce concentration risk across states, MDAs, and revenue types.
- Use early-warning indicators to proactively manage exposures and ensure balance-sheet quality.
D. Operational Excellence & Process Management
- Drive improvements in operational efficiency, reducing turnaround times for government-related transactions, mandates, and onboarding.
- Ensure effective collaboration with Treasury, Operations, E-Business, Trade Services, and Legal teams to execute public-sector deals seamlessly.
- Promote adoption of digital banking platforms, aligning with Wema Bank’s regionally deployed digital transformation strategy.
LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead a region-wide Public Sector Banking team with clear accountability and defined performance metrics.
- Drive a culture of compliance, professionalism, and ethical standards in public-sector dealings.
- Foster strong collaboration across credit, risk, operations, and corporate banking teams.
- Inspire and coach team members, aligned with Wema Bank’s leadership development culture and structured talent-building approach.
- Drive change management initiatives supporting digital transformation and improved revenue efficiency.
- Oversee governance, ensuring transparency and audit-readiness in all public-sector engagements.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Public Administration, Business, or related fields.
- Master’s degree or professional certification (ACIB, ICAN, PMP) is an added advantage.
- Minimum of 8–12 years’ experience in public-sector or corporate banking, with at least 5 years in a team leadership role.
- Strong understanding of government financial operations, IGR processes, public-sector ecosystems, and liquidity management.
- Proven track record driving high-value public-sector deals and mandates.
Excellent relationship management, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
- Government Relations & Stakeholder Influence
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Public Sector Financial Advisory Expertise
- Credit Structuring & Risk Management
- Digital & Analytical Capability
- Leadership & People Management
- Negotiation & Deal Closing
- Regulatory & Compliance Awareness
About Company
Wema Bank
Wema Bank is the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, and one of Nigeria’s most resilient banks. With decades of experience in the business of banking, the Bank has remained innovative in delivering value to its stakeholders. The publicly quoted Nigerian company has successfully built a legacy of trust and resilience that has won it the loyalty of its customers. The Bank is constantly introducing products and services tailored to the needs of its customers at every stage of their lives. It is a proud partner to more than one million individuals, families and businesses across Nigeria, helping them to achieve their personal and financial goals.