< Back to search
Vodafone • Johannesburg, South Africa

SME Credit Manager

Employment type:  Full time
Apply now

Job Description

When it comes to putting people first, we're number 1.

The number 1 Top Employer in South Africa.
Certified by the Top Employer Institute 2026.

Role Purpose:

The Senior Manager: Corporate Credit & SME Collections is accountable for the performance, governance, and optimisation of the Business, Automated and SME Integrated collections portfolios.

Reporting to the Executive Head, the role provides vertical leadership across automated recovery operations and SME collections. The candidate is responsible for designing and optimising automated collections strategies, stabilising inherited SME portfolio performance and ensuring disciplined credit governance to protect revenue, contain bad debt, and improve cash flow.

The role drives organisational impact through structured leadership, capability uplift, and governance enhancement within the Corporate credit environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

  1. Strategic Portfolio Oversight
    • Provide end-to-end oversight of Business, Automated and SME Integrated collections portfolios.
    • Drive bad debt containment and recovery performance across internal and outsourced channels.
    • Monitor aged debt exposure, high-risk accounts, and recovery performance trends.
    • Lead resolution of escalated and complex credit matters.
    • Ensure portfolio stability and consistent recovery discipline across segments.
  1. Automated Collections Strategy Ownership
    • Design and implement automated collections strategies across the Business/SME portfolio.
    • Review and continuously optimise system-driven recovery workflows.
    • Drive automation efficiency to improve cure rates and reduce roll rates.
    • Monitor automation performance metrics and identify improvement opportunities.
    • Align automated strategy to portfolio risk profile and recovery objectives.
  1. SME Portfolio Oversight
    • Lead performance management of the inherited SME collections portfolio.
    • Establish structured recovery cadence and accountability frameworks.
    • Drive alignment between SME and Corporate recovery standards.
    • Monitor performance variances and implement stabilisation actions where required.
  1. Risk Governance & Decision Authority
    • Approve high-value credits, extended payment terms, and risk overrides within Delegation of Authority.
    • Provide senior judgement on escalated credit risk exposures.
    • Ensure compliance with SOX controls and internal credit policies.
    • Maintain governance discipline across portfolio decision-making.

5. Leadership & Team Management

    • Lead Managers responsible for Business, Automated and SME collections portfolios.
    • Drive structured performance accountability across Senior Credit Controllers.
    • Embed disciplined recovery cadence and performance monitoring.
    • Strengthen operational capability within automated and manual collections environments.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent qualification.
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience in corporate and/or SME credit and collections environments.

Core competencies, knowledge, and experience:

  • Corporate, Business and SME credit risk management.
  • Automated collections strategy design and optimisation.
  • Portfolio performance management and bad debt containment.
  • Advanced MI analysis and data-driven decision-making.
  • Strong approval judgement within risk frameworks.
  • Multi-layer leadership capability.
  • Senior stakeholder engagement and influence.
  • Proven experience designing and managing automated collections strategies.
  • Experience operating within structured call centre or large-scale collections environments.
  • Strong understanding of Delegation of Authority and SOX compliance frameworks.

We make an impact by offering:

  • Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages
  • Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits
  • Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies


Closing date for Applications: 28 May 2026.


The base location for this role is Vodacom, Midrand Campus.


The company's approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.
Vodacom is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates, and values diversity & inclusion.

Company benefits

UK (28), India (22), Egypt (21), Hungary (20), Romania (20), Albania (22), Turkey (14) days annual leave + bank holidays
Work from anywhere scheme – work for up to 20 days/year abroad (dependant on country)
Annual bonus – dependant on company performance
Employee discounts
Personal development days – once per quarter
Learning platform – access to Harvard Business Publishing, MIT Horizon and Skillsoft
Enhanced maternity leave – 16 weeks (paid) with a phased return to work over 6 months
Enhanced paternity leave – 16 weeks (paid) with a phased return to work over 6 months
Volunteer days – up to 5 days
Coaching – access to a free certified internal pool of coaches
Mentoring
Carer’s leave
Adoption leave – 16 weeks (paid) with a phased return to work over 6 months
Enhanced sick days
Mental health platform access
Mental health first aiders
Employee assistance programme
Complimentary Medical Services – 24/7 online doctor service
Compassionate leave
Home office set up
Buddy scheme
Referral bonus
Early finish Fridays
Buy or sell annual leave
Cycle to work scheme
Life insurance
Sabbaticals
Salary sacrifice
Share options
Teambuilding days
Faith rooms
Enhanced pension match/contribution
Learning license

Working at Vodafone

Company employees:

85,887

Gender diversity (m:f):

61:39

Hiring in countries

Albania

Belgium

Czechia

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Denmark

Egypt

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

India

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Mozambique

Portugal

Romania

Singapore

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Tanzania

Türkiye

United Kingdom

Office Locations

Awards & Accreditations

1st – Most loved - Large companies

1st – Most loved - Large companies

Flexa awards 2026
1st - Most Inclusive Company

1st - Most Inclusive Company

Flexa awards 2026
Most Flexible Company

Top 5 - Most Flexible Company

Flexa awards 2026

Other jobs you might like