Reports to : Credit Lead
Department: Revenue
Labor Grade: 3

About Tugende

Tugende uses asset finance, technology, and a customer-centric model to help informal sector entrepreneurs dramatically increase their economic trajectory. Tugende’s core asset finance packages include medical and life insurance, training, safety equipment, and digital credit profiles in addition to affordable asset financing for SMEs. By helping clients grow economically and building digital track records of responsibility, we are creating a long-term ecosystem for MSMEs that will grow and thrive.

Tugende is tackling the credit gap for small businesses in Africa by enabling informal entrepreneurs to 1) own income‑generating assets, 2) build a verifiable digital credit profile, and 3) earn future growth opportunities through the Tugende digital platform. This platform includes discounts, smartphones, e‑commerce opportunities, and on‑demand credit lines. Tugende has financed 80,000+ clients and has hundreds of employees serving clients across its branches in Uganda and Kenya.

About the role

The Credit Underwriter at Tugende plays a critical role in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of our underwriting processes. This role is responsible for the practical application and management of underwriting systems, directly contributing to the optimization of our loan services.

Reporting to the Credit Lead, the Underwriting Agent collaborates closely with Country Managers and branch staff to ensure consistent policy application and leverage insights from client data to inform credit decisions. By combining analytical rigor with operational execution, the Credit Underwriter ensures that lending decisions are accurate, timely, and aligned with Tugende’s strategic objectives.

The successful candidate will exemplify and embrace Tugende’s Core Values of: Integrity, Empathy, Solutions Oriented, Work as a Team and Always Growing

Key Responsibilities:

• Loan Application Review: Thoroughly review new loan applications to ensure they meet the credit policy requirements.
• Credit Analysis: Conduct detailed analysis of financial statements, credit reports, and other pertinent financial data.
• Risk Assessment: Assess the risk associated with each loan application and determine the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.
• Decision Making: Approve or decline loan applications based on analysis, credit policy guidelines, and risk assessment.
• Documentation: Ensure all loan application files are complete and properly documented in compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
• Communication: Communicate decisions and provide feedback to loan officers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Policy Adherence: Stay updated with internal credit policies and external regulatory requirements to ensure compliance.
• Reporting: Prepare regular reports on underwriting activities and loan portfolio performance.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other departments such as sales, risk management, and compliance to ensure smooth processing of loan applications.

Key Qualification and Experience

• Diploma/Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Admin, or a related field.
• At least 1-2 years of experience in credit analysis, accounting, or underwriting.
• Familiarity with lending products, financial services and CRM software.

Personal Attributes and Abilities:

• Analytical Acumen: Exceptional ability to analyze financial data and trends to make informed decisions and implement effective policies.
• Communication Excellence: Superior communication skills, capable of effectively articulating complex concepts to diverse audiences, including senior management and non-technical staff.
• Adaptability and Innovation: Agile in adapting to change and innovative in using technological solutions to enhance business processes.
• Ethical Integrity: Unwavering commitment to ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity in dealing with sensitive financial information.

• Loan Application Review: Thoroughly review new loan applications to ensure they meet the credit policy requirements.
• Credit Analysis: Conduct detailed analysis of financial statements, credit reports, and other pertinent financial data.
• Risk Assessment: Assess the risk associated with each loan application and determine the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.
• Decision Making: Approve or decline loan applications based on analysis, credit policy guidelines, and risk assessment.
• Documentation: Ensure all loan application files are complete and properly documented in compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
• Communication: Communicate decisions and provide feedback to loan officers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Policy Adherence: Stay updated with internal credit policies and external regulatory requirements to ensure compliance.
• Reporting: Prepare regular reports on underwriting activities and loan portfolio performance.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other departments such as sales, risk management, and compliance to ensure smooth processing of loan applications.

• Analytical Acumen: Exceptional ability to analyze financial data and trends to make informed decisions and implement effective policies.
• Communication Excellence: Superior communication skills, capable of effectively articulating complex concepts to diverse audiences, including senior management and non-technical staff.
• Adaptability and Innovation: Agile in adapting to change and innovative in using technological solutions to enhance business processes.
• Ethical Integrity: Unwavering commitment to ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity in dealing with sensitive financial information.

• Diploma/Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Admin, or a related field.
• At least 1-2 years of experience in credit analysis, accounting, or underwriting.
• Familiarity with lending products, financial services and CRM software.