Head of Asset Finance

Company DescriptionAs our partner scales rapidly in the mobility tech industry, there is need to meet rising demand and unlock a wider supply of high-capacity vehicles, and they have launched an embedded asset-financing platform for their fleet partners. This initiative blends their initial asset-light mobility operations with capital-intensive asset finance. Role DescriptionThis is a full-time hybrid leadership role based in Lagos. We are seeking a commercially astute and execution-driven Head of Asset Finance to build and lead a robust financing engine that supports scalable fleet growth.The role provides end-to-end ownership of asset financing strategy and execution. You will design and oversee credit architecture, including underwriting standards, portfolio risk management, collections, and internal controls. You will lead debt structuring, manage lender relationships, strengthen reporting discipline, and ensure capital is deployed efficiently to enable sustainable expansion.This is a high-impact mandate for a leader who can integrate risk, capital strategy, and operational execution into a cohesive asset finance function that supports long-term growth.Key ResponsibilitiesCredit Architecture & Risk Governance: Continuously refine credit policies, underwriting standards, and loan provision policies based on real-time portfolio performance.Debt Structuring & Lender Management: Design Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and collateral structures to support multi-lender financing. Support the leadership team in negotiations and manage strict covenant compliance.Operational Integration: Oversee the cadence of financing disbursements, repayment tracking, and reconciliation to minimize vehicle deployment delays.Capital Planning: Align subsidiary-level financing with the broader group capital structure and risk appetite in collaboration with the Group CFO.Infrastructure Build-out: Identify and implement required tooling, systems, and external partnerships while developing a high-performing credit and operations team.Success MetricsFunding Scale: Increase the size of debt facilities within the first 6 months.Funding Efficiency: Reduce the cost of debt and overall financing costs, including hedging and SPV expenses, within 12 months.Risk Performance: Maintain asset portfolio default and loss rates within defined risk appetite thresholds.Governance: Ensure 100% maintenance of lender covenant compliance.Operational Speed: Reduce the average time from financing approval to vehicle deployment within 6 months.Candidate Profile ("Must-Have" Requirements)Experience: 7–8+ years in a senior capacity within asset-heavy or lending businesses.Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of credit underwriting, collections, and repossession processes.Structured Finance: Ability to execute asset-backed financing structures (SPVs) and manage FX risk/currency hedging for foreign-currency debt.Lender Relations: Proven experience negotiating and managing debt facilities with banks, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), or institutional lenders.Systems Knowledge: Experience implementing loan management systems and data infrastructure.Treasury & Modeling: Strong financial modeling and cash-flow planning skills to manage liquidity risk.Work experience in Investment/Commercial Banking with direct involvement in asset-backed financing, credit or portfolio management is highly preferred.