Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Lending Service

Overview

Our client, a regulated financial services institution in Papua New Guinea, is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join their leadership team during an exciting period of growth and transformation. Operating under central bank regulation, our client provides deposit-taking and lending services across Papua New Guinea, with a portfolio split between microloans and secured lending. After three years of strategic restructuring, the organisation is now on a strong upward trajectory with improved financial performance and clear departmental KPIs.

This is a three-year contract with strong potential for extension based on performance. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, accelerating execution speed, and overseeing key business units in a competitive, frontier emerging market environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Drive day-to-day operational management of core business units, with close oversight of secured and unsecured lending operations, marketing, and IT functions
• Performance Management: Ensure business units meet and exceed clearly defined departmental KPIs and performance targets
• Systems Transformation: Lead and support migration to new core operating systems, AI automation initiatives, and IT systems improvements including call centre technology enhancements
• Speed of Execution: Address and improve operational efficiency in a Pacific environment, implementing processes that accelerate decision-making and delivery
• Lending Operations: Provide hands-on management of lending functions, including review and refinement of credit policies and product costing models
• Strategic Implementation: Execute on the company's clearly defined strategy whilst identifying opportunities for faster growth and improved profitability
• Team Development: Foster collaboration across a culturally diverse workforce of 800+ language groups, building unified team culture and accountability
• Stakeholder Management: Work closely with the Chairman and shareholder, maintaining open communication lines within a flat organisational structure
• Branch Oversight: Conduct occasional visits to outstation branches across Papua New Guinea's main island and surrounding territories

Requirements Required Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Commerce, Business, Finance, or related field (BCom or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in financial services operations, particularly within lending environments
• Proven lending experience - essential; candidates without lending background will not be considered
• Demonstrated ability to work in a hands-on operational capacity, comfortable with Excel, spreadsheets, and financial modelling
• Experience with core banking/operating systems and systems migration or transformation projects
• Strong track record in driving performance and accountability in competitive environments
• Ability to operate effectively in emerging or frontier markets with less developed infrastructure
• Experience working in environments requiring speed of execution and operational agility
• Proven capability to build and lead diverse teams across multiple locations
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work within flat organisational structures
• Willingness to relocate to Papua New Guinea on a three-year contract basis

Preferred Qualifications

• Honours degree or MBA
• Experience in African banking environments (particularly institutions such as African Bank or similar hands-on operational environments)
• Previous experience in smaller financial institutions (under 500 employees) where hands-on involvement is required
• Understanding of microfinance or unsecured lending operations
• Experience operating in Pacific or similar cultural environments
• Track record of working effectively with diverse cultural groups and fragmented team structures
• Exposure to rapid growth environments with significant expansion plans

Benefits Package

Salary: AUD 250,000 - AUD 300,000 per annum + Performance Based Bonus

Benefits Include:

• Fully furnished housing provided by the company
• Company vehicle
• Annual return flights to home country for employee and immediate family
• Three club memberships (golf club, yacht club, or similar)
• Comprehensive medical cover
• Professional membership fees covered
• Relocation support: Cubic metres allowance for personal belongings and shipping assistance
• Initial relocation costs covered

Contract Term: Three-year fixed-term contract with strong likelihood of extension for high performers

Location: Primarily based at Port Moresby head office, with occasional travel to branch locations across Papua New Guinea

About Living in Papua New Guinea

Important Considerations:

• Papua New Guinea is classified as a frontier emerging market with developing infrastructure
• Papa New Guinea has limited expatriate schooling options
• Opportunities exist for accompanying spouses with transferable skills to find meaningful employment
• The environment requires adaptability and patience with Pacific time zones and cultural differences
• Port Moresby offers expatriate amenities including club facilities and a growing expat community

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers operating in accordance with South African employment legislation. For all positions, suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without unfair discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, HIV status, conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language, birth, or any other arbitrary ground as prohibited by the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, as amended.

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Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to achieving employment equity and advancing the principles of transformation in the South African workplace. We recognize the imperative to redress the disadvantages experienced by designated groups during apartheid and other discriminatory laws and practices.

• Designated Groups: In accordance with the Employment Equity Act, preference may be given to suitably qualified persons from designated groups, which include:
• Black people (African, Coloured, and Indian persons)
• Women
• People with disabilities

Affirmative Action Measures: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients may implement affirmative action measures to achieve equitable representation of designated groups at all occupational levels. Such measures are designed to ensure that suitably qualified people from designated groups have equal employment opportunities and are equitably represented in the workforce.

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• Individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Technical Assistance Guidelines on the Employment of People with Disabilities and the Code of Good Practice on the Employment of People with Disabilities
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• Individuals requiring accommodation for religious or cultural practices

We engage in consultation to determine effective, reasonable accommodations that do not impose unjustifiable hardship on the employer.

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Notes: This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment equity requirements, affirmative action measures, and B-BBEE considerations may vary depending on the employer, the position, and the employer's Employment Equity Plan.

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