Business Application Officer

Business Application Officer

Sumac Microfinance Bank Ltd is a premier, fully-fledged microfinance institution regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya. With a robust branch network spanning the country and a cutting-edge mobile banking platform, we bridge the gap between financial services and the entrepreneurs who drive Kenya's economy.

At our core, we are more than just a bank; we are a partner in growth. We provide a comprehensive suite of financial solutions—including Accounts, Loans, Trade Finance, Forex, and Bancassurance, designed to transform small ventures into sustainable, prudently managed enterprises.

About the Role

The job holder will be responsible for taking the lead in supporting the Bank’s Core Banking applications strategy, driving system administration, and working closely with system vendors on developments, upgrades, and integrations. They will ensure full-service delivery on the core banking system to facilitate efficient and effective support for all Sumac MFB users and customers, acting with a sense of urgency to ensure systems achieve an "Always ON" status

Key Responsibilities: 

• Act as the principal administrator for the Core Banking System (ICBS), HRMS, Paynet, VCTS, and related integrated applications, managing user accounts, access levels, and security controls.
• Execute and oversee daily End of Day (EOD) and Start of Day (SOD) processes, actively checking for failed jobs, transaction mismatches, or pending postings.
• Manage End of Month (EOM) and End of Year (EOY) batch processes, including data importation to MIS and ensuring offline backups are fully functional.
• Lead the diagnosis, troubleshooting, and timely resolution of complex hardware, software, and application issues raised by branches, head office, and system users.
• Ensure the stable operation and error-free execution of all digital channels, bank interfaces, and mobile banking platforms.
• Liaise closely with system providers (such as Virmati) to apply patches, test system updates, escalate high-priority faults, and resolve pending tickets.
• Coordinate, track, and document all system change management processes, including logic changes, privileged access modifications, workflows, and procedures for compliance and knowledge management.
• Facilitate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for new developments, system modules, or regulatory updates.
• Support business growth and product development by configuring CBS modules, parameters, and loan/deposit schedules.
• Maintain database health by monitoring storage, replication, and performance across Application, Database, and Mbanking/IB servers.
• Perform data restoration, execute regular Disaster Recovery (DR) drills, and validate backups to ensure business continuity and compliance.
• Prepare, run, and reconcile system-generated financial reports and database scripts to support Finance, HR (Payroll), and Audit departments.
• Manage M-pesa back-office processes, correct erroneous transactions, execute reversals, and handle customer onboarding and PIN resets for mobile banking.
• Compile and submit monthly regulatory data to the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) and assist in internal, external, and Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) audit reviews by extracting system data.
• Plan and conduct technical refresher training and knowledge transfer sessions for core banking modules to enhance end-user adoption.
• Monitor and report on application performance against business expectations, ensuring all user requests are resolved within agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Provide proactive ICT consultation, staying aligned with legal developments and regulatory compliance to advise the bank appropriately.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor from time to time.

Qualifications and Technical Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or an equivalent field.  
• Minimum of 4 years’ professional experience, with at least 2 years focused on business and applications support within a corporate environment.  
• Hands-on experience with system administration and a strong understanding of the Microsoft Windows platform.  
• Technical qualifications or proficiency in SQL and Oracle scripting are highly desirable.  
• Working knowledge of DevOps Foundation is an added advantage.  
• Prior experience working within a financial services institution or banking environment is highly preferred.  
• Highly committed, self-motivated, confident, enthusiastic, and capable of performing well under pressure with a strong sense of urgency.  
• Excellent communication skills coupled with outstanding documentation capabilities.  
• Strong analytical and complex problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound technical decisions.  
• Proactive in seeking solutions, identifying opportunities for users, and driving change initiatives across the team.  
• Honest, reliable, dependable, adaptive, and an effective team player with good relationship management and interpersonal skills.  
• Strategic thinking with solid business acumen and strong planning skills.  
• Ability to stay abreast of the latest developments in technology.  

Why Join Us

Working at Sumac means joining a team dedicated to sustainable development and impactful service. Our culture is built on five key pillars that guide how we interact with our clients and each other:

• Considerateness: We foster respectful relations with our employees, partners, and the communities we serve.
• Loyalty: We believe in the power of collaboration to solve problems and achieve ambitious goals.
• Integrity: We operate with total honesty, fairness, and transparency. Being "above board" isn't just a phrase—it's our standard.
• Passion: We take pride in our work, performing every role with purpose and a positive attitude.
• Transparency: We maintain an open-door policy, ensuring all stakeholders are informed and valued.

What to Expect In the hiring Process

• A Preliminary call with a Recruiter
• An interview with the Hiring Manager
• Panel  Interviews
• Executive Interview