• Job Description

  Req#: R-15962548

  Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

  With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

  Job Summary

  The purpose of the role as Head of Credit (“HOC”) for Private Bank and Wealth, is to oversee and manage the credit function specifically in relation to the Private Bank and Wealth portfolio, with a focus on the lending activities relating to this client segment. In this role, the incumbent is accountable for the development and implementation of credit risk management and risk appetite strategies and policies tailored to the Private Bank & Wealth segments. The role is also required to evaluate credit risk performance and assess associated collateral and asset values, while monitoring and Analysing portfolio performance to identify trends, risks and opportunities, and make recommendations to make risk adjustments where necessary.
  
  As a leader, the Head of Credit Private Bank and Wealth provides guidance to a team of analysts and underwriters, ensuring they have the necessarily skills and knowledge to evaluate sector related credit applications effectively. The incumbent is also expected to foster relationships with Private Bank and Wealth clients, alliance and joint venture partners, industry stakeholders and other relevant stakeholders and ensure compliance with regulatory and internal directives and policies.
  
  In summary, the Head Credit: Private Bank and Wealth plays a critical role in managing credit risk, supporting the growth of Private Bank and Wealth lending, and contributing to the overall success of the business.

  Job Description

  Credit Process

  • Analyse, interpret and produce detailed reports that explain trends, discrepancies, and inconsistencies.
  • Develop, align and implement a tactical strategy and associated policies and guidelines within multiple practices.
  • Develop a plan for multiple practice changes and specify the priorities of delivery plans and resources needed that puts a premium on simplicity, agility, innovation and incorporates the understanding of customer needs.
  • Anticipate tactical strategy and practice issues for multiple practices and proactively develop solutions to enhance the quality of problem resolution.
  • Ensure a fit for purpose credit strategy and framework for the underlying sector, segment or product in Relationship Banking that is relevant to the needs of customers and revenue generation requirements and targeted cost to serve.
  • Contribute to the review and design of the business architectures (people, systems, processes, products, market segments and geography) to maintain competitive advantage, reduce cost and improve profitability.
  • Accountable for the credit strategies across the product life cycle: acquisition, authorisations, portfolio credit limit management, re-issues, high risk exposure management, collections and recoveries.
  • Conduct appropriate research and act as the strategic advisor and subject matter expert in respect of Credit requirements for allocated portfolio.
  • Represent Relationship Banking, participate and contribute to industry and Bank wide forums and governance structures as required or directed.
  • Interlock with key stakeholders in Relationship Banking and high value clients to obtain a commercial awareness of the local market and industry specifics leading to improved customer solutions.
  • Develop, maintain, and review the appropriate mandate and scale, suitable lending criteria and risk appetites for the allocated portfolio.
  • Drive improved data quality and RWA’s as wells as Economic Capital and Risk Capital returns; and continuously improve efficiencies, control, and automation.
  • Review quality credit assessments and present bespoke/bankable solutions pertaining to high value clients and transactions for the allocated credit portfolio.
  • Accountable for the management and reporting of the end-to-end credit process ensuring service delivery exceeds the expectations of stakeholders pertaining to turnaround times and client visits for the allocated credit portfolio.
  • Interlock with Supporting Functions in Relationship Banking (COO, Governance and Distressed Debt and others as appropriate) to ensure the appropriate level of delivery to achieve the needs of customers and revenue generation requirements and target cost optimisation
  • Participate in the financial planning cycles (MTP, STP and Revised Annual Forecast (RAF) for the portfolio by providing a view on impairments, expected losses, economic capital and other elements.
  • Direct responsibility for managing impairment and fraud costs and necessary remedial actions to deliver on annual STP. Actively manage costs, portfolio shape, quality and return resilience through the cycle.
  • Support the development of credit tracking for tactical plans and credit scoreboards for the allocated portfolio and take corrective actions where required.

  Client/Customer

  • Develop tactical strategies for the integration of service excellence culture, which builds rewarding relationships and provides opportunity for feedback and exceptional service across multiple practices.
  • Accountable for transforming and delivering the target customer experience in support of RB’s strategic aspirations through the appropriate credit frameworks, policies and processes.
  • In partnership with the respective RB clusters, develop deep insights into customer needs, expectations and behaviours pertaining to the use of credit frameworks, policies and processes and align offerings that are innovative and competitive.
  • Demonstrate value add at every client engagement and look for potential business opportunities
  • Communicate Risk Appetite for all key segments / sectors / industries.

  Finance

  • Contribute to the setting of budgets, minimize expenditure, and manage costs and assets effectively.
  • Develop, implement, and monitor a cycle of medium-term cost improvements.

  Leadership Learning and Development

  • Create an engaging, enabling, and productive work climate aligned to the employee value proposition.
  • Create a winning, talented, and diverse team
  • Develop and implement multi-practice change management initiatives.
  • Builds and sustains a culture that aligns to RBB’s aspirational colleague experience to deliver the target customer experience and financial performance.

  Governance and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Implement corporate governance and compliance policies in multiple practice areas in order to identify and manage risk liabilities.
  • Accountable for ensuring an optimal and compliant control environment within the allocated Portfolio that appropriately balances risk appetites and customer demand with the need to grow to achieve the financial ambitions and balance sheet aspirations.
  • Implement agreed performance controls to proactively measure achievement against strategic targets and address changes or non-performance.
  • Ensure that the credit function for the allocated Portfolio possess the required capabilities (infrastructure, people, process, and culture) to comply with relevant regulations governing selling and to enable the delivery of RB’s strategic goals.

  Education and experience required

  • Desired Post Graduate Degree (NQF level no.8+)
  • 8 - 10 years’ experience in a similar environment, of which 3 - 4 years at senior management level.
  • Deep Private Bank and Wealth specific experience

  Technical Competencies

  • Credit risk and analytical skills
  • Working knowledge of the application of credit risk models
  • Deep understanding of the risk drivers in Commercial Property Finance and Structured Lending
  • Budgeting and cost management

  Education

  Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

  Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

  Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised

• About the company

  Absa Group Limited, and originally Amalgamated Banks of South Africa, is a South African-based financial services group, offering personal and business banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, as well a...

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