Associate Macroprudential Specialist – Stress Testing at South African Reserve Bank

The main purpose of this position is to assist in the development and implementation of stress testing frameworks in order to promote the robustness and stability of the financial system. This includes advising policymakers of the soundness of the financial institutions and market infrastructures under stress scenarios.
Detailed Description        

The successful candidate will be responsible for, among other things, the following key performance areas:

•     Assist with the development and implementation of the top-down and bottom-up stress testing frameworks (methodologies, processes, models, etc.).
•     Support the conducting and reporting of stress-testing exercises in the financial system in order to provide advice to policymakers.  
•     Support the senior macroprudential specialists in coordinating and analysing the results of the stress-testing exercise with relevant stakeholders.
•     Analyse and reconcile new data with historical trends and other relevant data and sources.
•     Conduct research to inform the assumptions and relationships that underpin economic and other models.
•     Assist with the building of simple models, running of short-term simulation exercises, and analysing and explaining model results.
•     Compile thorough, comprehensive and descriptive reports.
•     Demonstrate understanding and application of all methodological standards, techniques and protocols that apply to own work.
•     Prepare briefings and presentations on research findings and economic analysis and present to internal team.
•     Support skills development of junior specialists by providing guidance on the subject matter in own scope of work.

Job Requirements        
To be considered for this position, candidates must have:

•     a Bachelors’ degree in Economics, Finance, Statistics or an equivalent qualification; and
•     two to five years’ job-related experience with a strong background in Economics or Econometrics.

Additional requirements include:

•     knowledge of economic and financial theories as well as macroprudential policies;
•     an understanding of stress testing of the banking/insurance sectors or similar environment;
•     knowledge of regulatory frameworks and international standards;
•     experience with macroeconomic and/or microeconomic modelling;
•     facilitation and presentation skills;
•     strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills; and
•     proficiency in Microsoft (MS) Office products such as MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint