CIB Risk: Head of Model Data and Implementation at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• The CIB Risk: Head of Model Data and Implementation will lead the CIB Risk Credit Model Data and Implementation function, provide thought leadership and strategic specialization to influence and optimize model development data, influence data architecture, ensure accurate data sourcing and delivery, guide overall model data lifecycle management and drive model implementation to improve models’ speed to market.
• The role will require cross-functional management and coordination of stakeholder- and regulatory requirements and will need to develop structures and processes to enable the Model Data and Implementation function to prioritize and sequence these requirements in a structured way. 
• The CIB Risk Head: Model Data and Implementation will be required to conceptualize strategic milestones to ensure continuous improvements in the model landscape, whilst maintaining the highest level of compliance to internal and external regulations and policies.

Stakeholders will include:

• CIB Head of Credit Model Development and Implementation and all functions within their structure.
• Risk Type Officer for Model Risk and the various functions within their structure.
• Managing Executives for relevant BUs as well as the various functions within their structure.
• Model Owners and Model Approvers for all relevant functional areas.
• Head of Financial Control and the various functions within their structure.
• Absa Internal Audit.
• External Auditors for Absa Group.
• Relevant structures within Group IT, for example Data Engineering.

Job Description

• The CIB Risk: Head of Model Data and Implementation will lead the CIB Risk Credit Model Data and Implementation function, provide thought leadership and strategic specialization to influence and optimize model development data, influence data architecture, ensure accurate data sourcing and delivery, guide overall model data lifecycle management and drive model implementation to improve models’ speed to market.
• The role will require cross-functional management and coordination of stakeholder- and regulatory requirements and will need to develop structures and processes to enable the Model Data and Implementation function to prioritize and sequence these requirements in a structured way.
• The CIB Risk Head: Model Data and Implementation will be required to conceptualize strategic milestones to ensure continuous improvements in the model landscape, whilst maintaining the highest level of compliance to internal and external regulations and policies.

Stakeholders will include:

• CIB Risk Head of Credit Model Development and Implementation and all functions within their structure.
• Risk Type Officer for Model Risk and the various functions within their structure.
• Managing Executives for relevant BUs as well as the various functions within their structure.
• Model Owners and Model Approvers for all relevant functional areas.
• Head of Financial Control and the various functions within their structure.
• Absa Internal Audit.
• External Auditors for Absa Group.
• Relevant structures within Group IT, for example Data Engineering.

Strategy and Operating Model:

• Formulate, contextualize and implement the model data and implementation strategy to facilitate an efficient model development lifecycle.
• Assess and formulate the most optimal operating model to ensure transparent cross-functional communication between all stakeholders.

Management and coordination  of stakeholder requirements:

• Through this operating model, actively engage stakeholders across all relevant functions with regards to their model data and implementation needs, in order to discern between business unit (BU) specific needs and group-wide needs that span across business units and functions.
• Guide the team to organize and aggregate needs into strategic objectives or projects which will balance delivery on group-wide priorities whilst continuing execution on key BU strategies and changes.

Design of model data and implementation processes and frameworks:

• Develop and strengthen structures and frameworks which will enable the Model Data and Implementation function to:
• Review, guide and design data preparation processes
• Review and improve modelling data preparation code and documentation
• Review, guide and design model implementation processes
• Review and improve model implementation code and documentation
• Ensure model selection rules (model hierarchies) are updated to reflect the latest approved and implemented model application scopes.
• Provide leadership and guidance to ensure that model data and model implementations comply with regulatory requirements.

Control design, RDARR compliance and artefacts:

• As Process Steward, develop cross-functional, RDARR compliant processes for model execution from authoritative source to model for all centrally deployed models within the BU.
• Lead the design of controls ensuring that appropriate governance regarding modelling data, model implementation and model execution are embedded.
• Design and own RDARR-compliant processes and controls for updating all artefacts related to centrally-deployed models across all relevant Business Units, including:
• Data Dictionaries
• Source-to-target mappings
• RDARR data input trackers
• RDARR data output trackers
• Guide and enable BU data owners to execute their responsibilities with regards to authoritative source data management

People Management:

• Ensure the development of a high-performing function through embedding formal Performance Management and informal coaching.
• Ensure that Absa values are instilled with the function and through demonstrating leadership by example.
• Determine and analyze attestation, training and development needs for managers, ensure that these requirements are met and that managers do the same for their teams.
• With the support from the HR Business Partner, interview and recruit direct reports and provide support to them during the recruitment of their teams on request.
• Act as second level escalation point for all grievances raised in the business unit.
• Ensure that all poor performance is addressed and that reward and recognition is appropriately managed
• Drive the transformation and talent objectives and targets of the organization within the broader team in terms of staff recruitment into priority positions and the identification and development of critical talent.
• Ensure that appropriate succession plans are in place for all critical positions within the team.

Leadership:

• Develop and maintain relationships with relevant business units by understanding the business units' requirements and obtaining feedback.
• Contribute to the development of a high-performance culture
• Facilitate the establishment of a clear vision of the function and drive the realization of that vision
• Be proactive in identifying future team requirements, resource allocation and training

Education and experience required:

• Honours/Masters Degree (Actuarial, Financial Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering) preferred
• Masters(MBA/MBL) or post graduate degree (NQF Level 9) preferred
• Demonstrate clear understanding of statistical methodology experience in data science
• In-depth experience in data governance, data management and data analytics
• A proven track record in the banking, financial or similar environment, 10+ years preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to formulate strategies, identify and develop innovative solutions
• Macro understanding of the business environment and how the related Industry is operating
• Extensive knowledge of competitor and non-competitor strategy and practices in the Sector related market
• A proven transformational profile taking solutioning to a new level
• Interpreting and influencing of strategic signals from external and internal operating environment and translating these into relevant actions through driving change and innovation
• Ability to provide leadership to the next generation of the data journey

Education

• Master's Degree: Actuarial Science (Required), Master's Degree: Mathematics (Required), Master's Degree: Statistics (Required)