Credit Analyst - CIB - Umhlanga at Absa South Africa

Job Summary

• To carry out comprehensive and quality credit assessments and analysis on potential and existing Mid Corporate and Large Local Corporate Segment clients to enhance the decision making process involved in determining the Bank's appetite to extend credit to these clients. Work within existing credit policies to structure appropriate bankable solutions for the client and further manage all other credit related issues for a portfolio of clients.

Job Description

Accountability: Determination of a client’s credit risk through the use of analytics

• Conduct research on the industry in which the client operates to understand the industries overall profitability, industry trends and client's market standing relative to its competitors.
• Perform robust financial and non financial analysis on the client that will support and underpin all new proposals in terms of the clients' credit risk implications.
• Make use of clients' historical data for example, its financial statements to forecast the clients’ potential growth and sustainability.
• Conduct a sensitivity/scenario analysis to determine the impact that a change in, for example the economy, political situation, consumer demand etc will have on the clients’ financial health.
• Based on analysis conducted structure a lending solution for the client, that will account for the potential threats to the client and that is within set credit limits and the Bank's credit lending policies and appetite.
• Compile a proposal which summarises, the clients’ background and needs, the research findings and the final recommendation on which credit lending solution is best for the client, for the Credit Manager to approve in the interim and escalate further for the necessary approval.
• Facilitate the credit sanctioning process by responding to sanctioned enquiries and/or attending all relevant Credit Committee meetings in order to present and sponsor credit applications that have been submitted under your signature.
• Produce relevant management information and manage exposures including the maintenance of the relevant systems.
• Pro-actively manage credit risks associated with the portfolio of clients in the trade & commodity finance environment in South Africa and off-shore, including Africa.
• Compile reviews, amendments and new applications to the appropriate lending authorities.
• Requesting of valuations on properties which serve as security for facilities.

Accountability: Input into credit lending strategies 

• Explore new, improved and alternative ways of lending credit and transfer this know-how to others in the department with the intention of making them the new departmental standards.
• Consult with relevant parties and governance structures to secure approval for these new standards prior to implementation.
• Provide relevant parties support in the analysis and development of new credit lending strategies. Document all research findings and make/present recommendations to the relevant decision makers on new strategies that will outperform the past approaches and solve problems along the way.

Accountability: Credit Policy Compliance and Governance

• Ensure that the Bank’s credit policies and philosophy are fully complied with at all times, and that any policy breaches have been suitably addressed and mitigated against.
• Ensure adherence to Absa Bank Credit Policy and other relevant legislation, for example during the application preparation process.

Accountability: Client Portfolio Management 

• Productively manages the overall clients' value through optimising revenue opportunities and managing the credit exposure to the Bank.
• Support the drafting/issuance of facility letters (in conjunction with coverage and transactional administration) to clients after review was compile or granting of new facilities.
• Act as primary contact for the client and resolve, on a timely basis, all client problems/queries as and when required to ensure exceptional customer service.
• Maintain thorough, accurate and up to date client files, which include a set of financials, evaluations, credit decisions and a report on all calls to the clients.
• Providing bank codes to other financial institutions on client's accounts.

Accountability: Risk Management 

• Monitors the client business performance on a continuous basis, in addition to performing formal reviews at specified time intervals, to ensure early pick-up of change in the client’s business or operating environment.
• Ensure covenants and conditions are met on a monthly basis.
• Create and maintain a detailed due diligence list on the clients portfolio, detailing what facilities they have etc so that information is readily available for reporting purposes as and when required by the auctioneers in Credit.
• Obtain input from Product Industry Specialist, where appropriate.

Education

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