Deal Manager STF at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• The purpose of this role is to perform the Deal Management function for Structured Trade Finance. This function involves transaction validation “fit for processing”, reconciliation, valuation together with ongoing life cycle event management.
• This role will manage the interface with front office, back office, external customers, and all internal infrastructure partners to ensure a smooth client experience during the lifecycle of the facility.
• The Deal Manager will be required to manage the facilities within approved specifications and ensure that all the controls, processes, regulations, and policies are adhered to during the lifecycle of the facility.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Pre-Implementation Responsibilities

• Pan Africa Portfolio: Deal managers are responsible for the Middle Office responsibilities for all STCF Facilities across Africa. Working with all Absa Africa subsidiary colleagues
• Pre-Implementation: Attend Deal Forum on allocated “potential” facilities. Ensuring input is provided from a STF Middle Office perspective where required on the operational workability of the facility.
• Transaction Approval: Attend all Transaction Approval meetings on allocated facilities and ensure an operational memorandum is drafted and signed with the relevant Absa subsidiary prior to first drawdown. Articulating the workings of the transactions, SLA and responsibilities for each party involved.
• CP Management on structured deals- During the implementation stage of the new facility ensure all Standard and Non Standard CP’s are clearly documented and available to view for every transaction. Due dates for each CP’s have to be documented and tracked to ensure adherence to transaction parameters, escalate and document any missed, delayed or breached CP’s on a transaction level.
• Have a good understanding of the underlying commodity (market) that is being dealt with on each transaction before transaction is implemented and interlocking with the correct stakeholders to close any gaps on this understanding before deal is implemented.

Transacting Responsibilities

• Products: The STCF Deal Manager is expected to understand and execute on a combination of various products in the environment within one Facility. Including but not limited to: Letters of Credit, Trade Loans, Stock Financing, Receivable Financing, Guarantees, Collections, Pre-Export Finance, Participation, Borrowing Base, Commodity Hedges, Currency Hedges etc.
• Transaction monitoring - proactively manage milestones and ensure applicable trackers/ check lists are adhered to in line with transaction requirements
• Perform fit for processing checks -  check that all required parameters of the facility are adhered to and ensure all information is accurate and meets the required standards for all respective trade transactions prior to actioning.
• Manage and monitor all third party service providers including but not limited to (Collateral Managers, storers and traders/agents) with each drawdown and due dates.
• Stock, hedge position – where applicable need to be well management, monitored with each drawdown and monthly.
• Document checking and Negotiation- Review trade documentation required in terms of the various products and analyse and interpret content through effective application of International Chamber of Commerce Guidelines, International Standard Banking Practice and other applicable ICC publications (UCP 600, ISBP, RR725, URDG 758
• Transaction Execution – preparation of finance calculations in line with facility approval, intake of stock/confirmation, execute funding within SLA, stock releases, monitoring and capturing of deposits and any other related requirements on execution and management of deals life cycle.
• Loan Booking – Ensure technical correctness of each instruction/application for funding and that the necessary approvals to undertake the transaction are obtained prior to booking deals with Treasury. Reconcile booked loans to transactions in monthly recon. Ensure the booking system parameters (Limits, SSIs and client profiles) are in order prior to loan requests being honoured.
• Management of limits: Various limits to be managed as per facility/credit approval.
• Accounting – review of stock, VAT, Debtors, Financial reconciliations, daily, weekly, month end procedures, consolidation, preparation of information and review deal accuracy. Ensure that all exposures are accurately recorded on the banks systems. Review and ensure interest is passed on the correct cost centres and amounts on a monthly basis.  Ensure all items are closed out as required and ensuring close attention is paid to risk mitigation activities and red flags while doing recons.
• Adhoc reporting – prepare reports and provide relevant information as and when requested by stakeholders. Assist with audit requests.

Risk and Control Management

• Control Environment – ensure all deals comply with regulatory and legal requirements. Take responsibility for deal to ensure current controls and procedures are observed.  Continuously consider risk mitigation and operational effectiveness, with monthly KRI’s reporting and providing feedback where applicable. 
• Log all risk and loss events - as they occur as a result of fraud or error highlighted in the department.  First escalate to line manager and then contact Internal Control to enable documenting and tracking of the route cause and solution for preventative control to mitigate risk.
• Complete all relevant compliance training and be conversant with the relevant regulations that impact on day-to-day function
• Comply with prescribed policies, processes, regulatory, governance and procedures to prevent any financial loss
• Proactively pick up, solution and ensure resolve of risks and issues to the end. Irrespective which department is responsible, ensure items are resolved and closed out
• Assist and contribute to ensure green audits.
• Ensure Pricing is correctly applied.
• Additional requirements Excon check and referral to Excon Specialists where Exchange Control Application (ECA) is required.
• Know Your Customer (KYC) Checks Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Red Flags in accordance with the Trade Based Money Laundering (TBML) & Trade Finance (TF) Standard policy Standard / Non Standard Legal wording

General

• Client focus – where required liaise with clients to resolve queries working jointly with various stakeholders with client visits on a case-by-case basis.
• Record Management – provide regular (as requested) inputs and actively participate in the review of the Record Management procedures by attending meetings when requested and updating relevant documents.
• Business Continuity Management – being able to assist and work in any one of the other areas within the STCF department if required for business continuity. This will be a directive from the line manager or team leaders as and when required
• Innovation – continuously investigate new and better ways to enhance the Middle Office or other environments by measuring the effectiveness of all procedures.
• Adhoc requests - e.g. Certificate of balance, audit certificates, client queries, book reports, on boarding of new clients (opening accounts and adding clients on systems) and train clients around the operation of their relevant facilities

One Africa Stakeholder Management

• Interaction with Key Stakeholders - partner with various areas across the Absa Group to manage client requirements and enable Fit for Processing including Absa Finance, Treasury, Front Office, Product, Credit, Transaction Administration “TA” and Transactional Management “TM”, Coverage, Legal, Internal Control, Operational Risk, Product Control Group, TAG, Excon, Compliance and Regulatory, Pan Africa stakeholders Etc
• Ensure all stakeholders are fully engaged to deliver the Operational strategy for the Pan Africa Trade business
• Work closely with in country Operational teams, Sales, RCU etc. to deliver the standardisation of product processes, control and technology
• Manage stakeholder’s relationship across Pan Africa and Globally where necessary
• Support all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and risk-free approach to the rollout of STCF or remediation of existing STCF deals in line with the Product strategy.
• Ensure SLA’s and associated KRI/KPI measures are in place and are monitored monthly across STCF Pan Africa business and reported to Product Management Head monthly per country and transaction.
• Attend the Monthly SLA meetings
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders, decision makers and colleagues to ensure organizational goals are met
• Responsible for partnering with key stakeholders to understand the strategy, direction and roadmap objectives for the business and management of transactions.
• Ensure escalation of any breaches in STCF TOM on a transaction level.

Innovation and Change

• Must participate and enable implement/monitor change/projects in the bigger team ensuring all SI projects are successful and delivered on deadline.
• Set own personal development goal objectives and completed all required actions to achieve
• Continuously look for opportunities to further develop own skills and expand knowledge base across the bigger business and other products.
• Work closely with Products, Sales, IT, and other key partners to secure their support and enable operational execution in line with best practice.
• Manage and lead all the agreed SI projects across Pan Africa ensuring that these projects and BAU book of work are delivered within scope, on time and in budget.
• Staying ahead of all new regulations and developments in the Trade Finance business – as it relates to – Operational risk Management and best practice.
• Ensure the Trade strategy is delivered iro. ensuring consistent processes, controls and technology across all markets we operate and Trade TOM rollout.
• Work across lines of businesses, geographies and verticals to drive broad change in systems and processes using lean, six sigma with a customer-obsessed culture to drive improved controls and enhanced client experience for internal and external stakeholders, always balancing risk and control management for the organization.

Culture and People Development

• Ensure that we adhere to a high performing organisation profile
• Live the Absa values
• Being a team player for the success of the STF team
• Provide ongoing training and support to operations departments and other areas that support STCF. Ensuring the team are aligned to the deliverables and managing performance against the strategy and objectives.
• Provide clear direction to the SA and ARO value chain stakeholders to achieve optimal performance of STCF Transactions.
• Continuously up-skill colleagues upon their knowledge of Trade Finance Products including knowledge of related processes, procedures, legal, credit, compliance and external market knowledge etc.
• Assist with intra-team training, to increase skill level of all team members

Role/Person Specification

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor Degree in Commerce/Relevant Diploma

Considered an advantage 3 – 5-year experience:

• Applicable Global Trade Qualifications Started/Completed
• Structured Deal Management experience
• Commodity, Trade, Receivable Finance experience

Knowledge & Skills

• Accounting skills
• Acute Structured Trade and/or Trade product knowledge
• Understanding of deal flow processes and rationale behind the procedures
• Understanding of Financial Markets and Derivatives **
• Business acumen/MS office proficiency intermediate level
• Performance orientated and client service driven**
• Risk monitoring and identifying potential risks in transactions
• Good interpersonal and team-working skills and the ability to communicate at all levels **
• The ability to work in a pressured and unstructured environment and to cope with the demands of working to tight deadlines **
• Maturity – able to deal with stakeholders at all levels
• Report writing and presentation skills

Competencies: (Maximum of 8 competencies)

• Deciding and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and Networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Applying expertise and Technology
• Time management & deadline driven
• Risk Management

Education

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

End Date: September 22, 2025