Environmental and Social Credit Risk Manager at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To play a key role in protecting the bank from material sustainability, environmental and social risk in its Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) lending portfolios.

Job Description

• Assisting the Head of Environmental Credit Risk Management (ECRM) to represent Absa’s position and approach to environmental and social credit risk issues to internal and external audiences
• Provision of specialist input, support and guidance on sustainability, environmental and social risk issues to protect Absa from environmental credit, collateral and reputational risks
• Research and assessment of environmental and social issues, legislation, and industry initiatives to align to best practice
• Integration of environmental and social risk management into the credit risk appraisal processes

Key Responsibilities

            Business Results (60%)

• Ensure implementation of Equator Principles, within Absa
• Confirm that lending facility requests are compliant with regulatory, legal and internal requirements
• Identify the applicability of Environmental and Social requirements and standards and refer material matters to relevant governance committees for further review or decisions
• Review and assess case referrals to establish environmental considerations and requirements and deliver clear, concise, and commercially aware recommendations to the business
• Conduct Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) in accordance with Absa Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), meet applicable Absa funder requirements and provide recommendations for inclusion to credit / investment submissions
• Consider Climate Change Risks when recommending credit / investment applications
• Ensure adherence to Conduct Risk Framework, Reputational Risk Framework and all regulations associated to Environmental Risk
• Develop and implement requirements through business processes, collate information for reporting and serve as a point of contact for queries
• Identify where applicability of IFC Performance Standards is required
• Support and provide input to sustainability and environmental policy development
• Confirm compliance with applicable sustainability and environmental policies and standards
• Conduct site visits, where required
• Provide specialist sustainability, environmental and social risk advice, input and guidance.
• Assist the businesses to become more familiar with the available environmental and social risk management assessment tools and techniques
• Provide required support to Head ECRM

Stakeholder Management and Reputational Enhancement (20%)

• Act as an ambassador for Absa, representing the Bank’s position on environmental and social risk issues
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and participate in applicable working groups
• Compile annual Environmental and Social (E&S) report for reporting to funders (supported by HR, credit and other data providers)
• Contribute to the content of environmental and social reports for internal or external stakeholders thereby strategically positioning environmental and social credit risk management
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues across the lending value chain (e.g. frontline, legal, transaction managers etc) and provide expert support and guidance as appropriate
• Maintain dialogue and network with relevant opinion formers, to understand key areas of interest and expectation

Business Transformation (10%)

• Research, analyse and interpret developments in the environmental arena to understand the legal, ethical and practical implications to support benchmarking, tool development and process improvements
• Proactively identify areas where business would benefit from additional guidance

Grow Talent and Capability (10%)

• Raise credit and other banking staff awareness of environmental credit risk considerations and issues and help staff to bridge any internal process or other knowledge gaps
• Ensure ongoing performance development to ensure generic personal skills are enhanced
• Research, develop and maintaining new tools, techniques and processes to enable business areas and risk teams to place greater reliance on self-analysis.

Competencies

• Strong environmental and social risk management skills
• IFC Performance Standard and World Bank EHS guidelines review and assessment experience
• Environmental and social legal experience, an advantage
• Financial Acumen, strategic, commercial, and entrepreneurial mindset
• Strong report writing, presentation, facilitation, and communication skills
• Strong problem solving, analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to engage with diverse internal and external stakeholders (stakeholder management)
• Experience working in financial institutions of at least 3 years, in the lending / transaction life cycle
• Strong awareness of business strategy and objectives
• Results driven
• High standards and control

Minimum Requirements

• Business related B Degree in Commerce or Environmental Management, equivalent NQF level 6 qualification or Higher
• At least 3 years’ experience in environmental risk discipline. Environmental consultancy and site visit review experience preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the Internet
• No criminal record

Preferred Requirements

• Preference will be given to South African Citizens and permanent residents of South Africa in possession of proof of permanent resident status

General

The appointment will be made in line with the Employment Equity strategy

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