Executive Assistant at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To provide organisational, administrative and logistical support to the CRO: PSC Lending or in a way that enhances the effectiveness of the overall team and the area they lead.
• The individual is expected to work with a senior managers to provide secretarial and administrative support. They act as the first point of contact for the CRO during their absence.
• The individual will need to maintain a high degree of confidentiality at all times and to interact with stakeholders at various levels in order to deliver on the work outputs.

.Job Description

• Accountability: Operational Process Support
• As the first point of contact for the Chief Risk Officer, demonstrate professional demeanor and discretion and role model Absa Values when interacting with all stakeholders, especially in high-pressure situations
• Act as initial point of entry for escalated client queries. Redistribute the resolution or respond directly to the stakeholders where appropriate and report only major issues to the Chief Risk Officer or .
• Maintain an updated view of priority projects and initiatives underway in the business unit and provide regular updates to the Chief Risk Officer on progress, risks and issues.
• Review financial reports prepared by line managers in the business unit and advise the Chief Risk Officer of substantial issues and actions that have been created to address these.
• Review all new marketing and internal communication material from a style and content perspective prior to it being reviewed by the Chief Risk Officer and request required changes before presenting for signoff.
• Support the Chief Risk Officer’s management team, establishing regular team and 1:1 interaction for direct reports on topics including performance, development and general engagement
• Take charge of general office administration including ordering of stationery and groceries,
• restocking printers etc.
• Manage travel, cell phone, expense claims etc. (i.e. responsible for controlling signatures, taking policy into account, urgency and effecting timeous forwarding of documents) in line with Absa policies and standards.
• Invoice management including processing payments for EXL
• Retrieve bank property e.g. cell phone, 3G cards, laptops, access cards etc. from direct reports as required.

Accountability: Administrative Support

• Manage the diary of the Chief Risk Officer in an efficient manner in line with the Chief Risk Officer’s priorities
• Setting up AVAF and HL risk governance meetings: HL and VAF CRC, ERC, etc including booking of venues, preparation of relevant meeting materials, arranging travel, and taking minutes where required.
• Provide on-site support during events as required
• Be the go-to person that the other PA’s deal with to align AVAF and Risk diaries with key Stakeholders to the Chief Risk Officer
• Oversee the planning and execution of BU events for the Chief Risk Officers team such as town halls, road shows, employee discussion forums, product launches, customer entertainment events and formal functions.
• Prepare the key themes presentations and reviews for the Chief Risk Officer by researching and packaging detailed content
• Ensure that presentations are designed to reflect the business unit's brand and Chief Risk Officer’s personal style.

Accountability: Governance and Control

• Support the Chief Risk Officer in the signoff process for risk events (losses and write-offs) by obtaining all investigation documentation and making recommendations on whether the BU should take the loss or whether it should be absorbed by a different area.
• Liaise with other mandate holders in the BU to ensure that they follow a rigorous process before approving write-offs.
• Exec/BU Head on trends identified and recommended actions.

Role/Person specification

Education and experience required

• NQF 4 qualification (Grade 12)
• Diploma or equivalent NQF level 5 qualification
• At least 3 years’ recent experience supporting a senior-level executive
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Previous experience of successfully working in a dynamic, high demand work environment with tight deadlines, where the role required handling and maintenance of highly confidential and sensitive materials
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Advantageous: Financial industry experience

Knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge of basic financial/accounting concepts
• Excel intermediate
• Basic accounting knowledge
• Project management intermediate

Competencies:

• Personal and Interpersonal skills
• Writing and Reporting
• Deciding and initiating action
• Relating and networking
• Persuading and Influencing

Education

• Higher Diplomas: Office Administration (Required)

End Date: July 9, 2025