Head Emerging Risks and Scenario Development at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

Accountability: Stress Testing Strategy, Framework and Execution

• Understand and comply with all applicable governance, compliance and risk policies and procedures, ensuring that the relevant documentation is in place.
• Manage and refine the scenario development governance process to ensure robust challenge of scenario and stress test results, striving to ensure buy-in and integrity of results.
• Submit regular and accurate reports to senior management and committees where applicable.
• Effectively and efficiently handle queries from internal and external stakeholders (e.g. regulators) on reports / submissions.
• Ensure appropriate early warning indicators are in place to flag potential consequences to senior management.
• Analyse effectiveness of processes and systems in use in the department and make recommendations for improvements and assist in UAT / development as required.

Accountability: Emerging Risks (including regulatory)

• Evaluate peer analysis as it pertains to select themes / metrics e.g. capital and liquidity management.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders and identify portfolio construction, offerings and exposure levels and whether these constitute risks/ opportunities relative to the current and expected operating environment.
• Stay abreast of new developments in the stress testing world, especially about geopolitical risk, market paradigm shifts and regulatory developments as well as socialise these, as appropriate. Research news, articles and risk publications (internal and external) to build appropriate scenarios to support different stress testing activities.
• Identify where different economies are with respect to the economic cycle and expectations on cycle phase duration.
• Monitor regulatory change and assess the impact thereof on AGL and its subsidiaries. Where applicable lead/ co-ordinate impact assessments and/ or advocacy on regulations.
• Where applicable, develop and run surveys internally and/ or externally as required.
• Actively participate in industry forums and associations to keep up to date with the latest developments.

Accountability: Scenario development and impact assessment

• Where necessary, take accountability for the development, ownership and maintenance of additional models required to enable efficient and effective scenario development.
• Leading role and counsel as a subject matter expert on macro-economics, impact assessment, financial and non-financial forecasting and best in class quantitative risk management practices.
• Source or develop macro-economic variables views for the scenarios above from Economic Research and / or other sources to support Financial Planning, IFRS 9 and recovery and resolution planning and other scenarios.
• Manage relevant internal and external audit requirements regarding the development of macroeconomic forward-looking views, with special focus on IFRS 9 and other regulatory scenarios.
• Work with internal stakeholders to identify relative severity and probabilities of different scenarios.
• Provide review and challenge of business and economic assumptions in different scenarios.
• Provide inputs to the senior management and Board submissions.

Accountability: Stakeholder and Relationship Management

• Be the main contact point to ensure alignment of macroeconomic views for Financial Planning, IFRS 9 credit impairment calculations and stress testing. Explain requirements to stakeholders to ensure that all scenarios are relevant, fit for purpose and robustly test the vulnerabilities of AGL and its subsidiaries. This includes interlock on forward-looking views across the Group.
• Lead by example in building strong internal and external relationships, displaying excellent abilities to initiate strategic dialogue and listen, advise, influence, negotiate and present at different levels.
• Establish and nurture influential relationships with a wide network across the organization and externally, to identify synergies and optimally leverage relationships, knowledge, services and resources to provide superior solutions.
• Drive a culture of proactive compliance and risk management within the team and the function.

Education and experience required.

• Honors degree in finance, accounting, economics or quantitative management (NQF level no.)
• 5 years (Technical/Managerial) experience in economic research, stress testing, regulatory advocacy and/or capital management / liquidity
• 10+ years of experience in risk management or related field within a top tier investment bank
• Practical experience of using analytics / modelling to solve complex business problems

Education

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

End Date: January 31, 2026