Lead: Business Support (Distressed Asset Management) at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

Credit Risk Management

• Take ownership for the strategic management  of the “high value” / “high risk” / “complex” /”high profile” Relationship Banking distressed client base ensuring that effective strategies are devised and implemented to ensure the management of impairments is within acceptable norms – i.e. impairments are forecast and raised in a timely manner.
• Support the Senior Business Support Specialist as they lead the detailed / complex negotiations with clients, other lenders, creditors and third party advisors regarding the agreement to, and implementation of strategy, to ensure properly mitigated credit risk for the Bank, based on continued Bank support and in the circumstances where strategies may conflict with client goals (e.g. insolvency).
• Where required take the lead in negotiating with clients, other lenders, creditors and third party advisors on complex transaction and/or where capacity is needed.
• Drive pro-active formulation and implementation of strategies pertaining to the client relationship, to improve credit risk.
• Deliver high standards of credit quality for high-risk and / or complex cases through the application of best practice to credit proposals.  Ensure high standards of credit discipline are applied to monitoring and control activities especially unauthorised borrowing.
• Make personal lending decisions within delegated personal mandate.
• Provide assistance and coaching to case managers in formulating strategies for the more complicated cases.
• Evaluation and approval / decline of credit proposals which lie outside the personal mandate of other team members in Business Support across all portfolios.
• Where necessary, stand-in as the chair of the various committees in the absence of the Head of Business Support.
• Attend the Regional, Segment and Relationship Banking Risk committee meetings, from time to time, and at discretion.
• Contribute to overall business and credit policy development.

Change Management 

• Drive the development and execution of strategic projects (as required) from time to time
• To take ownership of the watchlist processes and drive standardisation across Business Support in terms of the way in which Business Support reports and measures its KPIs
• Develop and produce a Portfolio Review Committee monthly pack for discussion with Business Support leadership and Risk leadership

People Management 

• Coach and support members of the team by assisting their technical development. Be responsible for the sharing of knowledge including technical solutions, tips, ideas and good practices within own and across other teams.
• Ensure that the resources and skills within the team are appropriate and comply with the requirements of the business area.
• Closely monitor and drive Key Performance Indicators/Drivers (as agreed from time to time).
• Ensure adherence to Absa’ values.
• Ensure that employee survey mechanisms are in place and based on the results, that corrective actions are taken where necessary.
• Drive diversity management.
• Build a pool of A players and raise talent levels.
• Be responsible for the sharing of knowledge including technical solutions, tips, ideas and good practices within own and across other teams

Stakeholder Management  

• Raise local profile in the team as well as the broader Relationship Banking Credit team and business partners
• Ensure stakeholder alignment and satisfaction utilising sound stakeholder management techniques
• Champion the Business Support team’s relationship with internal and external Clients, develop a strong network of internal contacts, external and panel professionals to maximise financial benefit for the Bank.
• Position and promote Business Support with Relationship Banking Teams, Relationship Banking Risk, Group Risk as well as external Clients, Industry Specialists and peers.

Governance

• Ensure that appropriate mandates are in place and reviewed annually.
• Ensure that standards and/or policies are in place and they align with strategies and reviewed annually
• Ensure that processes and procedures are documented, aligned with strategies and reviewed annually.
• Maintain the necessary meeting and reporting structures to support a highly effective governance structure.
• Comply with the Bank’s credit policies, standards, frameworks and philosophy at all times, and check that any policy breaches have been suitably addressed and mitigated against and reported to the appropriate authority e.g. Forensics.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements
• Responsibility for adherence to governance, compliance and lending portfolio controls and MI as required from time to time.

Education and Experience Required

• Postgraduate degree (preferably in Finance or Accounting as a Major) and a qualification in related legal fields would be an advantage.
• Minimum 15 years banking experience
• 8 to 10 years senior management corporate credit evaluation experience.
• Preference would be given to incumbents with extensive track record in managing Turnarounds, Restructures and Workouts of financially distressed clients.
• Member of SARIPA and/or TMA-SA

Education

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