Operations Head Transaction Management: Short-Term Lending at Rand Merchant Bank

• The Head of Short-Term Lending is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing and managing the bank’s short-term lending portfolio, including General Banking Facilities (GBF), Money Market (MM), Short-Term Loans, and Trade Loans. 
• The role requires strong technical expertise, a strategic mindset, and the ability to lead a team across both front-office origination and middle-office operations. This leader will be responsible for ensuring effective risk management, operational efficiency, and revenue growth while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Strategy & Growth - Capacity planning and capability management

• Define and execute the strategy for the short-term lending business in alignment with the bank’s overall objectives and what is required to manage the capacity and volume.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with corporate and institutional clients to enhance lending activities and understand the operations.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities for innovation.

Product & Risk Management

• Oversee and manage the bank’s short-term lending portfolio, ensuring prudent risk management and adherence to credit policies.
• Work closely with the credit and risk functions to establish appropriate credit frameworks and policies for short-term lending products.
• Ensure effective operations and scalability of the execution of the end to end operating model of STL products.
• Monitor and manage portfolio performance, identifying potential stress points and mitigating risks proactively.

Operational Oversight (Including Middle Office Supervision)

• Ensure smooth coordination between front office lending teams and middle-office operations, ensuring accurate processing, monitoring, and reporting of loan transactions.
• Oversee loan booking, documentation, settlements, and post-trade processes to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
• Implement automation and process enhancements to improve operational effectiveness and reduce risk.
• Ensure full regulatory and internal compliance across all short-term lending activities.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of lending professionals, fostering a high-performance and client-centric culture.
• Collaborate with other divisions, including risk, compliance, treasury teams, and technology, to ensure seamless execution of lending operations.
• Ensure continuous professional development for the team, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to manage the evolving lending landscape.

Technical & Professional Requirements:

Technical Expertise

• In-depth knowledge of short-term lending products, including GBF, MM, trade finance loans, and short-term structured loans.
• Strong understanding of credit risk assessment, loan structuring, and pricing models.
• Knowledge of treasury, liquidity management, and capital markets in relation to short-term lending.
• Deep understanding of regulatory requirements for short-term lending and trade finance, ensuring compliance with Basel, IFRS 9, and local regulatory frameworks.
• Experience in middle-office functions, ensuring smooth loan administration, settlements, and risk controls.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams across front-office and middle-office functions.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, capable of managing complex client relationships.
• Ability to collaborate with senior executives and influence decision-making at the highest level.
• Experience in managing cross-functional projects, including digital transformation and automation initiatives.

You Will Be An Ideal Candidate If You:

• have Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related fields.
• have 8-10 years of experience in short-term lending, corporate banking, or treasury operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• have experience with lending technology platforms, loan origination systems, and trade finance processing systems preferred.
• have strong analytical skills and ability to interpret financial and market data.

Key Success Metrics:

• Growth and profitability of the short-term lending portfolio relative to capacity.
• Efficiency and accuracy of middle-office operations.
• Compliance with regulatory and risk management frameworks.
• Team performance, engagement, and development.