Senior Credit Analyst (VP): Pan-Africa CIB (Financial Institutions) - Sandton at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

Accountability: Credit Risk Management:

• To take ownership and control of credit risk related work on a defined portfolio of Financial Institutions clients against which Absa Group Ltd has credit facilities.
• The candidate is to carry out comprehensive and quality credit risk functions. Functions cut across the credit lifecycle (i.e. granting, implementing, managing, restructuring and impairment) to create shared growth. This is achieved through responsible risk management enhancing the decision making process involved in the extension and management of credit risk within the boundaries of internal policies and external regulations.
• Representing Credit to Senior Management in various committees, presenting analysis of the aggregate portfolio risk and composition.
• Analysis of portfolio risk management and their impact to Portfolio Credit and Market Risk Metrics.
• Assist in developing and delivering relevant Monthly Risk MI for Senior Management within Credit and other senior partners, including analysis and commentary, ensuring risk issues on the defined portfolio are well understood and presented transparently.
• Create presentations and technical documents designed to articulate key risks to various forums and credit committees.
• Independently build and manage relationships with key relevant business partners to ensure responsible risk taking whilst retaining commercially minded solutions.
• Work closely with key partners to review and improve quality of MI over time.
• Support the management in the delivery of a sound governance process around the Credit MI's delivered by the team.
• Development of analytical tools to better understand and communicate risk concentrations and drivers of risk and capital.
• Facilitate the end to end lending or restructuring process, assuring responsibility for service and quality
• Facilitate / and or make the credit sanctioning decisions ensuring responsible risk decisions are made. Credit functions cut across the credit lifecycle, including risk grading, credit analysis, sanctioning, limit management, restructuring, and portfolio, among others.
• Maintain and manage the relevant portfolio within the defined appetite levels.
• To be an expert with an advanced understanding of Macro economic environment, industries and Bank products. To have strong working knowledge on FI Products (Trade Finance, Treasury Products, Market Products, including but not limited to: FX trades, interest rate swaps, total return swaps, bond trades, commodity trades, and equity trades; with a strong working knowledge on mitigating factors on PFE/pre-settlement and settlement risks (e.g. ISDA, CSAs, GMRAs GMSLAs, CLS, and DvP, among others).
• Review and enhancement of systems and processes with a view towards efficiency and automation whilst managing the current operational environment.
• Explore new, improved and alternative ways of lending or restructuring credit to ensure an efficient and improved end to end risk delivery.
• Effectively communicate developments within areas of activity to all relevant stakeholders.

Accountability: Data and System Management 

• Compile portfolio reviews and sensitivity analysis.
• Develop, negotiate and implement appropriate Risk mitigation strategies.
• To produce relevant management information and manage exposures including the accurate maintenance of the data on relevant risk systems.
• Monitor adherence to policies and SLAs on a continuous basis and identify any deviations and possible concerns.  
• Create and maintain an accurate due diligence record of the client portfolio, detailing what facilities they have and the associated terms and conditions.
• Understand and manage the required inputs into the banks models ensuring validity and accuracy. 
• Monitor the client business performance and identify relevant risks to ensure early identification of change in the client’s business or operating environment and watchlist accordingly.
• Proactively utilize the systems and tools available for Credit Risk and partake in the ongoing development and feedback of these systems to deliver and enhanced automated credit function. 
• Manage all administrative and operational aspects of the relevant portfolio of clients ensuring completeness, accuracy and validity of data.

Accountability: Governance 

• Ensure that the Bank’s credit policies and philosophy are complied with.
• Ensure understanding and adherence to relevant Legal requirements relevant to the Credit Lifecycle and specific industry.
• Regulatory legislation and the changing environment require an up to date knowledge of changes and the impact on credit risk and capital adequacy.
• Complete the necessary training requirements and Compliance processes in a timely manner.

Accountability: People management

• Support in creating a high performance culture of individuals who are engaged.
• Portraying the right values and behaviors are portrayed in the achievement of the Risk Strategy.
• Contribute fully, including suggestions for ways of improving risk delivery and management through ongoing projects. 
• Develop relationships with colleagues and create a sense of engagement.
• Communicate concerns or challenges faced in a constructive and positive manner.
• Develop and maintain contacts with Specialists in other areas of the Group.
• Embrace and adapt to the diversity and change within the current Banking environment. 
• Demonstrate the willingness and ability to perform to the very best levels to ensure personal alignment to the Credit Risk Strategy.

Education

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