Senior Quantitative Portfolio Manager at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• We are looking for a seasoned professional to lead credit portfolio risk initiatives within Absa’s Corporate and Investment Banking division. This front-office role requires a thought leader who can drive product development, enhance risk methodologies, and deliver actionable insights across wholesale credit portfolios in South Africa and ARO.

Job Description

Product Development & Enhancement

• Act as a thought leader in credit portfolio risk, covering credit instruments and counterparty credit risk.
• Understand Absa’s current model environment and global best practices in Credit Portfolio Management, including structured solutions.
• Oversee technical QA library development for business enablement.
• Manage sector analysis, market-implied spreads, and other industry indicators.
• Develop communication protocols with Risk for internal clients and assist with EC framework implementation.
• Create challenger approaches to risk parameter models (PD, LGD, EAD) and develop “real-world” models for internal and external use.
• Assess and advise on regulatory impacts from a business perspective.

Risk Management

• Complete compliance attestations for model development.
• Develop portfolio risk interrogation techniques to understand risk-return deltas.
• Ensure all products and activities comply with legal, regulatory, and Group policy requirements.
• Promote a culture of proactive compliance as the first line of defense.

Product Management

• Build and maintain a technical and operational product knowledge library.
• Conduct continuous market analysis of credit portfolio trends and global regulatory guidance, providing insights to stakeholders.

Client Focus

• Collaborate closely with Credit, Coverage, and Transactor teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with internal and external clients, reflecting Absa’s values.

Research & Innovation

• Lead development and implementation of alternative risk measurement approaches and parameter models.
• Engage in industry networking and conferences to stay ahead of market and regulatory changes.

Education & Experience Required

• Minimum: Quantitative or Finance degree (Applied Mathematics, Actuarial Science, Econometrics).
• Preferred: Honours/Masters, CFA or FRM certification.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years in quantitative modelling, financial analysis, or regulatory risk frameworks.
• Practical exposure to Markets, Sales, Loan Structuring, Portfolio Management, and Credit.
• Proven ability to translate concepts into real-world solutions.

Knowledge & Skills

• Advanced analytical and statistical modelling skills.
• Expertise in EC and RC frameworks for market and credit risk.
• Ability to develop defensible recommendations from incomplete datasets.
• Strong communication skills to simplify technical concepts for non-technical audiences.

Competencies

• Adapting and responding to change
• Analysing and applying expertise
• Creating and innovating
• Evaluating and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Persuading and influencing
• Relating and networking

End Date: December 8, 2025