Senior Specialist: Agricultural Advisory & Support (FTC - 20 months) - Pretoria at Land Bank Careers

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

• To provide agricultural advisory and support service to both Emerging and Commercial Farmers in order to safe guard the bank’s assets through the following:
• Conduct on Farm Agronomical and Financial Assessments for High Risk and Delinquent Clients and make recommendations to remediate as well as rate the farm/business according to the approved bank’s risk rating models
• Schedules inspections of the banks security and re-evaluations
• Where relevant, refer farmers to service providers with technical expertise / advise Farmers and make recommendations to improve the overall Farm status and mitigate potential risks
• Effectively manage the collateral in terms of the loan agreement and Collateral Management System (CMS) policy thereby identifying collateral shortfalls in order to minimise risk and prevent financial losses.
• Proactively prevent ex-ante moral hazard by conducting farm visits on new loans and ascertain whether farm funding was utilised as intended in line with the loan agreement.
• Provide input into the agricultural evaluation norms / best practice across all industries in which Land Bank operates and which are applied in the credit assessment applications.

Key Performance Areas    
Monitoring, Advisory and Support

• Implement Effective Collateral Management by conducting inspections in accordance with the relevant Land Bank policy and procedures and ensure that the banks collateral has the most up to date collateral valuations as per the banks’ requirements per asset class
• Conduct Collateral Management Inspections
• Engage external stakeholders including cooperatives, commodity associations, provincial governments departments and farmer’s associations as required in respect of distressed accounts
• Conduct Visit and monitor properties in possession (repossessed)
• Compile the farm inspection report and ensure all identified and potential risks are clearly articulated and list remedial actions to mitigate them
• Provide management with monthly consolidated collateral management status report on the portfolio 

Conduct Agronomical and Financial Assessments

• Perform farm visits to ascertain whether the farm funding was utilised as intended:
• Ensure that the funds have been used for their stated purpose
• Monitor and evaluate the progress and financial position of the client for any early warning signs of distress
• Advise with subject matter experts and link clients with relevant stakeholders in order to provide technical advice to clients where necessary
• Conduct in-depth on farm Agronomical Assessment specifically for High Risk, Delinquent and Non Performing Accounts
• Determine factors for delinquency or default in the event of an identified default or arrears client account make proposals for rectifying the problem
• List possible interventions for rehabilitations or referral to Legal
• Provide Possible Resolution Recommendations with a motivation
• The recommendation must be structured and aligned in accordance with the Credit Policy
• Provide a detailed assessment report including insights, farm status and possible interventions to rehabilitate

Records Management and Maintenance of the Inspections Database including market trends

Collect and process information within the allocated area of responsibility to determine:

• Market value of property
• Production cost
• Establishment cost
• Profit margins
• Produce prices
• Market trends
• Economic patterns
• Potential of land
• Keeps database up to date as appropriately
• Ensure availability and access to identified Users
• Quarterly report on farming consultation, also report of any natural disasters in the area
• Compile and maintain an information database for assistance with technical knowledge
• Ensure that reports are filed in accordance with the record management system
• Maintain customer account information and ensure timeous and correct updating of risk classification on the Bank’s systems.
• Keep records of all correspondence with clients as part of record management policy.
• Manage client files in terms of the Bank’s record management policy.
• Compile various reports as required for the different governance structures.
• Maintain the relevant systems as required.

Preferred Minimum Education and Experience    

• A relevant 3 year qualification in Agriculture or an equivalent
• Accreditation as a Valuator

Experience in:

• Agricultural Extension Services or
• Agricultural Experience in a Co-op or similar organisation.
• Agricultural Economics and Value Chain
• Credit Assessment Principles
• Agronomical and Finacial Assessments 

Critical Competencies    

• Advanced Microsoft Office
• Financial Management and Business Acumen
• Property and Assets Valuation principles
• Farm Management Principles
• Risk Management Principles
• Report Writing and insights 
• Agricultural economic trends.

Additional Requirements    

• Travel as and when required.
• Extended hours as and when required.
• Valid SA Driver’s License