Snr: Business Banking Forex & International Banking Product at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• The Foreign Exchange (FX) & International Banking (IB) Product Manager is responsible for developing, managing, and optimising international banking and FX products for Business Banking customers. This role will work closely with the Corporate Investment Banking (CIB) forex and international banking teams to align strategies, leverage synergies, and deliver solutions tailored to corporate and SME clients. The goal is to ensure that both international banking and FX offerings are competitive and effectively meet the evolving needs of business clients.

Job Description

Product Strategy & Development

• Manage the suite of FX/IB products for business banking clients in RB (spot FX, forward contracts, and currency hedging products).
• Collaborate with the CIB forex and international banking teams to align product strategies across RB and CIB, ensuring a unified approach.
• Conduct market research to identify trends and gaps in international banking and FX products for business clients, ensuring competitiveness and relevance.
• Work with internal teams (IT, segments, operations, risk, compliance) to ensure smooth implementation and operational efficiency for new products or product enhancements.
• Monitor the effectiveness of strategic initiatives of national strategic initiatives to ensure delivery thereof.
• Oversee the implementation of special projects within the area.
• Drive performance to meet set targets and objectives.
• Execute the business plan for the business area including development of strategies, client segmentation, marketing plans, execution criteria as agreed with the business Executive

Collaboration with Corporate Investment Banking (CIB)

• Collaborate closely with the CIB forex and international banking teams to drive the business banking strategy for international products and FX.
• Leverage CIB’s expertise and infrastructure to enhance FX and international banking product offerings in the business banking segment.
• Align pricing, product development, and risk management strategies with CIB to provide a cohesive experience for clients engaging in both business banking and corporate investment banking services.
• Participate in relevant forums to drive Business Banking FX/IB growth .

Sales Support

• Serve as the interface between the CIB Product team, the RB segment team and the product specialist sales team.
• Collaborate with the RB segment sales teams to understand the specific international banking and FX needs of their clients, providing them with the necessary tools and product knowledge to effectively sell FX and international banking solutions.
• Work closely with the product specialist sales team to drive increased product adoption.
• Ensure that both the segment and specialist sales teams are fully equipped with the right marketing collateral, product updates, and training to engage business clients.
• Participation in cross business collaboration initiatives to support the achievement of International Banking products and services targets

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with internal risk policies and external regulatory frameworks in both international banking and FX products.
• Work closely with the legal and compliance teams to ensure that all products meet relevant standards, mitigating risks related to FX/IB.
• Executing on all regulatory requirements to uphold the foreign exchange license provided to Absa by the South African Reserve Bank
• Maintain all elements of the IB Risk management model by operating within the required guidelines (policies, procedures etc.)

Profitability

• Drive the profitability of the FX/IB product for RB
• Analyse product profitability, making necessary adjustments to ensure revenue growth and margin sustainability.
• Develop competitive strategies for international banking and FX products, working in alignment with Group’s pricing frameworks.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Growth in international banking and FX product revenue and volume.
• Client satisfaction and retention levels in the international and FX products.
• Successful collaboration with the CIB team to drive strategic product alignment.
• Compliance with regulatory and risk management standards.
• Increased product adoption in Business Banking through collaboration with sales teams.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, International Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in international banking and foreign exchange
• Deep understanding of international trade finance, cross-border payments, and FX markets.
• Experience working with corporate and SME clients, particularly in international and FX transactions.
• Proven experience in product development and strategy, particularly in a banking context.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and influence senior stakeholders.
• High attention to detail, with an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Understanding of global regulatory frameworks, including anti-money laundering (AML), KYC, and sanctions policies.
• Influence the area of expertise in business working towards positive goals and outcomes
• Personal Attributes
• Results-oriented with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to thrive under pressure
• Client-centric with a focus on delivering tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of business clients.
• Ability to lead and increase sphere of influence. Operate independently and can make decisions in the absence of leadership

Education

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