Head, Financial Institutions Group, Resources & Energy & Commercial Property Finance job at Absa Bank

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Job Summary

• To Develop and manage the successful end to end delivery and execution of Financial Institutions Group (FIG), Resources and Energy (R&E) and Commercial Property Finance (CPF) portfolios including business enablement, Compliance and Risk and operational efficiency.

• To directly lead a relationship team(s) covering a portfolio of Corporate Banking customers with specific focus on the FIG/RE and CPF.

• To be a key member of the Corporate Banking Leadership Team, driving business performance within that specific business segment.

• To personally relationship manage and sustain a portfolio of Corporate Banking customers with specific focus on the FIG/R&E and CPF, building long term relationships founded on efficient and reliable support for their business. This is achieved particularly through prudent risk decisions and managing consistency and quality of operational service.

• The jobholder will be responsible for business development both with new customers and with existing customers where they are expected to increase “wallet share”.

• Manage quality service delivery to clients, risk and compliance and strategic objectives, driving efficiency and productivity, planning and implementing change initiatives and performance plans.

Job Description

Accountability: Business Performance: 40%

• Define FIG/R&E and CPF Medium-Term Plans to ensure clarity on strategic initiatives and business alignment.
• Drive end to end strategic delivery through assigned programs and business initiatives within agreed timelines.
• Provide business design to FIG/R&E and CPF with the aim of positively impacting business performance.
• Establish lean processes and execution frameworks for FIG/R&E and CPF that will propel front line enablement.
• Design Client Value Proposition across FIG/R&E and CPF that will inform overall Industry strategy and map out to credit appetite.
• Formulate business development strategies and objectives for the industry to meet changing market needs.
• Provide FIG/R&E and CPF tender coordination, project management, monitoring and execution across Absa
• Monitor conformance of FIG/R&E and CPF team using new relationship development procedures
• Monitor results of customer surveys for FIG/R&E and CPF the against target service quality standards.
• Provide industry thought leadership based on market research and changing industry dynamic within the team’s market and geographical area.

Accountability: Business Management: 20%

• Manage performance of the FIG/R&E and CPF team against key financial (risk-adjusted contribution) sales, service and operational targets.
• Champion, manage and monitor implementation of change impacting the FIG/R&E and CPF team and arising from central and local corporate change programs.
• Consult customer owners/managers on financial/credit issues and general business practice/ideas
• Work closely with the CIB Director in driving and delivering business performance in the country
• Research, create and follow up on a target list for potential new business, Pan Africa.
• Identify priority customers using the Customer Relationship Planning templates to assess their present and potential contribution.
• Control and quality of the portfolio, using available triggers and adherence to Risk management guidelines and policies.
• Develop strong and collaborative relationships with Product and Regional Heads, and other peers in order to devise bespoke solutions for clients.

Accountability: People Management: 20%

• Inspire teams across CIB and other business functions to work together to achieve the strategic vision by building, leading, managing and motivating high performing teams to high standards and excellence.
• Encourage teams to achieve stretch targets through their personal development and management of their careers.
• Provide clear strategic direction to the team whilst ensuring Absa Values are communicated and upheld.
• Maintain an ethical and positive work climate within CIB that is conducive to attract and retain a diverse group of talented employees at all levels.
• Ensure that practices are in place to enable employees to be highly efficient and motivated.
• Grow business leaders in the function by supporting them to make the transition to roles of strategic holistic contributions across the franchise
• Take full accountability for People Risk management for the function. Ensure adequate monitoring of risk metrics, assessments and work with the team to develop corrective actions.
• Ensure the practical and effective implementation of Group standards for formal Performance Development.
• Together with line leaders in the function, develop a learning and development strategy that will address the current and future business needs. Ensure that adequate resources are set aside to execute the identified interventions
• Ensure the establishment and regular update of succession plans for key and high-risk roles in the function.
• Review the Talent lists prepared for the functional areas on an annual basis and provide a sense check in line with the overall Absa strategy/agenda.
• Ensure that the Group mandated recruitment governance is followed rigorously throughout the function.
• Manage and Review workforce plans for the function and reallocate resources where required in line with the overall Absa strategy.

Accountability: Risk Management and Governance: 20%

• Determine the FIG/R&E and CPF risk profile by ensuring alignment to the Group profile, regulatory and governance requirements.
• Review the risk management practices of the unit and highlight areas that require improvements to senior management.
• Ensure tracker and regular maintenance of Risk Dashboard and overall Risk Profile for the functional area.
• Take accountability for the assigned principal risks in terms of the Absa Enterprise Risk Management framework.
• Ensure that controls are adhered to across the FIG/R&E and CPF Business segments.
• Drive a culture of proactive compliance in the function.
• Determine action plans to effectively reduce and manage risk issues related to Internal Audit findings.
• Interact with the different risk management specialist areas in Absa (Risk, Internal Audit &Compliance) to ensure an understanding of the requirements and that functional policies and processes incorporate all the necessary elements.
• Review the risk management practices of the function as a whole and highlight areas that require improvement to leaders in the team. Ensure that they understand their responsibility for risk ownership.

Education and experience required

• Bachelor Degree in Commerce or Business Administration or another relevant degree.
• Credit certification is desirable
• At least ten years’ experience in Financial Services Industry
• At least 5 years in a management position

Knowledge and skills:

• Financial management skills
• Strategic and lateral thinking
• Management and Leadership skills
• Product and process management skills
• Understanding of customer needs
• Thorough understanding of Banking
• Tactful and persuasive with the ability to convince minds and negotiate at

• Define FIG/R&E and CPF Medium-Term Plans to ensure clarity on strategic initiatives and business alignment.
• Drive end to end strategic delivery through assigned programs and business initiatives within agreed timelines.
• Provide business design to FIG/R&E and CPF with the aim of positively impacting business performance.
• Establish lean processes and execution frameworks for FIG/R&E and CPF that will propel front line enablement.
• Design Client Value Proposition across FIG/R&E and CPF that will inform overall Industry strategy and map out to credit appetite.
• Formulate business development strategies and objectives for the industry to meet changing market needs.
• Provide FIG/R&E and CPF tender coordination, project management, monitoring and execution across Absa
• Monitor conformance of FIG/R&E and CPF team using new relationship development procedures
• Monitor results of customer surveys for FIG/R&E and CPF the against target service quality standards.
• Provide industry thought leadership based on market research and changing industry dynamic within the team’s market and geographical area.
• Manage performance of the FIG/R&E and CPF team against key financial (risk-adjusted contribution) sales, service and operational targets.
• Champion, manage and monitor implementation of change impacting the FIG/R&E and CPF team and arising from central and local corporate change programs.
• Consult customer owners/managers on financial/credit issues and general business practice/ideas
• Work closely with the CIB Director in driving and delivering business performance in the country
• Research, create and follow up on a target list for potential new business, Pan Africa.
• Identify priority customers using the Customer Relationship Planning templates to assess their present and potential contribution.
• Control and quality of the portfolio, using available triggers and adherence to Risk management guidelines and policies.
• Develop strong and collaborative relationships with Product and Regional Heads, and other peers in order to devise bespoke solutions for clients.
• Inspire teams across CIB and other business functions to work together to achieve the strategic vision by building, leading, managing and motivating high performing teams to high standards and excellence.
• Encourage teams to achieve stretch targets through their personal development and management of their careers.
• Provide clear strategic direction to the team whilst ensuring Absa Values are communicated and upheld.
• Maintain an ethical and positive work climate within CIB that is conducive to attract and retain a diverse group of talented employees at all levels.
• Ensure that practices are in place to enable employees to be highly efficient and motivated.
• Grow business leaders in the function by supporting them to make the transition to roles of strategic holistic contributions across the franchise
• Take full accountability for People Risk management for the function. Ensure adequate monitoring of risk metrics, assessments and work with the team to develop corrective actions.
• Ensure the practical and effective implementation of Group standards for formal Performance Development.
• Together with line leaders in the function, develop a learning and development strategy that will address the current and future business needs. Ensure that adequate resources are set aside to execute the identified interventions
• Ensure the establishment and regular update of succession plans for key and high-risk roles in the function.
• Review the Talent lists prepared for the functional areas on an annual basis and provide a sense check in line with the overall Absa strategy/agenda.
• Ensure that the Group mandated recruitment governance is followed rigorously throughout the function.
• Manage and Review workforce plans for the function and reallocate resources where required in line with the overall Absa strategy.
• Determine the FIG/R&E and CPF risk profile by ensuring alignment to the Group profile, regulatory and governance requirements.
• Review the risk management practices of the unit and highlight areas that require improvements to senior management.
• Ensure tracker and regular maintenance of Risk Dashboard and overall Risk Profile for the functional area.
• Take accountability for the assigned principal risks in terms of the Absa Enterprise Risk Management framework.
• Ensure that controls are adhered to across the FIG/R&E and CPF Business segments.
• Drive a culture of proactive compliance in the function.
• Determine action plans to effectively reduce and manage risk issues related to Internal Audit findings.
• Interact with the different risk management specialist areas in Absa (Risk, Internal Audit &Compliance) to ensure an understanding of the requirements and that functional policies and processes incorporate all the necessary elements.
• Review the risk management practices of the function as a whole and highlight areas that require improvement to leaders in the team. Ensure that they understand their responsibility for risk ownership.

• Financial management skills
• Strategic and lateral thinking
• Management and Leadership skills
• Product and process management skills
• Understanding of customer needs
• Thorough understanding of Banking
• Tactful and persuasive with the ability to convince minds and negotiate at

• Bachelor Degree in Commerce or Business Administration or another relevant degree.
• Credit certification is desirable