Executive Assistant at Absa Bank Limited

Job Description

Function and Business area purpose

• To provide effective support to the Corporate Banking Director’s Office on various business coordination and strategy execution tasks through prioritisation of issues and actions requiring full understanding of Corporate Banking and Absa business strategy and execution plans.

Job Purpose

• Manage the research, preparation & presentation of reports/briefs on a business strategy, from a wide range of internal/external sources both structured and ad hoc. 
• As Secretary of Corporate Banking Mancom (Corporate Banking Management Committee) responsibility on meeting plan and formulation of agenda. Own the action plan and ensure conclusive resolution by working with relevant unit heads
• Coordination of all key functions of the business as delegated by the Corporate Banking Director
• Exercising achievement towards and a high degree of executive social skills dealing with the full range of people in many varying situations representing the Corporate Banking Director’s image in senior stakeholder engagement
• Act as Corporate Banking Director’s liaison to CMC members, Corporate Banking Mancom to organize meetings, visits and business presentations involving the senior leadership.

Key Accountabilities:

Executive support 40%

• Stakeholders’ engagement in BBK and in BAGL
• Calendar Management – for meetings, business reviews including BAGL reviews etc
• Coordinate Corporate Banking staff communication including quarterly newsletters
• Oversee all work received by the Corporate Banking Director on a daily basis, take ownership of all issues, prioritise and refer essential items once research has been undertaken to assist with decision making
• Scans the business press for any items that the Corporate Banking Director should be made aware of, includes additional research where necessary.
• Ensures creative, motivational, and accurate presentation of key messages to high quality standards.  Accountable for building and maintaining a library of information for general use
• Prepare executive briefs for Corporate Banking Director.
• Organize and coordinate executive functions and leadership conferences, colleague, and customer functions
• Support visible leadership of Corporate Banking Director through Power Breakfast / Tea, Town Halls, BPL TGIF.
• Manage competing priorities and making decisions in his absence on the issues that can be resolved without escalation.
• Undertake research of detailed information on a wide variety of internal/external matters. Jobholder is given only a general brief and must produce detailed reports, summaries etc. deciding on relevant information to be included.
• As Secretary of Corporate Banking Mancom – responsible for the conduct and occurrence of monthly meetings; ensure follow up and conclusive resolution of arising action items thereof.
• Anticipate information requirements with proactive identification of issues to be brought to the attention of the Corporate Banking Director, with recommendation for resolution as appropriate during interviews, meetings with key stakeholders
• Managing the Corporate Banking Director’s office on a daily basis including ensuring a first-class administration service is provided e.g., maintaining budget figures, expenses report etc
• OM Delegate for Corporate Banking.

Strategic Planning 20%

• Accountable for the event management of all Corporate Banking Director events including monthly Corporate Banking Mancom and business review meetings, annual conferences including location choice, invitation arrangements and agenda items.  Ensures events are held to a first-class standard and ensures resolution of any actions are concluded after the event
• Accountable for the production of all briefing material for the Corporate Banking Director For the wide-ranging visits/meetings/conferences.  Undertakes research and prepares reports to ensure the Corporate Banking Director is fully briefed for each occasion
• Accountable for the maintenance of the information base for Corporate Banking.
• Provide support in gathering information to formulate Corporate Banking Directors strategic plans
• Perform ad-hoc strategic and financial analysis of key strategic initiatives.
• Steer execution of the CIB strategic initiatives.
• Assist business units in completing the strategic planning templates together with Business Management.

Performance Management 15%

• Follow-up on actions assigned to Corporate Banking teams and report to Corporate Banking Director
• Provide support to other key areas in gathering information and formulating strategic plans
• Support the Corporate Banking management team with analytics that help manage the business effectively. Guide and provide input on the implementation of the resulting plans including linking with appropriate product specialists from Group.

Customer Service Management 15%

• Coordination of customer communication including welcome packs, wishing programs for birthdays, Christmas, Eid etc.
• Drive calendar of customer engagements in conjunction with other unit heads including customer visits, formal dinners etc.
• Act as referral/bridge point for staff and management contact with the Corporate Banking Director.
• Effectively monitor customer service issues and manage customer complaints raised to the Corporate Banking Director’s office.
• Ensuring root cause analysis is concluded before resolution letter is done to the customer.
• NPS oversight
• Maintain a record of all complaints resolved on behalf of the Corporate Banking Director (Written and Face to Face customer resolutions)

Controls 10%

• Take full responsibility for control & compliance activities in the Corporate Banking Director’s Office i.e., monthly return submissions, GL account reconciliation etc.
• Roll out, cascade, and ensure attestation of Corporate Banking circular and policies
• Expense reviews relating to Corporate Banking Directors office
• Ensure that processes, control requirements and risk management frameworks that impact the area are documented, understood, and implemented by all members of the team.

Education and experience required

• Business degree

Knowledge and skills:

Technical Skills/Competencies

• Creative thinking and ability to explore new ideas / opportunities and develop innovative approaches.  Ability to draw out key messages and see patterns to identify future trends.
• High degree of customer focus
• High degree of commerciality
• Excellent analytical skills
• Good networking and stakeholder management skills
• High tolerance of ambiguity
• Drive for execution and results
• Sufficient business and financial knowledge
• Ability to work under time constraints and stress situations.
• A keen eye for detail, quality conscious and has a strong sense of responsibility and ownership

Preferred

• Experience of working in a multinational, multi-segment, environment with matrix reporting.
• Awareness of cultural differences

Essential

• Significant experience in banking
• Understanding of strategy tools and techniques e.g., Performance Management
• Project management experience
• Building stakeholder and communication plans
• Delivering effective presentation to senior executives
• Advanced Microsoft skills