Senior Relationship Manager, Custodial Services at SBM Bank

Job Purpose

The Authorized Securities Dealer (ASD) is responsible for developing and maintaining an active market in Government Securities and other approved fixed-income instruments by providing competitive pricing, facilitating secondary market liquidity, supporting efficient price discovery, and executing profitable trades on behalf of corporate, institutional, and high-net-worth clients.

The role is critical in enhancing market participation, growing trading volumes, supporting client investment objectives, and generating sustainable trading and distribution revenue while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and risk management frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

Market Making and Liquidity Provision 

• Actively participate in the primary and secondary markets for Government Securities.
• Provide competitive two-way quotes to market participants and clients to enhance market liquidity.
• Support orderly market functioning through continuous market engagement and trading activity.
• Promote efficient price discovery through active participation in market transactions and the dissemination of relevant market information.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with market counterparties and institutional investors.

Trading and Execution

• Execute purchases and sales of Treasury Bills, Treasury Bonds, infrastructure bonds, corporate bonds, and other approved fixed-income instruments and asset classes.
• Structure and execute investment solutions tailored to client investment requirements and objectives.
• Monitor market developments, yield curve movements, interest rate expectations, and macroeconomic indicators affecting securities prices.
• Optimize trading and execution strategies to maximize profitability while maintaining acceptable risk levels.
• Manage trading books within approved limits, mandates, and delegated authorities.

Client Coverage and Business Development

• Serve as the primary securities trading contact for corporate and institutional clients.
• Identify client investment opportunities and recommend appropriate market solutions.
• Market Government Securities and fixed-income products to existing and prospective clients.
• Provide clients with market updates, investment insights, yield analysis, and trading ideas.
• Drive growth in assets under custody, securities trading volumes, client relationships, and overall fixed-income revenues.

Portfolio and Risk Management

• Monitor market, liquidity, and interest rate risk exposures arising from trading activities.
• Ensure adherence to approved risk limits, trading mandates, and internal policies.
• Conduct valuation, yield analysis, duration analysis, and portfolio performance assessments.
• Identify, assess, and promptly escalate limit breaches, unusual market movements, and material risk exposures.

Primary Market Participation

• Participate in Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) auctions for Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds.
• Support the development of bidding strategies and the management of allocations.
• Analyze auction results and advise clients on investment opportunities.
• Coordinate with relevant internal teams to ensure efficient allocation, settlement, and reconciliation of securities transactions.

Market Intelligence and Research

• Monitor economic, fiscal, and monetary policy developments affecting fixed-income markets.
• Analyze inflation trends, interest rate movements, sovereign debt developments, and other macroeconomic indicators.
• Prepare market commentary, yield analysis, and investment recommendations for clients and internal stakeholders.
• Support the development and implementation of fixed-income investment strategies.

Regulatory Compliance and Governance 

• Ensure compliance with Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Capital Markets Authority (CMA), and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of transactions, client instructions, and relevant communications.
• Support internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and compliance reviews.
• Adhere to Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), sanctions screening, market conduct, and other applicable compliance requirements.
• Ensure that all trading and client activities are conducted within approved policies, procedures, and delegated authorities.

People Management and Professional Development 

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and external stakeholders.
• Maintain consistent and professional attendance, punctuality, and personal presentation, and adhere to relevant health and safety procedures.
• Pursue continuous professional development to enhance the skills and knowledge required for effective performance.
• Contribute to a collaborative working environment that promotes accountability, teamwork, service excellence, and achievement of departmental objectives.

Knowledge Skills and Experience Required

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Banking, Accounting, Mathematics, Statistics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• One or more of the following professional qualifications or certifications will be an added advantage: ACI Dealing Certificate, CFA qualification or candidacy, CISI qualifications, CPA(K), ACCA, or other relevant treasury and capital markets certifications.

Experience

• Minimum of 4–7 years' relevant experience in fixed-income trading, treasury, capital markets, securities dealing, custody, or institutional sales.
• Demonstrated experience in Government Securities markets and institutional client engagement.
• Strong understanding of Kenyan fixed-income market structures, trading practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience in market making, portfolio management, securities valuation, and risk management will be an added advantage.

Technical Competencies

• Government Securities trading and execution.
• Fixed-income valuation and pricing.
• Yield curve, yield-to-maturity, and duration analysis.
• Interest rate markets and macroeconomic analysis.
• Portfolio management principles and performance monitoring.
• Market making and liquidity management.
• Proficiency in Bloomberg, Reuters, or equivalent market information systems.
• Advanced Excel skills and financial modelling.
• Trading risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Understanding of securities settlement, custody processes, and primary market auction procedures.

Core Competencies

• Commercial acumen and business development.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Analytical and critical thinking abilities.
• Client-centric mindset and service excellence.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• High integrity and ethical conduct.
• Strong relationship management capabilities.
• Risk awareness and compliance.
• Planning and organization.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Performance and results orientation.
• Teamwork and collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight market deadlines.

Stakeholders to this position

Internal Stakeholders

• Head, Custody Services.
• Custody Operations.
• Dealers and Treasury Back Office.
• Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking Team.
• Consumer Banking.
• Risk and Compliance.
• Legal.
• Finance.
• Human Resources.

External Stakeholders

• Corporate, institutional, and high-net-worth clients.
• Regulators and other service providers.
• Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA).
• Capital Markets Authority (CMA).
• Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
• Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC).
• Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
• Association of Retirement Benefits Schemes.
• Offshore Investment Managers.
• Custodians Association of Kenya.
• Fund Managers.
• Pension Fund Administrators.
• Stockbrokers.
• Investment Bankers.
• Global Sub-Custodians.
• External Auditors.