SME Senior Credit Manager at Absa Bank Limited

Job Summary

• To plan, manage and monitor the implementation of credit control management activities and processes in order to deliver on approved operational plans in an effective and efficient manner.

Job Purpose 

• This is a critical role for a credit professional in proactively maintaining a consistent and appropriate credit risk management framework for sustainable growth of the SME proposition in Kenya. This entails:
• Achieving a high standard in SME Credit sanctioning and Credit applications processing. Ensuring the optimal quality of the credit portfolio by application of best practice in decision-making, to a maximum personal lending discretion
• Management of the Absa Kenya SME portfolio to ensure that policy, people and processes support sustainable growth.
• Support the Wholesale Credit team in providing credit input to Absa Bank Kenya Plc, delivering a World-Class Credit service and contributing towards achievement of the team’s risk and business objectives.
• The role holder must have a minimum of five years in credit risk management/sanctioning three of which should be as a team leader.
• Main accountabilities and approximate time split

Proactively Maintain and develop an operating model for ABSA SME Credit (20-30%)

• In conjunction with the Head of Wholesale Credit/Head of SME sales while taking into account Group wide processes and procedures, review all aspects of the Credit transaction cycle in order to maintain an appropriate operating model for the SME in Absa Kenya.
• Support development of new products for the SME proposition within agreed timeframes
• Develop and propose improved processes in order to speed up decision making.
• Reviewing the ability to improve or implement scorecards to streamline decision making where appropriate.
• Work closely with the Head of Risk Control Unit (RCU) and Documentation and Securities Unit (DSC) to ensure post sanction fulfilment and loan administration is managed in line with agreed Group processes/Best Practice.
• Support improvement of MI to support portfolio management and reporting.
• Work closely with Absa Business Support and Recoveries (BS&R) to develop collections and recovery teams and impairment methodologies so as to ensure impairment is within agreed limits.
• Oversight/facilitating of governance meetings (Early Warning and Risk Reports Control Committee)

People Management (10-20%)

• Support the Team Leaders in delivering effective performance development for individuals within the team.
• Drive proactive application of Absa Bank Kenya Plc Behaviours both personally and throughout the team and coach and support colleagues within the Team.
• Facilitating trainings to build capacity of originators within SME front office and credit managers
• Manage effective performance of direct reports to strengthen execution and effectiveness

Setting and Monitoring of Credit Appetite (10-15%)

• Taking into account the distinct market characteristics in Kenya, critically evaluate credit appetite proposals from the sales teams, providing value added feedback which strengthens propositions and mitigates key risks.
• Support the Kenyan business in presenting agreed SME appetite statements through the Group Risk Appetite setting process.
• Ensure SME appetite is supported by appropriate infrastructure and processes and people within Absa Kenya.
• Dynamically manage agreed appetite within agreed parameters in the light of changing macro-economic and sector specific conditions and portfolio performance; oversight on monitoring & control of loan contracts, arrears and excesses, impairment management, overdue reviews and quality of credit applications

Work with conformance team to ensure agreed processes embedded and followed (5-10%)

• Work closely with the Head of Policy and Governance at Emerging Markets Centre in Kenya and South Africa to develop an SME Conformance schedule and template.
• Ensure that action points from conformance reports are implemented and best practice shared across the business.
• Support pro-active portfolio management through participating and facilitating Risk Governance meetings and giving guidance to the sales and credit team.

Sanctioning of transactions (20-30%)

• Personal lending authority for the sanctioning of individual transactions
• Establish a framework for the continual monitoring of sanctioning quality of SME Credit Sanctioning teams through regular sampling.
• Reviewing transactions agreed outside of Credit Policy on an individual and portfolio basis.
• Support in upskilling, training, and mentoring of sales origination colleagues and Credit managers in order to improve quality of applications and reduction of reworks.
• Ensuring adherence to agreed service level agreements with business as well as providing world class service to sales colleagues.

Support Technology Development (5-10%)

• Support the business in the development of appropriate IT platforms, spreading best practice in terms of FlexCube, Credit development and automation of Credit processes to build efficiency.

Technical skills/Competencies

• Strong intellect balanced by practical and pragmatic approach
• Strong internal and external networking
• Analytical
• Credit Risk Management in the SME sector
• People management and coaching
• Communications (written and oral) and presentations
• Effective negotiation and influencing
• First class credit assessment, structuring and sanctioning skills
• Knowledge, Expertise and Experience

Essential

• Comprehensive technical credit skills and previous sanctioning experience
• In depth SME business awareness and specific industry and country awareness
• Detailed knowledge of risk management policy, procedures & pricing
• High level of understanding of the macroeconomic factors affecting ABSA’S SME customer base, including geographic issues relating to certain sectors 
• Previous experience in the successful delivery of risk management is desirable
• Managing risk and reward
• ACIB/equivalent business experience/other appropriate qualification

Preferred

• Detailed credit related product knowledge in the Kenyan SME space.
• Working knowledge of Group policies, pricing, and strategies relative to the credit function
• Experience of working in a dynamic multi-segment environment. Awareness of varying legal/regulatory requirements.

Education

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