Trade Finance Specialist at Absa Bank Limited

Job Summary

1. Assist in articulation, ownership and execution of the TB strategy for Business Banking in the commercial banking segment
2. To lead and manage senior level client interaction and sales.
3. Manage and deliver business objectives through the BB sales team in the commercial banking segment.
4. Manage and grow TB business each year across the BB clients in the commercial banking segment.
5. Manage the returns while employing sound risk management disciplines

Job Description

Sales Time Split; 50%

1. Accountable for the delivery of TB revenues from Business Banking clients in the commercial banking segment.
2. Develop and execute the sales strategy to deliver the revenue ambition through a portfolio of existing and target list in BB.
3. Increase client penetration and revenues for the bank by actively promoting the bank’s network and product capabilities (cross selling). Replicate TB solutions and successes within the portfolio.
4. Lead the team to achieve quantitative and qualitative performance objectives for your portfolio. Leverage the existing sales tools and techniques to identify opportunities for new/incremental business – account planning and pipeline management to achieve sales/revenue targets.
5. Maintain a detailed and up to date knowledge of the bank’s comprehensive products capabilities and their application to clients’ needs and use this knowledge in structuring of solutions.
6. Ensure smooth interaction and communication with the Customer Support team, product development and customer services teams within Business Banking team. Drive alignment with key stakeholders; TB teams across multiple geographies, Business Banking and operations to achieve TB priorities.
7. Lead client insight events and industry forums to showcase ABSA’s leadership in Transaction Banking and also to build the brand awareness
8. Maintain high performance standards and role model behaviors that demonstrate the bank values.

Service and Operational Rigor; 30%

1. Working with the BB service team ensure delivery of world class customer service practices and ensure adherence to ABSA Service standards.
2. Lead the team in assisting the BB coverage teams in the commercial banking segment develop relationship account plans for their customer portfolios.
3. Achieve operational rigor excellence in all aspects of procedures and processes undertaken to ensure 100% compliance.
4. Minimize potential of fraudulent applications by following each product criteria.
5. Ensuring that pricing is authorized by as per mandate Business Banking Director and Transactional Baking Director, agreed with Customer, and properly set up to ensure 100% collection upon product/customer set up.
6. Follow the TB end-to-end product set-up process ensuring new set-ups are authorized and properly set up.
7. Ensure compliance with operations risk & rigour requirements e.g. Health & Safety standards and security of premises.

Team Support  and Management; 20%

1. Set SMART individual objectives that are in line with and seek to achieve the teams overall objectives. Review and drive performance of the team against the objectives on a regular basis,
2. Identify training needs and recommend training plans to satisfy those needs for the CSAs

Technical skills / Competencies

1. Post graduate or equivalent academic qualifications
2. Over 6 years banking experience, majority of which must be in BB or CIB.
3. Strong people and sales management skills, and experience in banking.
4. Solid and proven frontline transactional sales experience across Working Capital, Trade Finance (documentary trade products i.e. LCs, bonds & guarantees; bank & country risk products), Supply Chain Financing & Cash Management (Regional/Local payments, receipts and liquidity management structures, system infrastructure, etc.)
5. Skills for analyzing and formatting data provided by Finance and other sources
6. Strong sales management skills and experience, ideally with relevant banking or business/corporate banking background
7. Proven treasury, credit and country risk exposure
8. Open minded, good listener, flexible with ‘think out of the box’ mentality
9. Strong negotiation and presentation skills; ability to communicate with all levels in an organization
10. Disciplined approach to deal execution/client follow up
11. Strong cross-cultural awareness
12. Excellent interpersonal skills
13. Team player
14. Excellent knowledge of the banking polices, standards, local regulations and legislation of the prevention of money laundering
15. Judgment / Managing  Complexity

Education

1. Bachelors Degree and Professional Qualifications: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)