Job Openings at Absa Bank Limited

\\Job Purpose.

A credit professional responsible for credit risk structuring of transactions and sanctioning covering multiple industry sectors. The role holder will have specific responsibilities for a range of Business Banking customers. 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. Ensuring the optimal quality of the credit portfolio by application of best practice in decision-making, to a maximum personal lending discretion.

Main accountabilities and approximate time split:

Accountability: Credit Risk Management - Time Split: 60-70%

Outputs:

• Ensure the highest standard of credit quality through the structure, sanctioning, monitoring and control of credit applications. Maintenance of these standards both personally and as part of the Wholesale Credit Team.
• Sole lending discretion, DG linked and set depending on personal experience/accreditation.
• Exercise judgement and discretion in the evaluation and approval/decline of higher risk classification credit proposals.
• Provide feeds into business and credit policy development, where appropriate.
• Provide feeds into credit process development, where appropriate.
• Implementation and ongoing delivery of business and credit policies and processes.
• Responsibility for personal adherence to governance, compliance and lending portfolio controls.  Ensuring own conformance to policy and procedures within the Wholesale Credit Function, including proactive management of agreed responsibilities for Data Integrity.
• Maintain interactive relationship with other risk functions and Conformance Team.
• Advise on risk reward and challenge pricing where appropriate.

Accountability:  Business Risk Partnership - Time Split: 20-30%

Outputs:

• Deliver service in line with agreed business needs.
• Work in partnership with Country colleagues and proactively anticipate, respond to and seek to exceed the expectations of customers. 
• Work with Country colleagues, providing post application-based coaching and discussion, where appropriate to ensure effective development and delivery of bespoke Risk solutions for customers.
• Proactively contribute to embedding agreed change management initiatives in support of process and quality improvements, cost reductions and development of people.
• Contribute towards the Team operating within cost budgets making recommendations for ‘working smarter’.

Accountability:  Staff Management - Time Split: 10-20%

Outputs:

• Support the Team Leaders in delivering effective performance development for individuals within the team.
• Drive proactive application of Absa Bank Kenya Plc Behaviors both personally and throughout the team and coach and support colleagues within the Team.

Technical skills / Competencies:

Technical Skills:

• Analytical and numerate.
• Technical Lending Analysis.
• Credit Risk Management skills with accreditation.
• Effective negotiation and influencing skills.

Competencies:

• Strong intellect balanced by practical and pragmatic approach.
• Decisive.
• Strong Stakeholder relationship management ability.
• Communications (written and oral) and presentations.

Knowledge, Expertise and Experience:

Knowledge and skills:

• Relating to specialist knowledge and expertise required to undertake the role. May include knowledge of the Bank’s products, services and policies.

Expertise and Experience:

Essential:

• Bachelors Degree
• Sound knowledge of credit risk mandatory procedures.
• Working knowledge of Group policies, pricing and strategies relative to the credit function.
• Good commercial awareness.
• Sound credit related product and services knowledge for Business Banking.
• Working knowledge of Absa structures and strategies.
• Previous experience of corporate market and or risk is desirable

Preferred:

• ACIB/Moody’s Accreditation/equivalent business experience/other appropriate qualification (Degree) is preferable.
• Previous sanctioning experience will be an advantage.

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Job Summary

To provide excellent customer experience, and deliver exceptional Islamic Banking business growth in Branch Network and profitability. To observe compliance & control requirements, keeping a high level of bank standards.

Job Description

Main accountabilities and approximate time split.

Business Growth: Time Split - 60%     

• Understand and implement Islamic Banking business strategic initiatives for the branch aimed at increasing new business and wallet share from existing customers.
• Have a clear understanding of all Retail and Business Banking Islamic Banking products that could satisfy customer needs.
• Manage portfolio risks in line with banks' portfolio appetite.
• Collaborate in the development and implementation of Islamic Banking sales initiatives with other business functions i.e. Direct sales team, Asset Finance, CIB, and Bancassurance to maximize cross-selling and better customer profiling opportunities.
• In conjunction with the branch manager, Industry heads, and products, conduct product review and development through constant feedback from the market.
• Continuously conduct market intelligence to identify new markets, customer trends, new government / directives and changes in policy by regulators.
• Contribute to the development of Islamic Banking branch sales strategy.
• Plan and coordinate any marketing approaches for new business and actively develop existing relationships.
• Actively seek to grow own portfolio and cross-sell to ensure delivery of set Targets. Appraise and promptly address customer issues /complaints escalating as necessary to ensure timely resolution as per the set standards.
• Ensure quality sales and new to-bank accounts within your portfolio are promptly funded at customer onboarding.
• Continuously monitor own performance against targets agreed on on a daily basis for new and existing clients. Initiate appropriate action plans to address any shortfalls in performance.
• Operationalize campaigns as required with the Branch Manager and the business.
• Ensure excellent customer experience at all times
• Drive business targets through strict TAT observance and high-level service delivery standards.
• Should not advise an existing customer to open a similar account in their respective branches with a view of moving funds between the accounts.
• Should not close an existing account in your Branch/domiciled in another Branch with a view to re-opening a similar account.
• Accounts re-streaming should be carried out in line with the Banks policy.
• Together with BM, create ownership of the branch performance targets. Agree on branch execution plans/strategies and ensure they are aligned to the Bank's overall strategy- Growth, Transformation, and Returns.

Internal Controls & Risk Management: Time split -10%

• Ensure that Absa bank’s policies and procedures are adhered to at all times when handling different products.
• Ensure adherence to all KYC & AML Processes with regard to new and existing business and that proper documentation is in place.
• Ensure compliance with Operations Risk requirements to avoid losses arising from operational lapses.
• Manage costs within your area of operation.
• Effectively carry out branch snap checks as assigned by the assistant branch manager.
• Ensure the new business is properly booked and all income due to the Bank in terms of charges, commissions, and fees are collected as per the current tariff.
• Accurate customer information is captured in the core banking system.

Customer Experience: Time split- 20%

• Ensure excellent customer experience is maintained at all times.
• Ensure set TAT in account onboarding and loan processing is achieved at all times.
• Appraise and promptly act on customer issues /complaints escalating as necessary to ensure timely resolution.
• Ensure set TAT in response to customer queries by phone, email, or letters is strictly adhered to.
• Ensure customer data is up to date at all times
• Ensure branch NPS scores are maintained as per the set standards
• In conjunction with the Branch Manager, co-ordinate branch initiatives aimed at gathering feedback from customers on service standards and advise leadership for improvements
• Monitor service to ensure customers are served within acceptable waiting time having a work plan for both peak and off-peak periods.

Capacity Building & People Management: Time Split -10%

• In conjunction with the Branch Manager, Assistant Branch Manager, and other branch colleagues create a conducive work environment, teamwork and effective succession opportunities to ensure maximum productivity.
• Ensure the assigned e-learning and internal training activities for self and direct reports are undertaken within set timelines.
• Determine and manage Training Needs Analysis and own succession planning.
• Manage your own leave by working closely with your Line Manager

Ideal Job Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Technology Skills: Knowledge of computerized banking applications and spreadsheets
• Conceptual and analytical skills: Ability to quickly grasp and understand systems and keen on details
• Risk management: Ability to anticipate and mitigate risk by implementing appropriate risk management policies for the bank
• Compliance and Regulatory Framework: Top nick understanding of the regulatory issues, reporting, and operational requirements as provided by CBK, KBA, KRA etc
• Basic Credit Skills: Good knowledge of personal and business credit underwriting and portfolio management
• Audit standards & Legislation: Good knowledge of International Accounting and Audit Standards, and Legislation
• Shariah-compliant product knowledge: Well-rounded knowledge of Shariah products, Islamic Banking contracts. Operations and processed and excellent knowledge of bank policies and procedures to consistently achieve the required compliance standard.

Behavioral and Cognitive Competencies

• Results and achievements oriented; Strives to achieve results, enjoys measuring others, being measured, and being judged on performance standards and those of others he/she leads to optimize employee productivity. Ability to effectively plan and monitor the branch performance using defined systems and processes
• Leadership and Management Skills: Ability to strive for growth through performance, nurture and grow talent for self. Capability to mentor and manage changes. Self-empowerment enables the development of open communication. Teamwork and trust are needed to support performance and a customer service-oriented culture
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Well-developed oral and report-writing skills, ability to work with others. Effectively communicate with and manage customer expectations (Internal/external), and other stakeholders who impact on performance.
• Negotiation & Selling Skills: Must be a good negotiator, particularly in changing behavior and work practices but always win/win. Negotiate with customers on product offerings to grow customer numbers/value and product uptake
• Human Resource Management Skills: Basic leadership skills, team building, and ability to train, develop, lead and work with highly motivated teams
• Personal Ethics: Must be honest, fair, just but firm with self, and of high integrity
• Relationship Management: Managing client relationships so as to ensure excellent customer experience leading to value added to the customer and increase in the Banks share of wallet