Head: Individual Credit Assessment at Nedbank

Purpose

• To oversee the credit assessment function for all RBB individual client loan applications, which are characterised by varying client needs, process / policy / system differences, product nuances, and different assessment teams with varying levels of expertise and mandates. To monitor and manage staff performance across and within teams, to ensure adherence to credit policy, and to drive towards quality decisioning in support of sustainable, profitable growth. To assist with the rolling out of the RBB client centric digitisation strategy within the credit function. 

Job Responsibilities

• Lead a decentralised team of credit managers positioned across multiple products and segments to drive a holistic, effective credit assessment process that aligns to Nedbank strategy.
• Limit credit impairments, mitigating lending risk by ensuring quality assessments are done, considering structured lending solutions, collateral means, balance sheet, cash-flow and tax structure, etc.
• Manage performance of staff by implementing performance agreements, ensuring a clear vision, agreeing on goals and objectives, providing regular feedback on performance, recognising, and rewarding achievement and take appropriate corrective action where required. Address issues raised in culture surveys by participating in the development and implementation of action plans.
• Build the capability of staff through identifying current and future training and development needs. Contribute to team effectiveness by following the recruitment process when recruiting talent. Nurture the talent pool through conducting career conversations, utilising the talent grid principles and developing talent retention programmes (e.g. rotation). Encourage the team to generate innovative ideas and share knowledge.
• Ensure self and staff understand and embrace the Nedbank Vision and Values by leading by example and re-enforcing values during meetings. Ensure transformational targets are met through effective recruitment, retention, and training programmes.
• Gain consensus and highlight pertinent credit risk issues by preparing and presenting reports to various forums. Provide independent opinion to stakeholders to inform prudent risk management. Keep stakeholders informed of serious breaches through submissions to governance committees.
• Establish emerging risks and drive towards best practice by studying the macro economy, the external market, competitors, and regulatory environment.
• Identify, establish, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to ensure buy-in of monitoring activities and policy / process recommendations.
• Challenge recommendations and proposed policy changes made by the business to ensure thorough understanding of the risk involved.
• Ensure alignment to changes in regulations and Group Policy by contributing to the maintenance of an up-to-date credit policy.
• Represent Credit Risk by participating in Risk Committees and Forums, and ensure that the bank, through its lending practices, treats the customer ethically and fairly by ensuring that the client’s voice is considered.
• Contribute towards financial targets by ensuring quality assessments are conducted that strike a balance between mitigating credit risk whilst enabling sustainable growth. Manage internal budgets by controlling expenditure.
• Facilitate and guide monitoring activities by obtaining legal opinion and directives.
• Ensure client needs and expectations are met through process efficiency and a focus on dealmaking. Resolve customer complaints by reacting within agreed timelines.
• Identify areas of resource inefficiencies and promote optimisation through promoting multi-skilling and addressing capacity gaps by reviewing and improving work processes.

Minimum Experience Level

• 11 years' plus experience in a Credit environment with a Mandate
• 5 - 8 years' experience in a Senior Credit Management role 
• 2 years' Finance and People Management experience

Preferred Qualification

• NQF Level 7 or Higher in a Finance, Business, Banking or Insolvency-related field
• A Credit Record is essential