Head RBB Risk Capabilities & Enablement at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

This is senior role within the Everyday Banking Chief Risk Office. To lead the Retail and Relationship Banking Risk Capability and Enablement team for South Africa. To clearly understand Risk and Business strategy and ensure Risk technology, systems, infrastructure, and data requirements align and support this. Demonstrate innovative thinking and identify solutions in the technology environment, to address known issues and challenges in Risk. Identify new trends and developments and incorporate into forward looking strategies and plans to ensure the businesses can leverage systems and resources to remain competitive. Own and manage the integrity and reconcilability of data used in all aspects of credit risk. Manage multiple project teams across Risk ensuring delivery on time and to high standards.

Job Description

Accountability: Strategic Direction Setting (40%)

• Set team strategy and communicate outcome to key stakeholders ensuring alignment to RBB Risk TOM to support all areas of RBB Risk.
• Demonstrate clear understanding the RBB Risk and RBB business strategy and ensure the RBB Risk Capability and Enablement team aligns and supports this.
• Providing guidance to RBB Risk Product teams and others as appropriate on 2 technology landscape ensuring it is remains ‘fit for purpose’ now and in future. Manage expectations closely to ensure deliver is in line with requirements for BAU.
• Work closely with Risk Product Heads, Operational, Investment and Change councils to ensure that RBB Risk’s requirements are suitably supported and secured.
• Demonstrate innovative thinking and identify solutions for known issues and challenges in RBB Risk across South Africa and Africa, and present on these on a regular basis (min quarterly) to RBB Risk COO and CRO.
• Partner with RBB Technology to engineer suitable system solution enhancements for RBB Risk. (ad hoc or BAU)
• Embed effective KRI’s which speak to the health of RBB Risk systems (put in place across Africa and South Africa) and report these on a monthly basis to COO, CRO and RBB Risk Management Committee.
• Manage multiple project teams (who in turn manage multiple projects) across RBB Risk ensuring delivery on time and to high standards.
• Identify solutions for infrastructure challenges and improvements across RBB Risk, and share these with the senior RBB Risk leadership team to ensure alignment with AGL Risk, Group Risk and CIBW Risk activities, ensuring we leverage existing capabilities and solutions wherever possible.
• Continuously monitor team service levels and implement strategic measures to improve customer satisfaction. Ensure such corrective action is taken timeously.
• Ensure planning for Retail Risk systems inclusive of budget requirements is kept up to date in real time and supports timelines for systems replacements. (Roadmap)
• Act as lead point in relations with AGL Group on risk related system and developments, and identify best practice from the AGL Group and external industry and incorporate into RBB Risk thinking and delivery. Share outcome with Risk Leadership on regular basis.
• Act as subject matter expert for Risk System related matters within Absa Africa Risk, challenging current solutions / practices where applicable and engaging with BARL Group Risk teams to ensure constant awareness and alignment of Risk efforts.
• Define the strategic data requirement for RBB Risk to ensure all operational and strategic decisions (manual and automated) are optimised.

Accountability: Management of Enhancements, Systems Changes, Governance (30%)

• Take ownership for and ensure alignment of team efforts to existing RBB system enhancement initiatives which impact RBB Risk ensuring there are delivered on time and to a high standard
• Establish and embed governance and controls for the Capability and Enhancements team, ensuring these are in place and operating effectively for South Africa and Africa.
• Ensure annual small enhancement solutions are identified, agreed with business and strategically planned for delivery (scheduled) across RBB Risk.
• Align with Absa Information Services on solutions delivered for RBB Risk.
• Own and manage the integrity and reconcilability of data used in all aspects of credit risk including Modelling, MIS and Capital Reporting. These processes must include; privacy, security, integrity, metadata management, traceability, availability and accuracy.
• Own and manage key programmes to build the new Retail Credit data warehouse and mart environments. Resolving all outstanding Audit and Control issues on time.
• Take the lead and collaborate at a strategic level with other Technology activities delivered in Africa which impact RBB Risk
• Proactively manage team projects and small enhancement expenditure and ensure the COO is updated timeously on progress.
• Put in place adequate and effective tracking and managing off external stakeholders / vendors supporting RBB Risk to ensure delivery on objectives across Products.
• Embed processes to ensure post implementation testing is carried out for system changes and enhancements, supported by appropriate checks and reviews.
• Put in place adequate and effective governance and controls in place to manage delivery of small enhancements and system changes in RBB Risk.
• Own and drive the change requirements to ensure RBB Risk is aligned with and complies with the BCBS 239 minimum requirements as per required timelines.
• Quick and professional responses to all queries by Risk leadership, Absa Risk, COO and CRO related to the team activities (progress, challenges, blockages etc.)

Accountability: Stakeholder Management (15%)

• Manage the Small enhancements budget and ensure that the process enables the implementation of business change, including prioritisation and ensuring that spend is beneficial and appropriate.
• Network across Group Risk and Absa Credit Risk and external regulators and key stakeholders. Explore opportunities to leverage global team to the benefit of RBB Risk.
• Take leading role as subject matter expert (SME) and act as sounding board for senior executives looking for an opinion/ guidance on strategic way forward.
• Provide direction and guidance to the Capability Development and Change Team on execution and interdependencies on initiatives that span different business units.
• Own and manage all negotiation of service level contracts (systems related) for RBB Risk with focus on improved performance, reduction in turnaround times and cost.
• Ensure there are Transfer pricing models in place for the Systems and Enablement team, and all stakeholders (internal and external) are consulted and support the outcome proposed.
• Champion RBB Risk in business funding forums related to systems / infrastructure/ change initiatives / small enhancements.
• Proactively manage delivery expectations on change implementations, and ensure stakeholders (BAGL, RBB Risk, and COO RBB Risk) are kept informed of progress.
• Ensure appropriate risk management controls / frameworks are in place to manage systems related activity end to end in the RBB Risk environment.
• Establish and manage an early escalation framework covering all activities delivered, and ensure stakeholders, including the RBB Risk COO and CRO are kept informed of progress, seeking support as needed.

Accountability: Leadership and Team Management 15%

• Lead a high performing systems enablement team within RBB Risk across Africa by example for others to follow. (Demonstrate ownership, passion and commitment to delivering results)
• Establish a high-performance culture by mentoring key roles in the operations team, using the performance development framework, informal coaching and formal learning as tools.
• Establish and maintain a succession plan for the key roles in team and review and approve succession plans (continuity for key roles in Risk across Africa)
• Ensure Systems Enablement capability has processes which ensure we complies with relevant policies and procedures.
• Put in place a skills transfer framework whereby you develop those one level lower and lift the team’s capability and abilities to deliver on the needs of the future.
• Drive strategies to ensure the business unit attracts, retains and develops talent for key roles, with clear succession in place. Manage out non-performers.
• Own and manage remediation action plans resulting from Employee Opinion Survey relating to Systems Enablement.
• Put in place a clear and focused performance management for all direct reports providing regular and detailed feedback, via structured process as per HR.
• Ensure that the Enablement team deliver on Compliance Training, Audit Obligations.

Education And Experience Required

• B-degree (Risk Management or Information Technology) or equivalent (NQF level 6)
• MBA/Masters in Technology preferable
• The role holder must have had previous experience in a Bank/Credit Risk role.
• Role holder must have previous experience at senior level in a systems and data 4 environment.
• The role holder must have had previous leadership and team management experience.

Knowledge & Skills

• Detailed knowledge of Retail Risk Systems and Products - operational and strategic perspective, including strong programme management skills
• Detailed knowledge of credit risk practices and processes.
• Strategic thinking and approach to prioritising work, solution-oriented thinking considering the big picture
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation applicable to banks
• Commercial business acumen
• Decisive with strong internal networking

Competencies:

• Strategic thinking – identify opportunities and risk well in advance and manage stakeholders accordingly
• Communication and Influence - able to communicate effectively across a range of stakeholders in Business, Product, Sales, Risk, IT and Operations
• Change agent – looking for ways to improve service and delivery
• Leadership – the ability to direct the large number of staff, direct and indirect, to ensure all play their part in attaining the overall goals
• Problem Solving and Decision Making – the ability to quickly understand a situation and take decisive action that is bought into by stakeholders
• Quality High Standards and Controls
• Systems technical Skills & Knowledge relevant to Risk
• Ownership and accountability - take initiative, lead by example, live the values

Education

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