Senior Manager Credit - Commercial Asset Finance at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Conduct quality credit assessments, provide responsible risk decisions within personal mandate level, and maintain an assigned credit portfolio of clients for Relationship Banking Commercial Asset Finance (Growth, Premium, High Value, AVMS, and CIB) in accordance with Absa credit policies, processes, and procedures. To provide an efficient and effective credit approval and management process in respect of the allocated portfolio. Develop and maintain cooperative relationships between all stakeholders in the credit value chain.

Job Description

Credit Sanctioning 

• Perform quality credit sanctioning within the Operational Level Agreement (OLA), being cognizant of risks, being solutions-driven, and considering compliance requirements.
• Assist stakeholders with growth by assessing, structuring, and solutions to client needs, ensuring adherence and compliance with credit policies, processes, terms, and conditions.
• This includes evaluation and structuring of new opportunities, initial credit due diligence, and preparing recommendations to the credit committee as well as ongoing monitoring.
• Evaluate a company’s stability, the adeptness of the management team, and creditworthiness by analyzing relevant documents including balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, financial projections, etc. Validates any assumptions, projects, and overall borrower viability and ability to repay the credit request
• Conduct a full assessment of the risks and potential mitigating factors impacting on a client. 
• Perform robust financial and non-financial analysis on the client that supports the review of facilities or new funding proposals. 
• Make use of clients' historical data, for example, financial statements to forecast the clients’ potential growth and sustainability. 
• Conduct a sensitivity/scenario analysis to determine the impact that a change in, for example, the economy, political situation, and consumer demand, will have on the client’s financial health. 
• Based on the analysis conducted structure a lending solution for the client, that will account for the potential threats to the client and that is within set credit limits and the Bank's credit lending policies and appetite. 
• Compile a proposal that summarizes, the client’s background and needs, the research findings, and the final recommendation on which credit lending solution is best for the client, for the Credit Committee to approve in the interim and escalate further for the necessary approval.

Industry Knowledge

• Demonstrate and display profound understanding and experience in the finance of commercial asset finance (Transport & Logistics, Construction, Mining)
• Conduct research on the industry in which the client operates to understand the industry’s overall profitability, industry trends, and the client's market standing relative to its competitors.
• Knowledge of principles and methods for moving goods by air, rail, sea, and land including the relative costs and benefits

Portfolio and Risk Management 

• Proactively maintain and manage the assigned portfolio within agreed KPIs.
• Accurate and timeously report high-risk accounts.
• Provide credit solutions for the timeous rehabilitation of delinquent accounts and initiate transfers to Business Support and/or Legal Recovery Services (LRS) for groups/accounts which cannot be rehabilitated in the normal credit environment.
• Ongoing credit portfolio monitoring and maintenance of Group Risk Appetite across Relationship Banking and CIB CAF clients.

Stakeholder Management 

• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Be a role model for client engagement and demonstrate value add at every engagement. 
• A strong communicator that has the ability to influence stakeholders
• Contribute to the upskilling and mentoring of front-line colleagues.

Risk, Control, and Governance

• Apply the highest standards of controls and risk management practices and behaviors and embed a positive risk and control culture.
• Adhere to policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Identify, assess, and report risks arising from significant events, investigations, audits, and control issues.
• Demonstrate prudence, sound judgment, and appropriate escalations in the management of all types of risk applicable to the role.
• Ensure that the Bank's credit policies, philosophy, and all relevant legislation are fully complied with at all times and that any policy breaches have been suitably addressed and mitigated.

Data and Systems Management

• To produce relevant management information and manage exposures including the maintenance of relevant systems.
• Drive RWA efficiencies by ensuring that the data in terms of Default Grades (DG's), Loss Given Defaults (LGDs), limits, and review dates are correctly captured on the Bank's credit systems and adequately supported by the credit systems.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist with special projects or other duties as needed and deemed necessary
• Demonstrate an understanding of credit and risk assessment tools, risk measurement, and rating methodologies, including their underlying assumptions and potential weaknesses. 
• Demonstrate resilience and ability to work in a competitive and highly pressurized work environment to ensure that deadlines are met. 
• Provide ad hoc training and coaching to junior credit or new staff members through the provision of relevant materials, explanations, and/or presentations. 
• Legal agreements of the transactions and related transaction documentation.
• Understanding of financial markets and general business acumen
• Partner with the Head of Asset Finance and relevant stakeholders in the business to ensure credit processes, policies, and infrastructure is enabled.

Requirements 

• CA or BCom postgraduate qualification. (Accounting, Finance, Risk)
• MBA would be advantageous. 
• 8 to 10 years experience in a financial institution.
• Knowledge and understanding of credit and investment risks in the financing of transactions or projects. 
• Portfolio management experience would be advantageous.
• Previous lending mandate of R150m

Education

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