SME Senior Credit Manager
Job Summary
To plan, manage and monitor the
implementation of credit control management activities and processes in order
to deliver on approved operational plans in an effective and efficient manner.
Job Purpose
This is a critical role for a credit
professional in proactively maintaining a consistent and appropriate credit
risk management framework for sustainable growth of the SME proposition in
Kenya. This entails:
Achieving a high standard in SME
Credit sanctioning and Credit applications processing. Ensuring the optimal
quality of the credit portfolio by application of best practice in
decision-making, to a maximum personal lending discretion
Management of the Absa Kenya SME
portfolio to ensure that policy, people and processes support sustainable
growth.
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.
The role holder must have a minimum of
five years in credit risk management/sanctioning three of which should be as a
team leader.
Main accountabilities and approximate
time split
Proactively
Maintain and develop an operating model for ABSA SME Credit (20-30%)
In conjunction with the Head of
Wholesale Credit/Head of SME sales while taking into account Group wide
processes and procedures, review all aspects of the Credit transaction cycle in
order to maintain an appropriate operating model for the SME in Absa Kenya.
Support development of new products
for the SME proposition within agreed timeframes
Develop and propose improved processes
in order to speed up decision making.
Reviewing the ability to improve or
implement scorecards to streamline decision making where appropriate.
Work closely with the Head of Risk
Control Unit (RCU) and Documentation and Securities Unit (DSC) to ensure post
sanction fulfilment and loan administration is managed in line with agreed
Group processes/Best Practice.
Support improvement of MI to support portfolio
management and reporting.
Work closely with Absa Business
Support and Recoveries (BS&R) to develop collections and recovery teams and
impairment methodologies so as to ensure impairment is within agreed limits.
Oversight/facilitating of governance
meetings (Early Warning and Risk Reports Control Committee)
People
Management (10-20%)
Support the Team Leaders in delivering
effective performance development for individuals within the team.
Drive proactive application of Absa
Bank Kenya Plc Behaviours both personally and throughout the team and coach and
support colleagues within the Team.
Facilitating trainings to build
capacity of originators within SME front office and credit managers
Manage effective performance of direct
reports to strengthen execution and effectiveness
Setting and Monitoring of Credit Appetite (10-15%)
Taking into account the distinct
market characteristics in Kenya, critically evaluate credit appetite proposals
from the sales teams, providing value added feedback which strengthens
propositions and mitigates key risks.
Support the Kenyan business in
presenting agreed SME appetite statements through the Group Risk Appetite
setting process.
Ensure SME appetite is supported by
appropriate infrastructure and processes and people within Absa Kenya.
Dynamically manage agreed appetite
within agreed parameters in the light of changing macro-economic and sector
specific conditions and portfolio performance; oversight on monitoring &
control of loan contracts, arrears and excesses, impairment management, overdue
reviews and quality of credit applications
Work
with conformance team to ensure agreed processes embedded and followed (5-10%)
Work closely with the Head of Policy
and Governance at Emerging Markets Centre in Kenya and South Africa to develop
an SME Conformance schedule and template.
Ensure that action points from
conformance reports are implemented and best practice shared across the
business.
Support pro-active portfolio
management through participating and facilitating Risk Governance meetings and
giving guidance to the sales and credit team.
Sanctioning
of transactions (20-30%)
Personal lending authority for the
sanctioning of individual transactions
Establish a framework for the
continual monitoring of sanctioning quality of SME Credit Sanctioning teams
through regular sampling.
Reviewing transactions agreed outside
of Credit Policy on an individual and portfolio basis.
Support in upskilling, training, and
mentoring of sales origination colleagues and Credit managers in order to
improve quality of applications and reduction of reworks.
Ensuring adherence to agreed service
level agreements with business as well as providing world class service to
sales colleagues.
Support
Technology Development (5-10%)
Support the business in the
development of appropriate IT platforms, spreading best practice in terms of
FlexCube, Credit development and automation of Credit processes to build
efficiency.
Technical
skills/Competencies
Strong intellect balanced by practical
and pragmatic approach
Strong internal and external
networking
Analytical
Credit Risk Management in the SME
sector
People management and coaching
Communications (written and oral) and
presentations
Effective negotiation and influencing
First class credit assessment,
structuring and sanctioning skills
Knowledge, Expertise and Experience
Essential
Comprehensive technical credit skills
and previous sanctioning experience
In depth SME business awareness and
specific industry and country awareness
Detailed knowledge of risk management
policy, procedures & pricing
High level of understanding of the
macroeconomic factors affecting ABSA’S SME customer base, including geographic
issues relating to certain sectors
Previous experience in the successful
delivery of risk management is desirable
Managing risk and reward
ACIB/equivalent business
experience/other appropriate qualification
Preferred
Detailed credit related product
knowledge in the Kenyan SME space.
Working knowledge of Group policies,
pricing, and strategies relative to the credit function
Experience of working in a dynamic
multi-segment environment. Awareness of varying legal/regulatory requirements.
Education
Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced
Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)
How to Apply
