Business Banking Sector Head Wholesale and Retail Portfolio

Job Summary

• Define the Business Banking sector strategies aligned to the bank’s growth, risk, and return objectives.

• Translate group and Business Bank strategy into sector‑specific growth, penetration, and profitability plans.

• Identify priority sub‑segments, client archetypes, and growth opportunities within each sector.

• Ensure consistent strategy adoption across countries while allowing for market‑specific adaptations.

• Ensure alignment with Group balance‑sheet, capital, and risk appetite

• Develop the industry and/or sector‑level portfolio performance, including lending growth, revenue, margins, and returns.

• Drive optimisation of risk‑adjusted returns (RAROC) across sector portfolios.

• Monitor portfolio health, concentration, and early‑warning indicators; initiate corrective actions where required.

• Balance growth ambition with disciplined portfolio management and loss mitigation.

• Own portfolio‑level outcomes across all markets.

• Sense‑check country and segment exposures holistically

• Act as final escalation point on portfolio‑level trade‑offs

• Partner with Risk and Credit to define sector risk appetite, underwriting standards, and credit policies.

• Ensure sector strategies align with approved risk limits, regulatory expectations, and internal governance frameworks.

• Provide sector insight into portfolio reviews, credit forums, and risk committees.

• Proactively identify emerging sector risks and structural changes impacting portfolio performance.

• Work closely with Coverage and Relationship teams to embed sector strategies into frontline execution.

• Drive sector‑specific value propositions, client engagement models, and pipeline discipline.

• Enable consistent application of best practices, tools, and playbooks across countries and teams.

• Track execution effectiveness and intervene where delivery gaps exist.

• Identify and develop ecosystem and partnership opportunities that enhance sector positioning and client value.

• Influence product and solution design to ensure sector relevance and commercial differentiation.

• Collaborate with Treasury on pricing, balance‑sheet optimisation, and funding impacts at sector level.

• Ensure Business Banking sector propositions remain competitive, scalable, and commercially viable.

• Act as the Business Bank’s internal sector authority, providing insight on market trends, regulatory developments, and competitive dynamics.

• Develop sector thought leadership to support frontline teams and inform strategic decisions.

• Build deep insight into sector dynamics, value chains, regulatory developments and macro economic trends across Africa.

• Support marketing and client engagement initiatives through credible sector insights (non‑transactional).

Stakeholder ManagementBuild strong working relationships with:

• Country Business Banking Heads

• Coverage leadership

• Risk, Credit, Product, and Treasury teams

• Ensure sector strategies and initiatives comply with governance, conduct and regulatory requirements across markets.

• Represent the sector agenda in executive forums, resolving cross‑functional issues and influencing enterprise priorities

Education

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised