Head: PPB Credit Strategy & Portfolio

Job Summary

• Support the CCO in providing independent oversight of credit risk across PPB portfolios.
• Review and challenge bottom-up credit risk appetite from business units to ensure a consistent approach, robustness and alignment to Group frameworks.
• Ensure portfolio strategies are aligned to approved risk appetite, through the cycle credit loss ratios, regulatory expectations and capital constraints.
• Provide independent challenge to credit strategies and recommend corrective actions within mandate.
• Continuously evaluate and ensure enhancement (either directly or through influencing the first line of defence) the bank’s credit risk and capital models, credit scoring systems, and decision-making processes, ensuring they remain robust, compliant, and aligned with market conditions.
• Establish and own PPB Credit Standard, aligned to relevant Group Credit policies and standards.

• Monitor and assess overall credit risk exposure across PPB portfolios, ensuring limits and thresholds are adhered to.
• Oversee portfolio performance trends and key risk drivers across products and sectors.
• Support periodic Product and Credit Strategy Reviews to identify emerging risks, concentrations and structural vulnerabilities.
• Ensure effective design and use of Early Warning Indicators (EWIs) and portfolio triggers across all PPB portfolios.
• Support portfolio optimisation through risk-return analysis and proactive steering at overall PPB level.
• Ensure Group Credit Portfolio Management principles is embedded across all PPB portfolios.

• Ensure appropriateness of risk weighted assets, economic capital and earnings at risk measures.
• Ensure alignment of portfolio strategies with these capital metrics.
• Support optimisation of capital allocation to enhance risk-adjusted returns.
• Monitor adequacy of capital assumptions in collaboration with finance and Group functions.
• Provide insights into capital efficiency and balance sheet utilisation across portfolios, coordinating optimization initiatives for PPB.

• Establish and own requirements for tier 1 credit risk reporting, working closely with Risk, Data and Reporting teams to ensure consistent and controlled production, supporting risk monitoring and decision-making.
• Help coordinate stress testing and scenario analysis to assess portfolio resilience under adverse conditions.
• Identify systemic and emerging risks and translate into actionable insights.
• Track key risk indicators and provide early identification of deteriorating trends.

• Support the CCO in maintaining a robust credit risk governance framework.
• Contribute to credit risk submissions into key governance committees, including insights on portfolio health and risk appetite utilisation.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and applicable regulations (e.g. Basel, NCA, SARB, etc.)
• Support monitoring and enforcement of portfolio limits, triggers and corrective actions.

• Collaborate with first line teams to ensure alignment between business, PPB objectives and risk appetite.
• Engage with Group Credit, Finance, Treasury and Enterprise Risk Management to ensure integrated portfolio and capital management.
• Support the CCO in engagements with senior stakeholders through high-quality insights and challenge.

• Lead and develop the team, ensuring that team members have the skills, knowledge, and tools to effectively support the management and oversight of credit risk management.
• Provide ongoing training, mentorship, and guidance to team members to build a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement.
• Foster a collaborative and results-oriented environment, ensuring alignment with the bank’s broader strategic goals.

Bachelor’s degree and/or post graduate qualification(s) in Actuarial Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related quantitative discipline.

• Ability to develop and implement comprehensive credit risk strategies and frameworks, with a focus on mitigating risk while supporting business growth.
• Strong understanding of retail banking products, credit risk models, and financial markets, especially within the South African context.
• Ability to apply a risk-based approach to assess the credit risk impact of product development, new customer segments, and portfolio changes.

• Strong background in governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance in the financial services industry.
• Ability to lead and influence across multiple levels of the organization, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations and internal credit risk policies.
• Understanding of SARB regulations, NCA, and Basel frameworks and how these impact credit risk management.

• Advanced analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data, identify risks and trends, and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Ability to balance risk mitigation with business growth goals, making data-driven decisions to optimize the retail credit portfolio.

• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to present complex credit risk issues in a clear, concise, and actionable manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage effectively with senior leaders, business units, external regulators, and other key stakeholders.

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, with a focus on building a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Ability to influence decision-making at senior levels, including executives and board members, by providing credible risk assessments and recommendations.

• Strong interpersonal skills - the ability to develop rapport and credibility at credit committees and at senior management level in the firm
• Strategic thinker - clear ability on matters that are relevant for fundamental credit risk analysis per asset class
• Attention to detail - good analytical skills and attention to detail with ability to recognize emerging issues
• Retail credit risk models (regulatory, application, pricing, etc.) - in depth knowledge of all retail related credit models
• Regulatory knowledge - advanced understanding of all relevant regulations

• Business acumen - understands financial and economic concepts / drivers and identifies, creates and / or exploit opportunities; manages risk effectively
• Inspirational people leadership - builds and sustains a high-performance team culture; builds organizational capability by implementing and sustaining a talent management culture
• Collaborating and influencing - establishes a collaborative culture and enduring partnership with diverse internal and external stakeholders that delivers mutual benefit
• Change leadership - establishes a culture of continually introducing and embracing change to drive business improvements in new and challenging directions
• Results orientation - delivers breakthrough performance by continually striving to do things better through improving, substantially re-designing or transforming methodologies and approaches

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