SME Area Segment Manager (Agri)

Job Summary

The Area Segment Manager: SME (FAIS) is accountable for leading, coaching, and managing a team of Relationship Executives to deliver sustainable growth, portfolio profitability, and exceptional client experience within the Small Business segment, with a strong focus on sector-based portfolios including Agriculture, Agri-processing, and related value chains.

The role translates Business Unit strategy into executable regional and team delivery plans, ensuring strong sales performance, disciplined risk management, regulatory compliance, and colleague development. The incumbent plays a critical role in driving performance through people, embedding a high-performance culture, and strengthening Absa’s footprint in key regional sectors such as Agriculture, which are critical to local economic development.

Key Accountabilities

People Leadership & Performance Management

Lead, coach, and develop a team of SME Relationship Executives to achieve agreed financial, sales, and client experience outcomes across diversified SME portfolios, including Agriculture-focused clients.

Set clear performance expectations and contract objectives through the Performance Development process.

Drive colleague capability, engagement, and succession by identifying development needs and enabling targeted coaching and learning, including sector-specific capability for Agriculture and rural SME markets.

Foster a high-performance, inclusive, and empowering team culture aligned to Absa’s values.

Business & Commercial Management

Translate Business Unit and Segment strategy into tactical delivery plans and measurable objectives for the team.

Drive portfolio growth, profitability, and productivity across the area by optimising origination, cross-sell, and client retention, with tailored approaches for Agriculture and Agri-related SME clients.

Monitor and manage performance against targets, taking corrective action where required.

Ensure consistent execution of the SME Customer Value Proposition (CVP), adapting solutions to meet the seasonal, cash-flow, and risk characteristics of Agricultural clients.

Risk, Compliance & Governance

Ensure all activities are conducted in line with FAIS, credit, regulatory, and internal governance frameworks.

Embed a strong risk culture by ensuring quality origination, disciplined credit assessment, and proactive portfolio risk management, including effective management of sector-specific risks such as climate, commodity price volatility, and production risk within Agriculture portfolios.

Monitor adherence to compliance standards including FICA, NCA, and internal control requirements.

Take accountability for audit findings, risk issues, and remediation actions within the area.

Client & Customer Experience

Ensure Relationship Executives deliver a consistently high standard of service and trusted advisory to SME clients, including farmers, agri-business owners, and Agricultural value-chain participants.

Support complex client engagements, escalations, and solutioning where required, particularly for larger or more specialised Agricultural relationships.

Drive client satisfaction, advocacy, and retention through strong relationship coverage and service excellence.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

Work closely with Credit, Product, Risk, Operations, and Agriculture / Sector Specialists to enable effective client solutions and delivery.

Build strong internal partnerships to improve ways of working and remove friction in the client journey.

Share market, portfolio, and sector-specific insights (including Agriculture market trends and risks) to inform business decisions and continuous improvement.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Finance, Economics, Business Management, or related field (preferred).

5–8 years’ experience in Business / Commercial Banking, with demonstrated exposure to SME portfolios, including Agriculture or sector-based lending.

2–4 years’ experience in a leadership or people management role within a banking or financial services environment.

Strong understanding of SME banking, credit, financial analysis, and risk management, including sector-specific considerations for Agricultural and rural enterprises.

Proven track record of driving sales performance, portfolio growth, and team delivery in complex, regionally diverse markets.

Key Competencies

Strong people leadership and coaching capability

Commercial and financial acumen

Sound judgement in credit and risk decision-making, including sector-specific risk assessment

Strategic thinking with strong execution discipline

Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills

Ability to lead through change and complexity

Education

Bachelors Degree and Professional Qualifications: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

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