Chief Risk Officer, Absa Regional Operations (ARO)

at  Absa Bank Limited

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
Job Summary
The incumbent is accountable to the Group Chief Risk Officer and supports the ARO Chief Executive in delivery and execution of strategy and risk appetite.
The CRO ARO is responsible for the consolidated ARO Risk profile across CIB, RBB and Treasury, and covers all risks and activity on the balance sheet of ARO subsidiaries. This includes Credit Risk, Traded and Non-Traded Market Risk, Operational Risk, Country & Sovereign Risks as well as franchise and strategic risks.
For CIB and Country & Sovereign Risks, the incumbent will work in close conjunction with the CIB CRO and Group Credit Risk and is solely accountable for the RBB franchise.
The CRO ARO is responsible to ensure that the risk profile and performance is effectively managed and reported, in an integrated manner across the businesses outside of South Africa, working in close co-ordination with the Country CRO’s and Chief Credit Officer’s (CCO).
The CRO ARO is responsible for:
Developing the Risk strategy and business objectives at a country level in alignment with Country priority objectives and Group requirements.
Advising management and the Board on issues relating to significant risk exposures and risk mitigation options to allow for appropriate decision-making.
Advising Senior Management and the Board on the control and measurement of risks, develop and implement of best practices in the management and mitigation of risk to be within risk appetite set.
Making recommendations to the Senior Management and the Boards on the type and level of exposures and risk outcomes in each activity segment permitted by policy and will advise and recommend to Senior Management and the Boards on matters relating to risk management and the overall health of the Risk franchise at a country level.
Managing risk in alignment with relevant policies and standards, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and ensuring stringent utilisation of financial resources and capital.
Supporting management and Boards with external engagement with regulators and other external stakeholders, and
Participating in the respective Executive Committees including contributions towards functional and business strategy, operating model, business approach and people planning.
Job Description

Accountability: Risk Management

• Effectively challenges the Business Units on their strategy and risk shape/profile in the context of the macro-economic and regulatory environment and incorporating risk adjusted returns
• Determines the overall Risk Appetite and risk strategy and propose the same for approval to the respective committees
• Allocates and monitors the enterprise-wide risk profile in liaison with Business CEO’s and/or Country CEO’s, aligned with their approved strategy and ensure it is consistent with the overall approved Group Risk Appetite
• Manages and monitors the enterprise-wide risk profile and ensure it is appropriate, well understood and controlled by all stakeholders
• Outlines and implements an effective governance framework for all risks in line with regulatory requirements
• Fulfils all duties and responsibilities as defined in the King Report on Corporate Governance
• Ensures that risk management activities are robust, thorough and complete and that risk capabilities in each business are developed and commensurate with risks inherent and strategy/plans
• Establishes appropriate systems and controls including assurance to identify, assess, measure, report, control and manage key risks. Ensure timely escalation of risk issues to enable effective mitigation
• Develops and maintains applicable standards and oversee risk and control in Critical Processes and Management Control Approach (MCA)
• Reports to Group Executive Management, ARO Business Area Executive Committees (Business Area ExCo) and relevant committees, regulators and other stakeholders on the business area’s risk positions, adherence to Risk Appetite and control environment.
• Establishes regional level oversight of the adoption and adherence to frameworks and policies for all risks
• Implements Risk Measurement models for RBB and methodologies ensuring practices are in line with regulatory and accounting principles and standards
• Chairs the ARO ERC that deals with franchise wide risk matters with escalation / socialisation with the RBB ERC, CIB ERC, AGL ERC and other Group Committees as required
• Fulfils a governance role in serving as a member of country and group executive and management committees
• Performs regular or periodic stress test on risk portfolios and review and approve appropriateness of the stresses applied at the business levels
• Drive a proactive compliance and risk management within the country team and function as a whole
• Leads the ARO combined assurance process and ensure appropriate management and reporting in country and Group
• Delivers impairment budget, ensuring that the agreed asset quality is maintained within risk appetite
• Determines action plans to effectively reduce and manage risks related to internal assurance providers as well as regulator commitments
• Interacts with the different risk management policies and processes and incorporate all the necessary elements
• Ensures the oversight and timely response and remediation of regulatory matters
• Supports the formulation and execution of sovereign risk appetite and management

Accountability: Strategy Formulation and Execution

• Ensures an integrated and effective risk management framework is implemented and embedded in all the business areas/countries
• Accountable for implementing efficient and effective governance of significant risks and related opportunities
• Aligns and collaborates at a strategic level with all other risk activities delivered in Absa
• Monitors the external business and market environment and develop/amend risk strategies as and when required in partnership with relevant stakeholders
• Develops and implement timely corrective actions with respect to country goals, business and financial plans to mitigate risks, emanating from threats and opportunities arising from internal and/or external environmental changes
• Ensures that risk is well positioned to provide competitive and industry leading practices and the delivery of excellent service to our customers and stakeholders
• Provides clear and constant feedback on progress and challenges within the business ensuring that the ARO CEO and RBB Managing Executive are kept informed at all times of current events and issues on the horizon
• Regular country visits to influence adoption and embedment of a coherent risk culture

Financial and Resource Management

• Ensures that capital on risk is managed as a resource and desired returns on this are achieved
• Monitors annual risk resource utilisation and implements strategies to improve the efficient allocation and utilisation of resources and budgets within own and country teams
• Drives the effective identification, funding and resourcing of new change initiatives with own team and country
• Ensures an appropriate risk/reward ethos that optimes risk weighted asset consumption and ensures the effective use of capital

Accountability: People Management

• Designs appropriate structures to deliver the desired results and acquire, build and retain the right talent
• Builds the capability and talent across the risk function in each country.
• Provides clear direction on strategic goals, translating and prioritising them into business and performance measures
• Role models the Absa values and embeds them through the function, enabling colleagues to always operate and demonstrate the values
• Reviews resource plans and ensure that resource allocation is in line with projected business plans and priorities
• Leads the function and build an environment to support talent management, development and mobility
• Builds and delivers people plans that align to the respective business plans as well as the Absa Group Risk Function people plan and ensures succession plans are in place for critical roles
• Drives and leads the diversity and inclusion (D&I) agenda across the function. Ensure all relevant D&I activity is conducted within the function and contribute to the Absa D&I strategy
• Ensure that the remuneration of the function is in line with industry benchmarking for RBB centre team and risk roles discharging RBB or franchise wide roles.
• Inputs and moderates performance ratings and compensation arrangements for the In-Country risk teams with input from Shared Service/Functional owners and review by the Absa Group CRO, RBB ARO ME and CIB CRO.
• Leverages the Absa wide learning agenda to develop and grow the capabilities within the function
• In partnership with relevant matrix stakeholders, manage the performance, recruitment, remuneration, development, mobility, succession and career development of the centre and in country team

Accountability: Stakeholder Management

• Ensures effective interaction with the In-Country Boards and Risk Committees, RBB ARO ME & ARO CEO, AGL Group CRO and his/her ExCo
• Supports the RBB ARO ME and ARO CEO on internal and external interactions where required
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with Business/Functional Heads
• Ensure effective interaction with the CRO CIB and his/her Exco.
• Actively participates in external forums to establish and maintain networks in the financial services industry.
• Keep abreast of Industry and Regulatory developments
• Ensures strategic alignment of ARO risk in line with Group Risk through the Absa Group CRO and his/her Exco
• Interface with all the Prudential Authority (South African Reserve Bank), in-Country Regulators and/or non-executive governance structures on risk matters.

Accountability: Business Management

• Ownership and accountability for coordination of risk elements of annual planning and review of MTP, STP and RAF budgets
• Manage the effective and efficient operation of the function in a manner consistent with the overall Risk Target Operating Model agreed by Group CRO and his/her Exco
• Controls costs effectively to ensure operation of the Risk functions in Country in line with agreed costs and headcount budgets
• Supports the Group CRO in the effective and efficient operation of the Regional Africa Risk Function in a manner consistent with the overall Risk Target Operating Model agreed by Risk ExCo as may be required by the Group.

Role/person specification

Preferred Education

• BSc Hons Degree, BCom Hons, MBA, Masters, CA or a related NQF Level 9 equivalent qualification

Preferred Experience

• Ten (10+) years’ experience in the Banking sector which must include proven experience. Ideally with international/regional exposure
• Ten (10) years ‘experience managing a large Control or Operations environment
• Five (5) years’ experience on a senior management level in a large corporate
• Experience at engagement at a Board level (Preferable)

Knowledge and Skills

• Strategic thinking: Ability to think and act in a strategic manner
• Communication and Influence: ability to communicate effectively across a range of internal and external senior stakeholders (in Group and country). Ability to build strong partnerships at senior levels. Strong networking skills. Awareness of cultural differences and varying legal/regulatory environments. Proven demonstration of communication skills at all levels within a large organisation.
• Stakeholder management on a senior and executive management level
• Innovation and change: ability to identify opportunities to improve service and deliver on these
• Proven leadership: ability to direct staff to achieve the business objectives and goals. Many of these will not be direct reports and some staff may span across geographic borders which further raises the need for advanced levels of competency and excellent leadership experience.
• People management: ability to form and develop high performing teams with robust bench-strength. People development/management skills/orientation and team leadership
• Problem solving and decision-making: ability to quickly understand a situation and take decisive action that is bought into by stakeholders. Courageous to make tough calls
• Quality and Excellence: Commitment to quality, high standards and robust risk/control management.
• Proven ability to deliver service excellence, managing often conflicting priorities
• Knowledge of Corporate and Investment banking and broad technical products skills and general commercial/industry awareness
• Good knowledge of risk, controls and governance processes, tools and practices
• Domestic and international travel required
• Experience of working in a multinational, multi-segment environment with matrix reporting structures

Education
Postgraduate Degrees 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 advertise

Accountability: Risk Management

• Effectively challenges the Business Units on their strategy and risk shape/profile in the context of the macro-economic and regulatory environment and incorporating risk adjusted returns
• Determines the overall Risk Appetite and risk strategy and propose the same for approval to the respective committees
• Allocates and monitors the enterprise-wide risk profile in liaison with Business CEO’s and/or Country CEO’s, aligned with their approved strategy and ensure it is consistent with the overall approved Group Risk Appetite
• Manages and monitors the enterprise-wide risk profile and ensure it is appropriate, well understood and controlled by all stakeholders
• Outlines and implements an effective governance framework for all risks in line with regulatory requirements
• Fulfils all duties and responsibilities as defined in the King Report on Corporate Governance
• Ensures that risk management activities are robust, thorough and complete and that risk capabilities in each business are developed and commensurate with risks inherent and strategy/plans
• Establishes appropriate systems and controls including assurance to identify, assess, measure, report, control and manage key risks. Ensure timely escalation of risk issues to enable effective mitigation
• Develops and maintains applicable standards and oversee risk and control in Critical Processes and Management Control Approach (MCA)
• Reports to Group Executive Management, ARO Business Area Executive Committees (Business Area ExCo) and relevant committees, regulators and other stakeholders on the business area’s risk positions, adherence to Risk Appetite and control environment.
• Establishes regional level oversight of the adoption and adherence to frameworks and policies for all risks
• Implements Risk Measurement models for RBB and methodologies ensuring practices are in line with regulatory and accounting principles and standards
• Chairs the ARO ERC that deals with franchise wide risk matters with escalation / socialisation with the RBB ERC, CIB ERC, AGL ERC and other Group Committees as required
• Fulfils a governance role in serving as a member of country and group executive and management committees
• Performs regular or periodic stress test on risk portfolios and review and approve appropriateness of the stresses applied at the business levels
• Drive a proactive compliance and risk management within the country team and function as a whole
• Leads the ARO combined assurance process and ensure appropriate management and reporting in country and Group
• Delivers impairment budget, ensuring that the agreed asset quality is maintained within risk appetite
• Determines action plans to effectively reduce and manage risks related to internal assurance providers as well as regulator commitments
• Interacts with the different risk management policies and processes and incorporate all the necessary elements
• Ensures the oversight and timely response and remediation of regulatory matters
• Supports the formulation and execution of sovereign risk appetite and managemen

Accountability: Strategy Formulation and Execution

• Ensures an integrated and effective risk management framework is implemented and embedded in all the business areas/countries
• Accountable for implementing efficient and effective governance of significant risks and related opportunities
• Aligns and collaborates at a strategic level with all other risk activities delivered in Absa
• Monitors the external business and market environment and develop/amend risk strategies as and when required in partnership with relevant stakeholders
• Develops and implement timely corrective actions with respect to country goals, business and financial plans to mitigate risks, emanating from threats and opportunities arising from internal and/or external environmental changes
• Ensures that risk is well positioned to provide competitive and industry leading practices and the delivery of excellent service to our customers and stakeholders
• Provides clear and constant feedback on progress and challenges within the business ensuring that the ARO CEO and RBB Managing Executive are kept informed at all times of current events and issues on the horizon
• Regular country visits to influence adoption and embedment of a coherent risk cultur

Accountability: People Management

• Designs appropriate structures to deliver the desired results and acquire, build and retain the right talent
• Builds the capability and talent across the risk function in each country.
• Provides clear direction on strategic goals, translating and prioritising them into business and performance measures
• Role models the Absa values and embeds them through the function, enabling colleagues to always operate and demonstrate the values
• Reviews resource plans and ensure that resource allocation is in line with projected business plans and priorities
• Leads the function and build an environment to support talent management, development and mobility
• Builds and delivers people plans that align to the respective business plans as well as the Absa Group Risk Function people plan and ensures succession plans are in place for critical roles
• Drives and leads the diversity and inclusion (D&I) agenda across the function. Ensure all relevant D&I activity is conducted within the function and contribute to the Absa D&I strategy
• Ensure that the remuneration of the function is in line with industry benchmarking for RBB centre team and risk roles discharging RBB or franchise wide roles.
• Inputs and moderates performance ratings and compensation arrangements for the In-Country risk teams with input from Shared Service/Functional owners and review by the Absa Group CRO, RBB ARO ME and CIB CRO.
• Leverages the Absa wide learning agenda to develop and grow the capabilities within the function
• In partnership with relevant matrix stakeholders, manage the performance, recruitment, remuneration, development, mobility, succession and career development of the centre and in country tea

Accountability: Stakeholder Management

• Ensures effective interaction with the In-Country Boards and Risk Committees, RBB ARO ME & ARO CEO, AGL Group CRO and his/her ExCo
• Supports the RBB ARO ME and ARO CEO on internal and external interactions where required
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with Business/Functional Heads
• Ensure effective interaction with the CRO CIB and his/her Exco.
• Actively participates in external forums to establish and maintain networks in the financial services industry.
• Keep abreast of Industry and Regulatory developments
• Ensures strategic alignment of ARO risk in line with Group Risk through the Absa Group CRO and his/her Exco
• Interface with all the Prudential Authority (South African Reserve Bank), in-Country Regulators and/or non-executive governance structures on risk matters

Accountability: Business Management

• Ownership and accountability for coordination of risk elements of annual planning and review of MTP, STP and RAF budgets
• Manage the effective and efficient operation of the function in a manner consistent with the overall Risk Target Operating Model agreed by Group CRO and his/her Exco
• Controls costs effectively to ensure operation of the Risk functions in Country in line with agreed costs and headcount budgets
• Supports the Group CRO in the effective and efficient operation of the Regional Africa Risk Function in a manner consistent with the overall Risk Target Operating Model agreed by Risk ExCo as may be required by the Group