Head: PPB Credit Strategy & Portfolio at Absa Group

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

05 Sep, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

07 Jun, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Credit Risk Strategy, Portfolio Management, Capital Management, Risk Appetite Framework, Stress Testing, Regulatory Compliance, Retail Banking, Financial Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Leadership, Credit Scoring Systems, Risk-Return Analysis, Basel Framework, NCA Regulations, SARB Regulations, Quantitative Analysis

Industry

Financial Services

Description

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 Head of Credit Strategy & Portfolio plays a key role in supporting the Personal and Private Banking (PPB) Chief Credit Officer (CCO) in the second line of defence. The role is responsible for independent oversight, check and challenge across all PPB credit portfolios to ensure risks are appropriately identified, monitored and managed within approved appetite. The role focuses on risk appetite, portfolio and capital management as well as forward-looking risk insights to support sustainable, risk-adjusted growth. Job Description Key Accountabilities: Credit Risk Appetite, Oversight and Strategy 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. Portfolio Management & Performance 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. Capital & Balance Sheet Management 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. Risk Monitoring, Analytics & Stress Testing 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. Governance, Reporting & Compliance 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. Stakeholder Engagement & Alignment 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. Leadership & Team Development 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. Preferred Education: Bachelor’s degree and/or post graduate qualification(s) in Actuarial Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related quantitative discipline. Preferred Experience: Minimum 10 years’ retail banking experience, coupled with significant leadership experience. Knowledge and Skills: Strategic Risk Management Expertise: 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. Governance & Compliance Leadership: 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. Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: 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. Communication & Stakeholder Management: 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. Leadership & Influence: 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. Technical Competencies: 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 Behavioural Competencies: 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 Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: 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 At Absa, our story is not a single narrative. It’s thousands of individual journeys unfolding across Africa and beyond. From colleagues serving customers in local communities to teams shaping financial solutions across borders, Absa is built on people who bring their lived experiences, ambitions and perspectives into the workplace every day. Whether you’re starting your career, a seasoned leader or somewhere in between, your contribution is seen, valued and connected to something bigger. Our presence across Africa – which spans personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, and insurance – exists because of the people who show up in their roles with purpose. Across Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, our colleagues are shaping what Absa becomes in each market. Beyond the continent, teams in global offices and a technology hub support and extend the stories that prove that African talent can lead, influence and innovate on the global stage. At Absa, your story matters because progress is driven by human experience, not hierarchy. When people are enabled to bring their whole selves to work, they don’t just build careers. They help shape the future of Africa’s financial services landscape.

Responsibilities

Provides independent oversight and challenge of credit risk across Personal and Private Banking portfolios to ensure alignment with risk appetite and regulatory standards. Manages portfolio performance, capital allocation, and stress testing to support sustainable, risk-adjusted growth.