Regional Manager: Retail Credit Risk, Absa Regional Operations

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

To lead and direct the end-to-end management of credit risk for the countries and regional functional activities allocated. The total ARO Portfolio consists of 10 markets. The role holder is expected to:

• Ensuring alignment with growth strategies, regulatory compliance, and effective governance.
• Provides group-independent oversight for retail risk and facilitates centre enablement services, including impairments, best practice standards, and oversight of management information, models, and capital allocation
• Leadership in retail credit risk across the account life cycle related to credit origination, portfolio management, recoveries and collections and loan loss provisioning
• Manage the allocated ARO Africa Retail Credit Risk portfolios and profile within its risk appetite and acceptable Group parameters.
• Develop a high performance culture in the country risk teams.
• Driving the development of the ARO Retail Credit Risk and Portfolio agenda and underpinning performance metrics/infrastructure in a multi-geography environment.
• Ensure that the in-Country Collections Operations are operationally capable of delivering on the business & credit risk strategies and key performance priorities including the strategic management, financial results and the risk management framework.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Credit Risk Model Development (50%)

Contribute to the development of a world-class ARO cluster credit risk model infrastructure.

Lead the development and execution of Retail Credit Risk policy, portfolio strategy, and risk appetite across allocated ARO markets, ensuring alignment with ARO RBB strategies.

Support the Chief Credit Officer in delivering the unit's objectives.

Define and implement robust Retail Risk Management frameworks and governance structures across allocated countries, ensuring compliance with ERMF, RDARR, and regulatory standards.

Drive consistent policy adoption and execution of the end-to-end credit lifecycle strategy—including acquisition, account management, collections, and recoveries—in collaboration with country and Centre teams.

Collaborate with product teams and external partners to design and implement innovative credit solutions, leveraging market insights, pricing strategies, and emerging technologies.

Lead the execution of regional initiatives and thematic activities across ARO markets, identifying strategic opportunities and addressing gaps in business plans.

Ensure robust risk assurance and compliance through effective monitoring, timely issue escalation, audit remediation, and regular reporting to governance forums.

Build risk management capabilities across business units and lead enhancements to systems, processes, and procedures to support effective credit risk oversight.

1. Risk Management & Control (30%)

Contribute to the articulation and establishment of appropriate governance structures across the credit lifecycle in line with ARO strategy.

Support the Head of Retail Credit Risk and Head of Collections in delivering the Retail Credit Risk performance and control plan.

Monitor portfolio performance across products and markets, identifying emerging risks and recommending mitigation strategies.

Conduct regular country visits to influence and embed a coherent risk culture.

Drive early warning systems and portfolio surveillance tools to detect deterioration trends.

1. Business Management (5%)

Take ownership of coordinating Risk elements during annual planning and review of MTP, STP, and RAF budgets.

Manage the function's operations effectively and efficiently, aligning with the Risk Target Operating Model approved by the CRO.

Support the CCO and management team in operating the Regional Africa Risk function in line with the Group-endorsed Risk Target Operating Model.

1. Stakeholder Management (10%)

Facilitate effective interaction with country and group teams, as well as relevant Risk Committees.

Support the Chief Credit Officer and other management colleagues in internal and external engagements.

Cultivate and sustain strong relationships with Business and Functional Heads.

Ensure strategic alignment of ARO risk with Group and Business Unit risk teams.

Act as the central point of contact for ten banks across nine countries for all retail and micro SME products.

1. People Management (5%)

Contribute to the enhancement of retail credit risk capability across people, processes, and measurement in allocated markets.

Support the development of mobility and talent management plans across Africa regional teams.

Actively participate in regional and country-level performance management and recruitment processes.

Ensure alignment of strategic plans with people capabilities and capacity.

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