Head of Wholesale Credit

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Job Summary

As a key member of the Wholesale Credit Team, this role is responsible for providing expert credit support to Wholesale Relationship Managers managing a portfolio of high-value, complex customer connections. The role involves challenging and understanding the performance of the Wholesale Credit Risk function through effective performance management information and detailed portfolio analysis—covering both performing and distressed customers. It also includes coordinating impairment projections to support planning, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring charges align with policy. The role supports strategic development for wholesale credit risk and contributes to shaping business strategies that reduce the bank's exposure, often acting as a catalyst for change in customer operations. In some cases, the role may involve direct customer engagement to implement risk mitigation strategies.

Additionally, the position holds responsibility for post-sanction monitoring and control activities, including covenant maintenance, excess management, and timely reporting through MIS to stakeholders. This ensures early identification of problematic corporate customers, enabling proactive remedial action. The Head of Wholesale Credit directly influences credit quality, economic capital consumption, and return, while also being accountable for operational risk within the team. The role collaborates closely with the CRO and Country Credit Risk Heads to lead portfolio oversight and distressed customer management. It also includes responsibility for the training and development of staff in Models, Impairments, and Analytics, ensuring a high standard of capability and performance across the function.

Job Description

Credit Risk Management

• Ensure the highest standards of credit quality through the sanctioning, sampling and application of best practice to credit proposals across wholesale portfolio incl. FI, and maintenance of these standards throughout the Corporate and Credit Teams.
• Implementation and ongoing delivery of credit policy and processes. Feed into business and credit policy development.
• Sole lending discretion; DG linked up to a maximum of USK750K ( depending on personal experience . accreditation)
• Exercise personal judgement and discretion in the evaluation and approval/decline of credit proposals
• Challenge pricing in order to maximize value. Ultimate sign off at customer level remains with business.
• Responsibility for personal & team adherence to governance , compliance and lending portfolio controls. Ensuring conformance to policy and procedures including proactive management of agreed responsibilities for Data Integrity.
• Encourage best practice and make recommendations for process change as appropriate
• Ensure robust and appropriate control over portfolio information and that reports are produced, reviewed (challenged) by all key stakeholders in the country as well as at Centre team

Business and Team Management

• Develop a strong network of internal contacts, external and panel professionals to maximize benefits and promote the team.
• Driving business performance, including setting appropriate targets and challenges and providing highly effective performance management information.
• Coach, support and encourage other members of the team such as assisting their technical development. Be responsible for the sharing of knowledge including technical solutions, tips, ideas and good practices within own and across other teams
• Proactively adopt agreed change initiatives, e.g. in support of process and quality improvements

Risk and Control

• Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework and internal Absa Policies and Policy Standards.
• Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) relevant to the role.

Preferred Education

• B-degree (preferably with Accounting III as a Major), Business Studies, Risk Management or postgraduate qualifications in related accounting fields

Preferred Experience

• Minimum 5 years banking experience
• 5 year Commercial and/or corporate credit or Finance experience.
• Preferably, proven success in a customer facing and/or similar Business Support role dealing with financially distressed clients

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong Credit and Risk management skills
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills
• Strong use of analysis and judgement
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good written and verbal communication
• Good personal organisation and time management
• Excellent knowledge of the social, economic, political and regulatory environment within relevant countries
• First-class knowledge of risk management policy, procedures & pricing
• Detailed knowledge of Group policies, pricing and strategies relative to the credit function
• Excellent product knowledge

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)
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