Head of Retail Credit Absa Bank

Responsibility for the quality of the Retail Credit portfolio and management of the entire Retail Credit Cycle.
To develop tactical strategy and delivery plans, formulate associated practice/s and to ensure operational implementation and adoption in terms of credit risk management methodology, practice, governance and delivery objectives.

Job Description
Business Management
• Drive the business towards achieving strategic goals and realise the bank’s strategy by implementing and maintaining robust credit risk systems and processes
• Drive behavioural change within the retail risk teams and retail front line staff responsible of selling credit products to achieve a sales/service culture across the Retail market segments.
• In conjunction with the Credit Director, establishing and reviewing risk policy, interpreting Group requirements and setting credit risk appetite for the Retail portfolio and being ultimately responsible for the quality of the Retail credit portfolio.
• Review, redefine and make recommendations to the Credit Director and then implement the framework for managing risk within the Retail lending book.
• Build a strong Risk/Retail/Service Delivery partnership that will deliver superior customer experience
• Build and develop links with other Group functions to ensure that the expertise within the Group is maximised for Absa.
• In conjunction with the Credit Director, develop, implement and maintain credit risk strategies for the Retail credit business as a whole (operating, organisational, physical and technology models).
• Critical analysis of any new retail credit risk product offerings to identity any underlying credit risks and coming up with practical ways to counter or manage the risks. Communicate effectively with the business on all risk related matters.
• Continuous improvement of the Management Information base to ensure they remain relevant, reflect credit risk appetite and are useful to provide the business with information for use in decision making and policy matters.
• Ensure all reporting / MI requirements are produced and delivered to recipients within agreed SLAs (internal and external).
• Manage service level agreements with internal customers
• Managing cost both within the centre and within the businesses
• Embedding and coordinating change to ensure smooth transition to BAU
• Be responsible for the successful design, development and implementation of any Retail Risk programmes of change, ensuring that the benefits of such change are driven out and maximised and change embedded into the business as usual operations.
• Provide input into projects on Retail Credit requirements

Risk Management and Control
• Accountability for the strategy and quality of the Retail lending book, including all aspects of lending for the personal and small business sectors.
• Guide and support Retail key stakeholders on all matters relating to credit risk within Retail.
• Conduct business visits to ensure adherence of retail lending policy and provide reports to the Risk Director.
• Input on review of the score card for loans and any other retail scorecard to be developed and monitoring the score card to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the intended purpose and result
• Ensure timely and effective monitoring and control of the Retail lending book. Review and challenge information and performance.
• Implement and maintain generic strategies for appropriate remedial action on poorly performing accounts in all sectors.
• Implement, maintain and be responsible for all Governance issues within the Retail Lending team both centrally and locally.
• Responsible for audit preparations within the department and any follow up action that is required
• Managing any changes on credit risk control and assessment processes to ensure fit for purpose and meets the business needs
• Managing, review and challenge change to ensure that the anticipated benefits are not only met but maximized.

Competencies:
• Strong risk skills
• Good analytical and judgment skills
• Mental agility
• Strategic thinking
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills (both oral and written)
• Team building and Leadership skills
• High level of numeracy to evaluate complex statistical financial information

Education and Experience Required
• Advanced degree in a numerate discipline
• Experience in a developing market
• Experienced lending banker including a prior Credit risk management role.
• Professional Certification / Accreditation or equivalent

Knowledge & Skills:
• An excellent and detailed knowledge of the retail / consumer credit in an international banking environment
• Good knowledge of Ugandan Retail banking products and service standards in general.
• A detailed awareness of retail lending and advances principles, policies and procedures
• An excellent knowledge of retail lending criteria in the Small Business and Personal sectors and the products/services relating to them
• Detailed knowledge of Business sector credit risk practice, risk pricing, risk management procedures and tools
• Detailed knowledge of Performance Management practice/techniques
• Detailed knowledge of the principles of Value Based Management.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation e.g. KYC, Anti-Money laundering, banking code, service standards, health & safety standards etc.
• A thorough knowledge of the bank’s internal departments, systems & procedures as well as risk & rigour requirements