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
We are seeking a strategic, commercially astute, and purpose driven leader to take on the role of Executive – SME Central Region, a key position within the SME leadership team in Business Banking.The Central Region spans the Free State, Northern Cape, and North West, representing a diverse and high potential SME landscape.
Job Description
Role Purpose
This executive role is accountable for defining and executing the end‑to‑end SME business strategy for the Central Region, with full P&L responsibility. The incumbent will drive sustainable revenue growth, deepen and retain client relationships, and lead high‑performing teams to deliver integrated SME solutions across:
- Lending
- Transactional banking
- Working capital solutions
- Investment and value‑adding financial services
Key Accountabilities
- Lead and execute the regional SME strategy aligned to Business Banking and Group objectives
- Drive top‑line growth, portfolio quality, and profitability across the SME segment
- Build, grow, and retain strong SME client relationships through a client‑centric value proposition
- Provide inspirational leadership to regional SME teams, creating a culture of accountability, performance, and inclusion
- Leverage cross‑functional partnerships across Credit, Risk, Product, Operations, and Coverage teams to deliver seamless client outcomes
- Translate strategy into clear, measurable commercial outcomes, tracking performance rigorously against agreed targets
Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be a bold and credible commercial banking leader with:
- Proven experience in SME or Business Banking, ideally with regional or segment leadership exposure
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including full P&L ownership
- Demonstrated ability to convert strategy into sustained execution and results
- Highly developed stakeholder management and influencing capability across complex, matrixed environments
- A leadership style that is values‑led, people‑centric, and performance‑driven
This role offers the opportunity to shape the growth trajectory of the SME franchise in the Central Region, while making a meaningful impact on entrepreneurship, employment, and economic inclusion.
Minimum Requirements
- Relevant Honours Bachelor’s Degree and Professional Qualifications: Business, Commerce and
- Management Studies (Required); an MBA highly preferred
- At least 15 years’ experience in financial services in a commercial sales role with at least 5 years’ experience at an Executive level managing large teams to achieve financial and customer outcomes.
Education
Bachelors Degree 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 advertised
Skills Required
- Relevant Honours Bachelor's Degree and Professional Qualifications: Business, Commerce and Management Studies
- MBA highly preferred
- At least 15 years' experience in financial services in a commercial sales role
- At least 5 years' experience at an Executive level managing large teams
Absa Group Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Absa Group and has not been reviewed or approved by Absa Group.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical aid, group life, disability, and funeral cover are described as comprehensive, with features such as terminal‑illness advances and beneficiary grocery benefits. Wellness and assistance offerings support overall financial and personal wellbeing.
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Retirement Support — A pension fund and group retirement arrangements are positioned as core benefits within fixed remuneration. Retirement coverage is embedded alongside other protections as part of standard employment.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Employee share‑ownership (eKhaya) and equity‑linked awards broaden wealth‑sharing, with dividends or cash‑equivalent participation in some markets. This provides longer‑term value beyond base pay.
Absa Group Insights
What We Do
Absa Group Limited (Absa) has forged a new way of getting things done, driven by bravery and passion, with the readiness to realise growth on the African continent and beyond. We’re a truly African brand, inspired by the people we serve in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. We also have representative offices in China, Namibia, Nigeria and the United States, as well as securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, along with technology support colleagues in the Czech Republic.
