Senior Sanctioner

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Job Summary

A member of the Wholesale Credit Risk Sanctioning team within the risk function with overall responsibility for credit risk sanctioning for Absa Bank (Mauritius) Limited’s Corporate and Commercial Portfolio.
The main responsibilities will be to:
• Ensure as a Senior Sanctioner that the agreed asset quality of the corporate portfolio is maintained, both as regards to risk decisions supporting origination, interim reviews, annual reviews and on-going monitoring and control.
• Responsible to assist in the implementation of Absa Group policies and procedures as well as regulatory guidelines in Mauritius.
• Develop and deliver practical and appropriate credit solutions (i.e., lending structures) through understanding of customer needs, high quality and consistent credit recommendations.
• Management of the end to end process and maintenance of the good quality of the lending book (Sovereign, FI and Corporate).
• Deliver a world class credit service for ABML.
• Responsible to assist maintain data integrity and compliance with regulatory reporting.
• Assist Head of Wholesale Credit in various credit reporting and credit related projects.
Mandatory Risk & Control Responsibilities:
• 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 and Frameworks.
• Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) relevant to the role.

Job Description

Team Leadership

• The Senior Sanctioner supports the Head of Wholesale Credit in its responsibilities for the Wholesale portfolio.
• Assist to develop a highly motivated team maintaining excellent relationships within own team and wider team to ensure achievement of business goals.
• Lead by example across the risk community ensuring a collaborative approach to the Coverage & Business teams.
• Consider the training and development needs of the team and support the Head of Wholesale Credit in the development and implementation to training solutions.
• Act as a role model and drive proactive application of Absa values throughout the team including establishment of common goals and objectives.
• Ensure effective performance development and succession planning for the team in support to the Head of Wholesale Credit.

Credit Risk Management

• Ensure the highest standards of credit quality through the sanctioning, sampling and application of best practices to credit proposals and maintenance of these standards throughout the Wholesale Credit Risk Sanctioning team.    
• Support in the development of business and credit policy, the implementation and ongoing delivery of credit policies and processes.
• Sole lending discretion depending on personal experience/accreditation.
• Exercise personal judgement and discretion in the evaluation and approval/decline of credit proposals.
• Support the Head of Wholesale Credit to ensure team adherence to governance, compliance and lending portfolio controls; to policy and procedures, including proactive management of agreed responsibility for data integrity.
• Maintain interactive relationship with Conformance and Audit teams.
• Challenge pricing as applicable in order to maximise value. Ultimate sign off on pricing decisions remains with Corporate Director/Business.

Business Risk Partnership & Management
 

• Support the Head of Wholesale Credit in embedding agreed change initiatives, e.g., in support of process and quality improvements, cost reductions, automation and digitalization initiatives, system changes and development of credit skills for colleagues.
• Support the Head of Wholesale Credit in monitoring service and delivery in line with business needs.
• Work in partnership with the Chief Credit Officer and Heads of Business to ensure that the local sanction team acts to proactively anticipate, respond to and seek to exceed the expectations of customers whilst always looking to add value.
• Manage high volume workflow to world class standards of quality and costs.
• Develop and maintain a close working relationship with RMs and other functions.
• Deliver within cost budget using ‘working smarter’ approach.
• Support in localizing group policies to reflect local regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to delivery of the Risk Strategy to maximise revenue within agreed risk appetite with minimal impairment levels.
• Use negotiation skills when required.
• Act as a point of reference in relation to credit risk matters for Coverage and Credit teams.

Team work

• Develop and maintain excellent relationship within Wholesale sanctioning team and wider risk team to ensure achievement of business goals.
• Drive proactive application of Absa values and behaviours throughout delivery of the role.
• Attend all meetings relevant to the job and to report on issues impacting team performance and overall portfolio quality/profile.
• Participate, support and contribute in team activities conducted by the Risk function and key stakeholders.

     
Role/Person Specification
Preferred Experience:    

• Degree with 9 years relevant work experience with minimum 5 years at managerial level or Masters with 8 years’ experience or equivalent of 15 years bank related experience.•
•  Excellent understanding of credit risk, inherent & emerging risks and credit risk management. 

Knowledge & Skills:     

• Detailed and thorough technical credit risk skills
• Very good understanding of industry, sectors, current and future regulatory environment and ability to translate that into credit sanctioning decisions. 
• Very good understanding of all risk types and mitigants In depth knowledge of Absa Group policies, pricing and strategies relative to the credit function
• Leadership and performance development of teams
• Intensive product knowledge
• Working knowledge and thorough understanding of the country structure and strategy
• Proven track records in the successful delivery of risk management
• Managing risk and reward
•  ACIB or equivalent business experience
• Excellent negotiation skills demonstrating ability to use this in discussions with very senior stakeholders
• Ability to manage relationships with staff at all levels

Technical Competencies:     

• Analytical mind, capable of assessing multiple risk information as provided in credit proposals to inform a credit decision
• Credit assessment and sanctioning
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral. 
• Decisive and initiating action 
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
•  Relating and strong internal and external networking 
• Adapting and responding to change
• Creating, innovating and self-motivator
• Workflow management and planning
• Strong intellect balanced by practical and pragmatic approach
• People management and coaching

Behavioural Competencies:    

• Leadership
• Risk Management
• Business Management
• Communications (written and oral) and presentations
• Effective negotiation and influencing

Education

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