Head of Analytics, Models and Impairment

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.

My Career Development Portal: Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading-edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility.

Job Summary

The key to a strong retail business is the quality of its portfolio. The credit team is the gatekeeper for the business and is responsible for the full customer life cycle from the initial lending decision, to the growth of the lending relationship. The team combines local knowledge, industry best practices and analytical mindsets to develop policies and strategies that allow the business to deliver best results in the industry.

Job Description

Function Purpose

The key to a strong retail business is the quality of its portfolio. The credit team is the gatekeeper for the business and is responsible for the full customer life cycle from the initial lending decision, to the growth of the lending relationship. The team combines local knowledge, industry best practices and analytical mindsets to develop policies and strategies that allow the business to deliver best results in the industry.

Job Purpose

To lead the Analytics function and take primary accountability ensuring that analytical solutions/monitoring packs, MI, models, profitability measurement and Impairments are managed effectively, aligned to process compliance as per policy guidelines.

• Ensure Group reporting deadlines are adhered to
• Manage development of MI required for key committees within country
• Assess portfolio profitability, growth and risks on an ongoing basis
• Participate in forecasting and provide analysis required to make informed decisions
• Liaise, co-ordinate and provide various inputs and responses, as required, on impairments, forecasting, MI and analytics to stakeholders
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with key stakeholders across business

Main Accountabilities and Approximate Time Split

MI & Analytics (50%)

• Manage consistent and timely delivery of analytics support to minimise losses and maximise profits through Trend Analysis, Impairment Analysis, Account management analysis, Profitability analysis, Stress testing, Fraud analytics, Collections strategies and loss reduction strategies
• Identify opportunities to reduce loss, enhance revenue by building new rules & strategies, collection strategies, cross sell, up sell models
• Identify new opportunities for enhancing, streamlining services through use of advanced analytics, automation and optimization
• Use of statistical tools and techniques such as – forecasting, segmentation, predictive analytics etc.
• Evaluate projects from a business perspective and showcase analytics value add across projects and different forums

Models (30%)

• Ensure that all relevant models are understood and input into its development are provided
• Participate, review and challenge in the working day meetings to establish month end impairments forecasts and understand impairment drivers
• Ensure all modeling issues are pro-actively identified and addressed by regularly engaging with relevant stakeholders, for instance if model inputs appears to be missing or inaccurate, this need to be addressed and communicated to stakeholders
• Manage the monthly impairment processes ensuring that adequate controls are maintained over impairments
• Ensure that models are appropriate for the business use and that they are monitored and tracked as per policy

Leadership (20%)

• Develop a highly motivated team of credit analysts maintaining excellent relationships within own team and wider business to ensure achievement of business goals.
• Consider the training and development needs of the team and support the development and implementation of solutions.
• Ensure effective performance development and succession planning for the team.
• Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members
• Conduct quarterly PD discussions with team members according to PD guidelines
• Interview and recruit new members of the team, including determining appropriate compensation levels with input from Human Resource.
• Address poor performance of any team member through a formal development programme and ensure that continued poor performance is appropriately dealt with.
• Motivate team members and ensure that their efforts are recognized.

Risk and Controls Objectives

• Manage risk and control effectively by applying applicable risk frameworks and embedding a positive risk culture
• Understanding of own role in the end to end processes in which you play a part, including applicable risks and controls.
• Adhere to Absa’s policies and procedures applicable to own role, demonstrating sound judgment and responsible risk management.
• Report all risk events / incidents / issues using the defined process for your business area and help to understand why these happened and how to prevent them in future.
• Proactively look for ways to improve the control environment by considering what could go wrong in the processes you operate and how errors could be prevented.
• All mandatory training completed to deadline

Technical Skills / Competencies

Qualifications

• Accounting Concepts & Principles
• Risk Detection and Monitoring
• Analytics and Modeling
• Knowledge of SAS, SQL and other statistical programming languages
• Knowledge of Operating Systems (Windows 98/95/2000/NT)
• Statistical background and skills
• Highly analytical mindset
• Graduate in mathematics/statistics/economics/computer science

Knowledge, Expertise and Experience

• Business Process Management
• Develop customer (internal/ external) orientation
• Relationship Management
• Financial Services Knowledge
• Absa Knowledge
• Flexibility & Adaptability
• Innovative Approach
• Teamwork
• Result Orientation
• Problem Solving
• Decision Making
• Verbal Communication
• Written Communication
• Systems Knowledge

Absa Values

• Trust
• Resourceful
• Inclusion
• Courage
• Stewardship

Education

Bachelors Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)