Valuation Specialist (Collateral Management and Valuations) - Re-Advert

The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) is South Africa’s only specialist agricultural bank established in 1912, the bank’s sole objective is to serve South African commercial and emerging farmers and bring specially designed financial services within their reach. These services enable farmers to finance land, equipment, improve assets and obtain production credit. The Land Bank provides financial services that have moved with the times and continues to provide services to agri-business and constantly reviews its offerings to ensure that they match the needs of an industry. As change has swept across the sector in South Africa the socio-economic makeup of agriculture has altered, bringing new entrants from historically disadvantaged backgrounds on to the land, these new farmers, facing the challenges of establishing sustainable agri-businesses across the agricultural value chain, Land Bank has been a commercial lifeline offering appropriately designed financial products that facilitate personal and commercial viability in a sector that is vital to the sustainability of South Africa and its people.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

To provide a professional agriculture, economics and valuation service to support the Western Cape in effectively managing collateral by conducting on-site visits to assess the condition and value of collateral for the Region highlighting any operational factors that may impact the condiiona and future value of collateral .

To conduct on-farm or on site agronomical assessments and inspections of the bank security and re-valuations, effectively manage the collateral in terms of the loan agreement and Collateral Management System (CMS) process thereby identifying collateral shortfalls to minimise risk and prevent financial losses, make recommendations to improve the overall Farm status and mitigate potential risks.

To provide ongoing technical advice to the provincial team on valuations.

1. Specialist assessment and valuations of Collateral

• Provide specialist support to Collateral Unit and the Bank.
• Conduct detailed assessment and valuations of agricultural land, industrial land, urban land, farms, plantations, livestock, crops, equipment and other loose assets held by the bank as collateral
• Complete and submit detailed reports as part of a comprehensive valutions, including
  • Viability/Feasibility
  • Comparible sales
  • Risks & mitigations
  • Recommendations

2. Provincial Agricultural Knowledge Database and Knowledge Sharing

• Collect, process, and package information within the allocated area of responsibility, including amongst others, the determination of the following:
  • Market value of fixed property
  • Produce prices
  • Market trends
  • Economic patterns
  • Potential of land
  • Market valaue of loose assets
  • Market value of crops
  • Market value of other specialized assets
• Keep the database up to date as appropriate and share at a divisional level
• Contribute information to the national agricultural specialists’ database

3. Customer and Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Build, foster and maintain consistent, effective and strong relationships with key role players (internal and external) and strengthen relationships with the potential to secure additional business opportunities from external for the bank.
• Participate in agriculture events in the province, and contribute to research and insights as a subject matter specialist respected by peers in the industry.
• Represent Land Bank in appropriate forums and events as appropriate.
• Stay up to date with provincial initiatives and developments and further strengthen the relationship to assess further business opportunities to promote long-term mutually beneficial relationships.

4. Risk Management

• Provide input into Collateral related Policies and SOP
• Ensure that Collateral is managed in line with the Collateral Managerement Policies and SOP
• Implement Effective Risk Management by conducting inspections following the relevant Land Bank policy and procedures and ensure that the bank’s collateral has the most up-to-date collateral valuations as per the banks’ requirements per asset class
• Conduct Collateral Management Risk Inspections:
  • Conduct the farm visits following the processes and procedures
  • Conduct routine inspections of existing clients and/or securities and ad hoc inspections
  • Identify and report potential risk to clients operations including to the condition of underlying collateral
  • Monitor progress of projects financed by Land Bank and ensure adherence to agreed loan terms and conditions as required
  • Identification of assets under a Special Notarial Bond for collateral security purposes

5. Conduct Agronomical Assessments and prepare valuation reports

Prepare professional valuation reports in line with internal/external standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practice

Perform farm visits to ascertain whether the farm funding was utilised as intended:

• Ensure that the funds have been used for their stated purpose
• Monitor and evaluate the progress of the client for any early warning signs of distress
• Advise with subject matter experts and link clients with relevant stakeholders to provide technical advice to clients where necessary

• Conduct in-depth farm Agronomical Valuation
  • Determine accutate farm values
  • Provide a detailed assessment report including insights, farm status and possible interventions (to rehabilitate).