Senior Manager Pre-Legal Risk Management (Collections)- VP

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.

Job Summary

Manage and lead a Team of Pre-legal Collectors by translating, implementing and driving strategies and processes into execution across Asset Finance (Commercial Asset Finance, AVMS and Fleet Card) in terms of primarily collections, assessment, governance and compliance to enable business to achieve their goals and objectives. Execution of the role involves ensuring efficient management of customers in distress to normalize their accounts and address accounts in the early cycle and pre-delinquency stages to minimize impairment losses. Relationship building and collaboration with relevant SBU to ensure service level agreements are managed ac

Accountability: Business Management

• Develop the collections strategies in conjunction with the Business Analytics team for campaigns or due to segment/geographic strain, etc.
• Develop the collections strategies in conjunction with the Head of Pre-Legal Risk Management and oversee the execution to reduce Impairments for Business Banking.
• Translate high level targets to team members to ensure their comprehensive understanding of the targets set monthly and the expectations of delivery of those targets.
• Responsible for the communication and development of the team’s strategy and specify objectives to the team members on a regular basis.
• Manage performance of the team by testing the understanding and knowledge base of staff by reviewing samples of performance objectives to ensure effective implementation of processes and procedures.
• Analyze effectiveness of processes and systems in use in the Pre-Legal Risk Management space and make recommendations for improvements, based on gaps identified, motivate requests to the Head of Pre-Legal Risk Management for additional resources including people, budget and equipment when required.
• Implement productivity improvement measures by coaching staff in any new processes in their areas for improvements.
• Optimize operational efficiencies by ensuring effective duty allocations based on work volumes to team members in order to achieve operational target.
• Manage and escalate any risk issues identified to the Head of Pre-Legal Risk Management e.g. any fraud issues and impairments
• Provide Business with excellent collections support by driving a high level of customer service in the team through frequent communication of the standards required.
• Ensure that corrective measures are developed for the team with input from Team members where issues are identified and ensure that remediation’s are implemented accordingly.
• Drive and lead project teams to plan, test and implement process or systems changes or processes improvements.
• Monitor the compliance with policies, procedures & technical systems that support business by conducting self-assessment tests and contracting with team members to complete sample testing. Confirm that test results are adequately reported to Risk and Compliance department and the team manager and issues logged for follow-up by team manager. Develop corrective actions where required
• Ensure effective communication processes are in place across teams.
• Measure and manage any work deliverance and performance issues with the internal and external service providers.
• Network internally across the collection platform and other business units to identify and capitalize on best practices and business trends.
• Analyze and interpret management information and proactively act on these results.
• Ensure effective management of handing over matters to Legal Recoveries timeously.
• Develop pre-legal strategies that are in accordance with the Business Banks Policy.

Accountability: Financial Management

• Monitor the monthly expenses within the unit for EDC’s and other relevant expenses and ensure that budgeted limits are adhered to. Escalate overspend items to Business Unit Head.
• Ensure that the business remains within the Impairment budget allocated to Pre-Legal Risk Management by reviewing performance statistics provided by the MI team monthly.
• Ensure cost efficient utilization of existing resources and facilities.
• Ensure effective management of the overall performance of the assigned which could include High Risk Watch List and Matters on a Regional Level or Joint Venture/Alliance channels.
• Take responsibility for operational costs thus staying cost effective in the industry.

Accountability: Risk Management

• Ensure that processes, control requirements and risk management frameworks that have been designed for the area are understood by all members of the team.
• Oversee audit findings that have an impact on the area, work with the team members to understand what actions are required to close off findings. Implement and monitor effective adherence to required actions.
• During scheduled audits and management assurance reviews, ensure that all information required by the auditors is provided timeously. Ensure that all team members complete required compliance and attestations.
• Effectively manage the Logging of all Risk and Loss events as a result of error or fraud highlighted in the department. Ensure that the issues are thoroughly investigated and closed or escalated as per policy.
• Manage and Monitor compliance training undertaken by team members and ensure that they complete the required training within prescribed timelines.
• Ensure that the team understands all compliance requirements and ensures that appropriate actions are implemented in the event of any gaps identified.
• Ensure that all regulatory requirements are adhered to.
• Ensure that the Business Continuity Tool is updated regularly and signed off annually in consultation with BCM Co-Ordinator. Ensure that BCM plan for the area is tested as required and corrective actions are executed.
• Working with the BB Risk Team and Team Leaders to develop Detailed Risk and Control Assessments (RCA’S), Critical Process Assessment (CPA) and Key Controls for the function and update at the required intervals (normally quarterly).
• Ensure that all team members understand the control requirements related to physical and systems access control and information security requirements. Collect access cards from employees leaving the department or the bank and send instructions to IT and HR to remove their systems access
• Ensure that the area has a Health and Safety Rep, Fire Warden and Evacuation Rep and ensure effective management of the processes and procedures, which may not be as required historically, as per Hybrid and/or Remote working.
• Perform all other duties as reasonably assigned.

Accountability: People Management

• Develop a high performing team by recruiting and promoting the best people in line with the business needs, supporting the enhancement and development of people, embedding formal performance development and informal coaching.
• Identify talent and develop successors to retain key individuals and skills sets within Absa through mentoring.
• Ensure that the Absa values are displayed and entrenched within the team and across all departments. Display and promote behaviors that support Absa brand and culture.
• Provide direct reports with necessary resources (skills, tools, training and development) in order to achieve performance development objectives.
• Responsible for holding direct reports accountable for performance and consequence management.
• Responsible for effective Change Management in the Business Unit.
• Promoting a learning culture and ensuring knowledge transfer of technical expertise through continuous coaching of staff.
• Delegate tasks appropriately according to the business requirements and ensure recognition thereof.
• Should there be any overtime monitor it and ensure that it is kept to a minimum and within Legislative requirements.
• Actively managing team Wellness by regular one-on-one check-ins, understanding the circumstances driving and affecting output of a team member due to Wellness issues.
• Initiate and manage disciplinary and grievance procedures in conjunction with Human Resources when required.
• Address poor performance of team members through the formal Performance Accelerator Programme and ensure that continued poor performance is appropriately remediated.
• Participate in and interpret the CES results and execute action plans for improvement and create a conducive climate of sustainable employee engagement.
• Review and update the team organization structure as required.
• Review and update role profiles of team, as required, to ensure that they are fit for purpose.
• Manage complexity and diversity of your team in line with the Bank’s policy.
• Optimize operational efficiencies and effectiveness by promoting a culture of innovation.

Operating Mode

• Coverage model
• CAF – interaction with CAF BDO, RB/CIB RM and/or Regional Sales Managers
• FC – interaction with Fleet Card Ops, RB/CIB RM and/or Regional Sales Managers
• AVMS - interaction with CEO, FD, FSSA, RB/CIB RM and/or Regional Sales Managers
• JV and Alliances – interaction with staff in that coverage model, and if Absa banked also with RB/CIB RM and/or JV Sales

Mandates

• Mandates to reserve fees
• Deviate from procedure documents as required especially as relates to 3 months arrears handovers

Asset Risk and Contractual Risk

• Large part of the role is assessing the strategy in light of the asset risk
• Being income producing or not, type of asset like truck, manufacturing plant, bulk solar installation, irrigation systems, etc. in conjunction with deal structure at inception being deposit, vat back and term, no of payments made, asset risk in the event of default, etc.

Impairments

• Calculate and motivate the impairment charge for the month for CAF, AVMS, Fleet Card (excluding MFS) after necessary strategy considered and how far along in exhausting early-stage options
• Ensure BB Impairments Manager has final charge submitted to them on time
• Review Impairments Manager’s final impairments document for any anomalies

Impairment Meetings

• BB Watchlist and Impairment Committee – present CAF, AVMS and FC impairments being taken for the month
• Fleet Card and AVMS – separate meeting to discuss impairment charges
• CAF Watchlist and Impairment Meeting

Reporting

• PRC pack slides updated on time and aligned with the current strategy and presenting them at PRC meeting
• JV and Alliances Reports – weekly age analysis and monthly reports for each JV and Alliance.
• Manager to review reports and give sign off

Education and Experience Required

• (Preferred) B Degree in Commerce
• Knowledge of banking systems & practices Level: Do and Check
• Excellent verbal & written communication Level: Do without Supervision
• Customer Relationship Management Skills Level: Do without Supervision
• Knowledge of relevant banking products Level: Do and Check
• (Preferred) Knowledge of banking products i.e. Asset Finance (Commercial Asset Finance, AVMS and Fleet Card): Do and instruct
• Fraud investigation instruction by ability to assess trends or elements in the review of the case pointing to potential fraud risk: Do and Check
• At least 8 years’ experience in a pre-legal, collections environment, preferably in a financial or juristic area.
• At least 5 years’ experience leading teams.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: 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