Credit Portfolio Manager

Absa Bank Kenya PLC is a leading financial institution in Kenya, part of the Absa Group. Established in 1916, it provides a wide range of banking and financial services.

The Credit Portfolio Manager at Absa Bank Kenya PLC is responsible for overseeing the credit risk management function, which includes developing and maintaining credit risk strategies in collaboration with business units. This role ensures adherence to credit policies and processes, maintaining high credit quality through rigorous evaluation of proposals, and managing lending discretions. The manager will also challenge pricing and profitability models to optimize value and design remedial actions for underperforming accounts. A key aspect of the role is fostering strong partnerships with the Head of Retail and Business Banking Credit, proactively addressing customer expectations, and representing Retail Credit Risk in relevant forums. Additionally, the manager will provide leadership to a motivated team, focusing on training, development, performance management, and succession planning, while promoting Absa's core behaviors.

1. Collaborate with business counterparts to develop, implement, and maintain credit risk strategies.
2. Ensure high standards of credit quality by sanctioning, sampling, and applying best practices to credit proposals.
3. Review and implement credit policies and processes, contributing to their development.
4. Ensure adherence to lending discretions, with appropriate delegation to Retail Credit and Credit Operations Teams.
5. Exercise personal judgment and discretion in evaluating and approving/declining credit proposals.
6. Ensure personal and team adherence to governance, compliance, and lending portfolio controls, maintaining satisfactory audit outcomes.
7. Maintain interactive relationships with relevant ARO/Group Risk/Business/Operations/Conformance Teams.
8. Challenge pricing and profitability models to maximize value, with ultimate customer-level sign-off remaining with Business.
9. Design, implement, and maintain generic strategies for appropriate remedial action on poorly performing accounts.
10. Partner with the Head of Retail and Business Banking Credit to proactively anticipate and respond to customer expectations.
11. Develop strong partnerships across Risk, CODO, and Retail Business units.
12. Represent Retail Credit Risk in forums where it is directly or indirectly impacted.
13. Be part of a highly motivated team, maintaining excellent relationships to achieve business goals.
14. Consider and support the training and development needs of the team.
15. Act as a role model, driving proactive application of Absa behaviors and establishing common goals.
16. Ensure effective performance development and succession planning for the team.

1. Bachelor's Degree in mathematical finance, actuarial science, economics, or statistics.
2. Comprehensive technical credit skills.
3. General commercial and industry awareness.
4. Working knowledge of risk management policies, procedures, and pricing.
5. Working knowledge of Group policies and strategies related to the credit function.
6. Product knowledge.
7. Detailed understanding and fit with the vision for Risk.
8. Working knowledge of local country structure and strategy.
9. Experience in leadership and performance development of a team.
10. Experience in managing risk and reward.
11. Strong leadership abilities.
12. Skills in people management and coaching.
13. Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
14. Effective negotiation and influencing skills.
15. Ability to delegate effectively.