Manager: Credit Data and Regulatory Control

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

To support the Head: Credit Data and Regulatory Control, Credit Risk in establishing a dedicated oversight and control function in credit risk regulatory reporting to track operational performance and implement continuous improvements in data management and governance. Perform second line of defence activities to effectively control the quality of credit risk regulatory reporting across Absa Group.

Job Description

Accountability: Risk Management, Control and Governance

• Maintain a full understanding of the end-to-end credit risk regulatory reporting production process (data, process, methodologies, systems, operations and governance).
• Proactively engage with regulatory data production leaders across Business Units and Group functions, providing advice and challenge on data management techniques, the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of controls, and the state of the overall control and operational environment.
• Provide ongoing advice on monitoring and managing the risk and control environment in terms of best practice procedures, policies, legislative and regulatory operations.
• Drive effective engagement with data and process owners as well as other oversight and assurance partners across the full value chain of credit risk regulatory reporting.
• Develop indicators, tools, metrics and analytics that will enable senior management to understand and monitor the overall quality and accuracy of data being consumed, produced and reported in credit risk regulatory processes and identify areas for improvement.
• Develop and monitor early warning mechanisms to flag any deterioration in the risk and control environment for regulatory reporting. Proactively communicate the potential consequences to senior management.
• Prepare operational performance updates for internal governance/oversight forums including Group Regulatory Reporting, ARO FD Forum and the Regulatory Review Committee.
• Implement and maintain effective governance structures within the regulatory reporting credit risk function.
• Participate in key regulatory reporting oversight committees and forums.
• Maintain, log and monitor key control failures and/or risk events to senior management and the operational risk team.
• Co-ordinate and contribute to the resolution of audit findings and remediation gaps in data quality, processes and controls identified by assurance partners.
• Provide training to production teams on design and implementation of effective controls and data quality validation and monitoring.
• Ensure ongoing compliance of data management practices, operational processes and controls with BCBS239 principles for Risk Data Aggregation and Risk Reporting and the Group’s Policy.
• Perform key activities/ responsibilities of a RDARR Champion.
• Maintain Management Control Assessment and Critical Process assessments relating to credit risk regulatory reporting.
• Partner and collaborate with assurance partners across Absa Group to ensure control testing for credit risk regulatory reporting is planned and executed effectively.
• Perform control testing and deep dive reviews.
  
  

Accountability: Technology Proficiency

• Leverage advanced technology tools and data analytics to enhance control and oversight.
• Contribute to process improvement through automation and digital solutions.
• Utilize tools like Excel, Power BI, SQL, and reporting platforms to track, manage and analyze data.
• Standardize reporting processes using automated tools.
• Automate reporting processes and improve data accuracy using scripting or workflow tools (e.g., Python, VBA).
• Explore the use of AI/ML models for anomaly detection in credit data.
  
  

Accountability: Regulatory requirements

• Stay up to date with Bank regulations to ensure regulatory risk activities remain appropriate and effective and emerging risks are identified timeously.
• Maintain a proficient level of technical knowledge of regulatory reporting requirements and disclosure rules.
  
  

Accountability: Stakeholder and Relationship Management

• Engage and build strong internal and external relationships, displaying excellent abilities to listen, advice, influence and present at different levels.
• Establish and nurture influential relationships with a wide network across the organization to identify synergies and optimally leverage relationships, knowledge, services and resources to provide superior solutions.
• Develop relationships with key stakeholders who are based in geographies outside South Africa through regular engagement and knowledge sharing.
• Interface with governance structures, committees/forums/working groups on all credit related regulatory reporting matters.
  
  

Accountability: Change and Programme Management

• Actively contribute and drive the implementation of regulatory change initiatives for credit risk regulatory reporting.
• Identify and drive initiatives that will improve the overall quality of credit data and regulatory production processes, such as new controls and analytical reviews.
• Drive the investigation of alternative solutions and assist in making comprehensive recommendations where deficiencies exist.
• Assist in the oversight and execution of regulatory change initiatives (e.g. integration of Basel IV into business-as-usual, regulatory remediation).
• Monitor, analyze and report on the likely impact of upcoming changes in regulatory requirements on credit risk RWA (e.g. Basel IV framework) and make recommendations to senior management on possible or tactical/strategic responses.
• Identify areas of continuous improvement to data infrastructure, including cloud solutions, to support scalable and efficient data management practices.
  
  

Preferred Education:

• CA (SA) or equivalent, MBA or a related NQF Level 9 equivalent qualification.
  
  

Preferred Experience:

• At least 8+ years’ experience in the Banking or Audit sector (Financial Services).
• At least 5+ years risk management experience in a governance or audit role with experience of the Banking regulatory reporting process.
• Strong technology skills and experience.
  
  

Knowledge

• Bank Act Regulations
• Governance principles
• Assurance principles and activities
• BCBS 239 (advantageous)
• Risk and control assessments
• Risk management
• Technology proficiency and Functional Skills
  
  

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