Head of Lending and Segments Absa Group

Bring your possibility to life! Define your career with us

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 role holder will be responsible for the design and delivery of the product line strategy and annual plans to support the achievement of the objectives of the Absa Zambia Retail Strategy.
• The role holder will be responsible for developing the product line strategy in line with customer segmentation strategy.
• The product line strategy encapsulates the following areas:
• Unsecured personal lending (Local business loans overdrafts & scheme lending)
• Secured lending (Mortgages and secured personal loans e.g. executive loan and guaranteed schemes)
• The role holder will be responsible for the Product Mix, Product Lifecycle and Product positioning of all existing and new products in the specified product line across all countries.
• The role holder will provide technical product management expertise within a Product Management Centre of Excellence.
• The role holder will be responsible for meeting the interest income targets for the product line across all businesses, through the implementation of product line strategy to maximise income and effectively managing the portfolio.

Job Description

Business Management: 25%

Outputs:

Provide clear guidelines to Product Managers for action plans and activity to manage the specified product line performance and to improve product line profitability in line with customer segment objectives.
Provide clear guidelines to Product Managers about the collection and compilation of competitor and market data on the product line.
Ensure that country pricing decisions, product feature changes and new product development that have financial implications on the product line income and margin performance follow the correct governance process.
Monitor performance of Product Line against key measures. Report results with recommendations about performance.
Produce regular reporting and stakeholder feedback for all products in line including what the product is, account and customer behaviour, key performance indicators (e.g. interest income and margin), key drivers (e.g. pricing) , and changes required to the existing plans to respond to market conditions.
Liaise with all stakeholders including Retail Director, Transactions & Deposits, Risk & Product Managers about product line positioning, functionality, performance targets and activity planned.
Work to develop the management information and reporting for both central and local use to support the analysis required for improved product line performance.
Management for the performance of the product managers within Retail. This entails input into performance management assessment as well as supporting and developing the country product managers.

Business Strategy and Direction: 20%

Outputs:

Work with the Customer Network Head and Head of Transactions & Deposits, Product Managers to set the strategic direction for the product portfolio.
Understand customer segmentation & customer needs and develop product offerings to deliver the customer value propositions.
Liaise with the country Retail Director, Marketing and Product Managers to inform them of the product line strategy, positioning and implementation plans.
Identify the key lines of cost and income, and the levers we have to control costs and income. Set the strategy according to these levers to achieve the specified Product Line performance targets.
To collate customer Feedback suggestions to inform the design of new products and overall strategy of Consumer Banking function
Running of product workshops periodically across the network.
Complete review of Assets portfolio

New Product Development/Amendments to existing products: 25%

Outputs:

Generate and manage new product or product amendment ideas at the concept development stage
Log product ideas for the product line utilising relevant research (e.g. input from customer insight and country product managers). Review ideas and make recommendations to progress which are prioritised using value-based criteria.
Design of new products or product features considering both customer requirements and the constraints for new developments
Write the aggregate business case for new products using country input, risk and infrastructure plan, detailed operational risk assessment, and complete the financial model for product
Facilitate planning workshops to produce detailed plans for each product development work stream and manage infrastructure build, test, pilot launch and full launch
Handover new product to BAU following process and undertake post project review

People Management: 15%

Outputs:

Build, develop and motivate a high performing team committed to achieving success through each other
Ensure that your team members are developed to achieve their maximum potential whilst coaching them to build their awareness of their strengths/development needs.
Assist in recruiting to fill manpower gaps
Manage daily attendance levels of the team
Manage poor performance and escalate disciplinary/grievances issues professionally and promptly in line with agreed procedures
In conjunction with the Head of Customer Network, agree challenging performance objectives and measures for your team providing regular feedback on honest assessment and achievement
In the way you lead on a daily basis, be a role model for your people, do things wholeheartedly, communicating with passion and enthusiasm embracing change as a way of working
Creating an empowering environment for your people encouraging individual ownership, initiative and challenge of the status quo
Ensure that team members receive coaching and feedback in order to develop to achieve their maximum potential.
Provide ongoing coaching and feedback on new initiatives etc.
Discuss and finalise Performance Development Plans and ratings for all members of staff.
Determine and manage Training Needs Analysis by summarizing needs identified during the quarterly Performance Development process and liaising with the HRBP and Head of Learning and Development.
Draft succession plans for all team members and update them at least annually.
Identify talent candidates in the team and ensure that additional development opportunities are created for high potential employees.
Ensuring exit interviews for all employee-initiated departures from the bank are conducted in a timely manner and flagging up any issues.
Managing staff attendance levels, including approval of leave. Compile monthly absence statistics (annual leave, sick leave, family responsibility leave, maternity leave, study leave etc), and submit to HR for record keeping.
Directly responsible for discipline for members of own team
Motivate staff and ensure they are recognised through the Absa recognition schemes.
Create an empowering environment for team members, encouraging individual ownership and initiative.
Maintain appropriate staffing numbers and capability to provide efficient and effective service within the team.
Manage the development of staff through Performance Management and offering learning opportunities within the unit.
Develop and agree individual and team performance objectives, standards and targets.
Direct personnel in the establishment and maintenance of a continuous improvement environment.

Operational Control: 10%

Outputs:

Achieve operational rigour excellence in all aspects of procedures and processes undertaken to ensure a satisfactory audit.
Ensure compliance with operational risk & rigour requirements e.g. Health and Safety standards, security of premises etc. in respective area.
Ensuring the compliance with relevant legislation e.g banking code service standards, fraud prevention and money laundering procedures
Raise reports on all risk events that occur
Understand the appropriate Group and RoA Policies & Standards applicable to role.
Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) which are faced in the role thereby contributing to the adherence to the Group Risk and Control Framework.
Ensure that practices and controls required by Policies are communicated to all relevant
colleagues
Ensure that independent oversight, on a proactive basis takes place of the risk performance (including related control effectiveness) Principal Risks.
Maintaining procedures to monitor compliance with Policies and any controls required by them
Ensuring compliance with the Group process for applications for waivers and dispensations and the notification of breaches of Policies as appropriate

Self: 5%

Agree performance development objectives with the team leader.
Pursue self-development to increase personal effectiveness, acknowledging strengths and areas for development.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)