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

Absa is seeking a seasoned Senior Manager for its Pre-Legal Risk Management division, based in Johannesburg. This leadership role is crucial in shaping and executing collections strategies within the Asset Finance division, encompassing Commercial Asset Finance, AVMS, and Fleet Card operations. The primary objective is to manage and guide a team of pre-legal collectors, ensuring that distressed customer accounts are effectively managed to normalisation, thereby minimising impairment losses. Success in this position hinges on building strong relationships with various business units and ensuring service level agreements are met.

About the Role

This is a significant leadership opportunity within Absa's collections framework. The Senior Manager will be instrumental in developing and implementing collections strategies, working closely with the Business Analytics team and the Head of Pre-Legal Risk Management. The role demands a strategic thinker capable of translating high-level business objectives into actionable plans for their team, ensuring a clear understanding of monthly targets and the expectations for their achievement. A key responsibility involves fostering a high standard of customer service while driving efficiency and compliance.

The position requires a proactive approach to identifying and addressing risks, including potential fraud and impairments. The incumbent will be responsible for analysing the effectiveness of current processes and systems, advocating for necessary resources, and implementing improvements to enhance productivity and operational efficiency. This includes optimising duty allocations to align with workload demands and ensuring the timely handover of matters to the Legal Recoveries team. Furthermore, the Senior Manager will play a lead role in project teams tasked with implementing process or system enhancements.

The Senior Manager will oversee a range of critical functions:

• **Strategic Development and Execution:** Develop and implement collections strategies in collaboration with relevant departments, setting clear objectives for the pre-legal collections team and ensuring their alignment with broader business goals.
• **Team Leadership and Performance Management:** Lead, motivate, and manage a team of pre-legal collectors. This includes monitoring their understanding of processes, reviewing performance, and providing coaching to ensure effective implementation of procedures and achievement of targets.
• **Process Optimisation:** Analyse existing collection processes and systems, identify areas for improvement, and propose recommendations for enhancements, including resource allocation for better productivity and operational efficiency.
• **Risk and Compliance Oversight:** Ensure strict adherence to company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. This involves conducting self-assessment tests, reporting findings, and developing corrective actions. The Senior Manager will also oversee the logging and investigation of risk and loss events.
• **Financial Management:** Monitor and manage the unit's operational expenses, ensuring adherence to budget limits and cost-effective utilisation of resources. This includes actively managing the impairment budget for the Pre-Legal Risk Management unit.
• **Stakeholder Engagement:** Collaborate with internal business units, risk, and compliance departments, as well as external service providers, to ensure seamless operations and continuous improvement.
• **Project Management:** Lead and participate in project teams focused on implementing process improvements, system changes, or new collection strategies.

What They're Looking For

The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in collections, risk management, and team leadership, preferably within the financial services sector. Key attributes and experience required include:

• Proven experience in managing collections strategies and operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team.
• A solid understanding of risk management frameworks and compliance requirements in a banking environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret management information and drive performance improvements.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• A strategic mindset with the capacity to translate business objectives into executable plans.
• Experience in financial management, including budget monitoring and cost control.
• A proactive and results-oriented approach to problem-solving.

In South Africa, senior management roles in collections and risk management within large financial institutions like Absa typically command competitive salaries. The specific remuneration would depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and the exact scope of responsibilities, but often falls within a range that reflects the strategic importance and leadership demands of such positions. Career progression from this role could lead to broader risk management portfolios, operational leadership within collections or credit, or executive positions within the banking sector.

 

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