Senior Manager, Credit Evaluation – Africa Region, Business and Commercial Banking (BCB)

About the Role

This senior management position within Liberty's Business and Commercial Banking (BCB) division, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, is crucial for overseeing credit evaluation and risk management across the Africa region. The role is accountable for a broad spectrum of credit-related functions, including assessing portfolio concentration risk, reviewing risk appetite and credit policies, and monitoring portfolio performance. These responsibilities are to be executed in strict alignment with the overarching group risk strategy for BCB. A significant part of the role also involves actively contributing to the creation and subsequent review of lending product parameters, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the market while maintaining robust risk controls.

The core of this role lies in the meticulous evaluation of credit applications. This involves a deep dive into financial statements, cash flow projections, and a comprehensive analysis of various risk factors – financial, management, industry, legal, and regulatory. You will be instrumental in setting appropriate covenants and conditions for credit grants, ensuring they are fit for purpose and adequately mitigate risk.

Furthermore, you will possess the expertise to analyse credit enhancements and apply applicable haircuts to collateral. Structuring complex deals and developing financial solutions for clients will be a key responsibility, often requiring client engagement through site visits to gain a holistic understanding of their business. Determining appropriate risk grades and Loss Given Default (LGD) estimations will be essential for accurate risk pricing and capital allocation.

Beyond individual transactions, you will be responsible for gathering market intelligence to inform risk assessments and strategic decisions. A crucial aspect of the role involves contributing to the development of credit risk management frameworks and potentially overseeing credit strategy development. Managing a diversified, multi-sector credit portfolio within a large financial institution is central to this position, with a particular focus on the Africa region. This includes managing geographically dispersed teams and overseeing a regional portfolio, demanding strong leadership and collaboration skills.

What They're Looking For

To be successful in this demanding role, candidates will require a strong foundation in credit risk management, ideally gained over 8 to 10 years within the BCB Risk & Corporate Affairs domain. Proven experience in drafting and reviewing credit applications for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) and commercial clients is essential. The ability to confidently present and motivate large, complex transactions at credit committees is a non-negotiable requirement.

A deep understanding of developing and implementing credit risk management frameworks, coupled with hands-on experience in managing diversified, multi-sector credit portfolios within a large financial institution, is paramount. The ideal candidate will possess profound expertise in assessing a wide array of risks, including financial, management, industry, legal, and regulatory, at both the transaction and portfolio levels.

Experience working with large, geographically dispersed teams and overseeing a regional portfolio is critical. This role demands strong analytical, strategic thinking, and decision-making capabilities, alongside excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Behavioural competencies such as challenging ideas, developing strategies, directing people, generating innovative solutions, and fostering collaboration will be key to success.

While not strictly mandatory, exposure to credit strategy development and model risk management would be considered advantageous. Candidates should hold a first-degree qualification in Business, Commerce, Accounting, or a closely related discipline.

In South Africa, senior credit evaluation roles within large financial institutions typically command competitive salaries reflective of the significant responsibility and specialised expertise required. Liberty, as a prominent financial services group with a strong African presence, offers opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic and evolving sector. This position offers a chance to significantly influence credit risk strategy and portfolio performance across a diverse region.

Type of Qualification: First Degree
Field of Study: Business, Commerce, Accounting, or a related discipline

Experience Required
Credit Risk – BCB
Risk & Corporate Affairs

8–10 years
Proven experience drafting and reviewing credit applications for SME and commercial clients, presenting and motivating large transactions at credit committees, developing credit risk management frameworks, and managing a diversified, multi-sector credit portfolio within a large financial institution. The role requires deep expertise in assessing financial, management, industry, legal, and regulatory risks at both transaction and portfolio level. Candidates must also have experience working with large, geographically dispersed teams and overseeing a regional portfolio. Exposure to credit strategy development and model risk management would be advantageous.