Corporate Credit Manager

ABSA Bank Uganda is seeking a Corporate Credit Manager to act as credit expert to the Client coverage/Relationship team and the conduit to the Credit Risk function for sanctioning purposes.

• Responsible for working with product partners to develop practical and appropriate credit solutions (i.e. lending structures) through understanding customers’ needs.
• Delivering high quality and consistent, credit applications, making recommendations.
• Monitor and control nominated accounts within designated portfolios.
• Work in collaboration with relationship managers to drive commercial success and meet customer needs.
• Making commercial decisions in line with client management strategy.
• Creating compelling business cases using a variety of problem solving, analytical and modelling tools and techniques. 
• Preparation/submission of high quality credit applications along with appropriate supporting information and clear recommendations to the accountable credit sanctioning team for quick decision making. Ensure that the CCRS FLAM is complete and accurate.
• Facilitate preparation and analysis of financial spreadsheets/models to support analysis of new and existing credit applications
• Monitor and Control quality of portfolio using ‘Condition of Sanction’ triggers where possible and in accordance with internal guidelines and policies – Discussing with Sanctioner trigger events if they give cause for concern, advising the Relationship Manager simultaneously
• Attend customer meetings with the Relationship Manager particularly where credit related issues need to be discussed and resolved.
• Be the joint contact with Relationship Manager for credit management purposes for relationship manger and external clients like customers and 3rd party service providers like accountants, solicitors and other professionals.
• Maintain high level of data quality and accuracy across credit data sources through keep up to date credit records of all client’s within allocated portfolio. Reconcile credit files and core credit system (CCRS) to identify discrepancies and variances
• Work in partnership with Relationship Managers on new and existing credit applications, providing guidance on credit appetite and consulting with Credit team as appropriate
• Support growth consistent with the Bank’s strategy aligned risk appetite, in partnership with business teams whilst adhering to agreed service level agreements
• Work in partnership with colleagues and proactively anticipate, respond to and seek to exceed the expectations of customers.
• Attend customer meetings with the Relationship Manager if credit related issues are to be discussed/need to be resolved
• Proactively contribute to embedding agreed change management initiatives in support simplifying and streamlining processes for improvement in customer experience and managing department cost within budget
• Ensure that all lending activity and duties within assigned portfolio activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with internal and regulatory policies, standards and procedures.
• Responsible for managing customers’ credit files and validating authenticity of information produced by customers.
• Responsible for managing the end to end process for risk reporting, covenant testing, breach reporting and challenging relevant stakeholders where control lapses or potential risk has been identified
• Covenant testing and reporting any breach/non-compliance with agreed terms of sanction and covenants & conditions.
• Ensure customer credit reviews are initiated and completed promptly.
• Work in partnership with business and credit risk colleagues to maintain optimal quality of portfolio by recommending the right credit decisions and performing control responsibilities in a timely dependable manner.
• Work in partnership with the relevant stakeholders (Relationship Manager, Product Manager, Legal Counsel and Risk Control Manager) to ensure all offer letters (and other accompanying documentation) are accurate and generated in a timely manner to meet customer needs.
• Work in partnership with Relationship Managers, Product Teams, Credit Risk and Legal Teams to help drive business strategy, provide advice, identify opportunities and deepen client relationships.
• Actively participate and/or facilitate ‘lessons learnt’ sessions for the coverage teams
• Coach Credit Analysts on Credit origination processes.

• University degree in any of the following fields: Commerce, Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Business Administration, Finance or another business related fields.
• A relevant master’s degree and/or related professional qualification will be an added advantage e.g. Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) etc.
• At least two (2) years of acceptable work experience in an accounting/finance-related field.
• Experience in commercial lending (Origination, credit analysis and credit risk structuring of transactions covering multiple industry sectors) will be of added advantage
• Proficiency in Ms Office and general computer use
• Self-starter with ability to manage competing deadlines in a high-pressure environment
• Strong attention to detail, effective time management and planning
• Financial analysis skills and preferably financial modelling experience.
• Excellent problem identification and solving skills.
• Knowledge of the commercial banking environment is beneficial
• Knowledge of banking products and financial solutions.
• Business minded with an ability to convey a balanced sense of risk
• Strong Credit risk skills
• Good analytical and judgment skills
• Mental agility
• Strategic thinking
• High level of numeracy to evaluate complex statistical financial information