Function and Business Area Purpose

Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) operates as part of Absa Bank Mauritius Limited (ABML), providing a range of financial solutions to a diversified, local and International client base (including Global Companies, Intermediaries, Management Companies (MC), Financial Institutions, Foreign Investors and Multinational Companies). The wide range of products and services includes local and international transactional payments, cash management, loans, trade finance, foreign exchange and risk management / treasury products and investment banking.

Job Purpose

• The is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the development, execution, and management of international banking strategies and operations. This position focuses on driving international business growth, managing cross-border relationships, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering high-value financial solutions to multinational and non-resident clients.
• Develop and implement the bank's international banking strategy in line with corporate goals, including new market and segment development.
• Identify new markets and opportunities for cross-border expansion and partnership.
• Drive revenue growth through targeted client acquisition, relationship management, and tailored financial solutions.
• Responsibility for managing the Global Business Portfolio, the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) Business and a portfolio of large listed and unlisted, global clients. This includes FIs (banks) and NBFI (Local and global funds, insurers, management companies, consumer finance companies, MSBs, MFIs). The portfolio may also include both domestic and international clients.
• Driving the FIG strategy in-country and ensuring that it speaks to the wider Absa Group (AGL) FIG strategy
• Responsible for building strategic, strong relationships at an Executive level within the clients’ organisational structure as well as opening doors at the lower levels for transaction execution and management purposes.
• Leveraging extensive network across the bank to identify and drive delivery of appropriate solutions and excellent client service levels to clients.
• Ensuring effective risk management of existing customers and new opportunities.
• Leveraging AGL networks to assist clients in driving their Rest of Africa strategy.
• Providing leadership within the team by coaching, mentoring and developing upcoming talent and direct reports.
• Works closely with the product teams to conceptualize, develop and implement plans for new liability products which include product definition and development.
• Build and manage a portfolio of international corporate and institutional clients.
• Promote trade finance, foreign exchange, global transaction services, and offshore banking products.
• Represent the bank at international forums, conferences, and networking events.

Main accountabilities

Sales and Service

• Developing a deep understanding of clients, effective negotiation, pricing and due diligence around deals.
• Delivering the total International Banking / Short Term Plan on an annual basis, including both Financial and non-financial.
• Embedding industry specialisation for optimal solution delivery to become the industry leader providing banking services.
• Building and developing key business and industry networks. Build relationships with key industry stakeholders, as well as key client decision makers.
• Focus on existing and new customers to provide excellent service and be recognised as a trusted advisor providing clients with appropriate banking solutions.
• Targeting prospective customers to develop new relationships and win new business aligned to the CIB value proposition.
• Managing the team’s relationship with Marketing and Communications team to raise sector and ABML profile in the external market.
• Identify solutions to optimise portfolio Risk Weighted Assets (RWA) and Return on Risk Weighted Assets (RoRWA) by diversifying revenue streams.
• Ensure adherence to pricing policies for debt, credit balances & money transmission governance.
• Create and drive a client calling schedule to ensure regular contact with customers, including senior bank leaders, strategic annual review, service meetings, complaint resolution, etc.
• Problem solving and issue resolution across a wide-spectrum of challenges.
• Leverage Salesforce as a tool to enable customer centric and professional sales process.
• Liaise with Business units of CIB to design, recommend, develop and implement new competitive deposit products offerings to targeted large corporate and government entities.
• Monitor the liabilities products performance of competitors to ensure that the ABML maintains and develops its competitive position. Maintain an awareness of development in fields of deposits products marketing and research to ensure that the bank continues to compete effectively
• Maintaining formal and informal contacts with to keep track of market trends and trade practices that impact the flow of funds / investments in country. This will include taking into consideration the Terms of Double Taxation Agreements signed between Mauritius and other countries.

Control and Risk

• Ensure all international operations comply with local and global banking regulations (e.g., FATCA, AML, Basel standards).
• Collaborate with Risk and Compliance teams to assess and mitigate credit, market, and operational risks.
• Foster an atmosphere of compliance, ensures regulations are observed and accountable for the implementation of the Group’s risk control framework for the portfolio by understanding and complying with all applicable governance, compliance and risk policies and procedures
• Adhering to Operating Processes related to operational risk, compliance and KYC framework as per requirement of Group’s requirements, Regulatory bodies & authorities
• Provide guidance and input for credit and compliance matters
• Ensure effective risk management of portfolio through the implementation of a Mandate and Scale, and annual (or bi-annual) review of the limits, segmentations etc.
• Assist in overseeing the training process within business segment
• Operating in accordance with AGL risk appetite and lending procedures
• Taking ownership of high quality and objective credit applications, ensure robust ongoing monitoring and control and that sound judgement is exercised at all times.
• Ensure high standards of data quality are maintained at all times across systems
• Working to continuously improve credit knowledge and expertise
• Building an effective working partnership with credit colleagues
• Ensure compliance with mandatory Risk policies and procedures relating to credit conformance and regulatory, operational, legal risk and Financial Crime
• Managing ‘Early warning list’ customers to reduce risk, ensuring proactive and timely referral to Credit and Business Support colleagues

Leadership and Collaboration

• Fosters collaboration, drives cohesion and teamwork across various areas in the bank
• Mentoring of Business Heads, Relationship Managers, Corporate Manager’s Assistants and other members of the team
• Seen as a role model, leader and a trusted advisor by team members, the wider client coverage team and other areas of the bank
• Provide a voice of reason in contentious discussions
• Challenge the team to continuously question the way they do things to ensure the team and business do not stagnate
• Role model from a governance, compliance and regulatory perspective within the team
• Support, coach and develop team members and other more junior colleagues in the bank
• Seek, share and embed best practices across the team and in delivering to the clients
• Continue to proactively develop yourself and undertake relevant training (including sales process, product, industry, etc.)
• Assist in driving and supporting CIB and Bank initiatives

Knowledge, Expertise and Experience

• Degree with 10 years relevant banking experience at managerial level or Master’s degree with min 5 years relevant experience at managerial level.
• Proven track record in cross-border financial services.
• Deep understanding of international financial regulations and compliance requirements.
• International work experience will be an added advantage
• Comprehensive technical knowledge of CIB products and services
• Extensive knowledge of Risk and Regulatory standards to ensure compliance with the Bank’s regulatory requirements, eg money laundering and fraud prevention
• Excellent Relationship Management Skills
• Excellent Credit Knowledge/Skills
• Good understanding of the product sets for CIB and Institutional Banking clients
• Understanding for the risk and regulatory framework
• Strategic thinker
• Strong Leadership ability
• Effective communication skills
• Experience managing diverse teams
• Experience of operating in a changing environment
• Clear understanding of risk frameworks
• Relevant senior business leadership experience
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Persuading and influencing