Job Description

Empowering Africas tomorrow, togetherone story at a time.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.Job Summary To play a key role in protecting the bank from material sustainability, environmental and social risk in its Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) lending portfolios. This activity encompasses:

• Assisting the CIB Head of Environmental and Social Risk in Environmental Credit Risk Management (ECRM) to mitigate environmental and social credit risk issues in the lending book
• Provision of specialist input, support and guidance to stakeholders across CIB operations on sustainability, environmental and social risk issues to protect Absa from environmental credit, collateral and reputational risks
• Research and assess environmental and social issues, legislation, and industry initiatives to align to best practice
• Integration of environmental and social risk management into the credit risk appraisal processes and presentation of environmental and social positions at credit risk committees
• Protect Absas reputation by ensuring that Absas Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) runs optimally, supporting Absa strategic objectives and Sustainability positioning, meeting both internal and external needs
• Actively contribute to Sustainability and Climate Projects and initiatives of CIB, supporting the Group Sustainability and Strategy, Group Sustainability Risk, Treasury and Deal Teams to secure sustainable business

Business Results (80%)

• Ensure implementation of Equator Principles requirements, to meet Equator Principles Association (EPA) Membership commitments and reporting requirements within Absa, providing guidance to deal teams across the Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) and Commercial Property Finance (CPF) operations and product areas.
• Provide guidance to Environmental and Social Risk Officers in Absa Regional Operations on wide remit of Environmental and Social Matters
• Confirm that lending facility requests are compliant with regulatory, legal and internal requirements
• Provide guidance to Absa CIB Legal teams on appropriate Environmental and Social language to address deal E and S Risks
• Identify the applicability of Environmental and Social requirements and standards and refer material matters to relevant governance and credit committees for further review or decisions
• Review and assess sector case referrals across CIB to establish environmental considerations and requirements and deliver clear, concise, and commercially aware recommendations to the business
• Conduct Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) in accordance with Absa Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), meet applicable Absa funder requirements and provide recommendations for inclusion to credit / investment submissions
• Play a key role in the embedment of the ESMS across CIB operations
• Consider strategic Climate Change Risk impacts when recommending credit / investment applications
• Ensure adherence to Conduct Risk Framework, Reputational Risk Framework and all regulations associated to Environmental Risk
• Develop and implement requirements through business processes, collate information for reporting and serve as a CIB central point of specialist expertise contact for ES related queries
• Identify where applicability of IFC Performance Standards is required
• Support and provide input to sustainability and environmental policy development
• Recommend, implement and integrate environmental and social controls into credit procedures and processes
• Confirm compliance with applicable sustainability and environmental policies and standards.
• Conduct client site visits, where required
• Provide specialist sustainability, environmental and social risk advice, input and guidance.
• Assist the businesses to become more familiar with the available environmental and social risk management assessment tools and techniques
• Support Group Sustainability Risk initiatives to implement the Principles for Responsible Banking Framework and Group Sustainability Framework
• Ensure Sustainability internal and external assurance providers requirements are met , and implement correcting actions to close out any findings timeously
• Actively contribute to Sustainability and Climate Projects and initiatives of CIB, supporting the Group Sustainability and Strategy, Group Sustainability Risk, Treasury and Deal Teams to secure sustainable business

Stakeholder Management and Reputational Enhancement (10%)

• Act as an ambassador for Absa, representing the Banks position on environmental and social risk issues
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and participate in applicable working groups
• Compile annual Environmental and Social (E&S) reports for reporting to Absa funders (supported by management of various stakeholders including HR, credit and other data providers) ensuring that Absa capital requirements met
• Lead on CIB entity related annual due diligence arrangements, coordinating Environmental and Social specialist submissions across CIB regional operations
• Contribute to the content of environmental and social reports for internal or external stakeholders thereby strategically positioning environmental and social credit risk management
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues across the lending value chain (e.g. frontline, legal, transaction managers etc.) and provide expert support and guidance as appropriate
• Maintain dialogue and network with relevant opinion formers, to understand key areas of interest and expectation
• Represent Absa position on Environmental and Social risk matters to clients where required to do so

Business Transformation (5%)

• Research, analyse and interpret developments in the environmental arena to understand the legal, ethical and practical implications to support benchmarking, tool development and process improvements
• Proactively identify areas where business would benefit from additional guidance and identify opportunities for positive impact

Grow Talent and Capability (5%)

• Raise credit and other banking staff awareness of environmental credit risk considerations and issues and help staff to bridge any internal process or other knowledge gaps
• Provide training to stakeholders across CIB on Absa environmental and social credit risk strategic approaches and requirements
• Ensure ongoing performance development to ensure generic personal skills are enhanced
• Research, develop and maintaining new tools, techniques and processes to enable business areas and risk teams to place greater reliance on self-analysis.

Minimum Requirements

• Business related B Degree in Sustainability/Commerce and/or Environmental and Social Management, equivalent NQF level 6 qualification or Higher (Environmental Management related qualifications given preference)
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the Internet
• No criminal record
• Preference will be given to South African Citizens and permanent residents of South Africa in possession of proof of permanent resident status
• The appointment will be made in line with the Employment Equity strategy
• At least 3 years experience in Sustainability (Environmental Risk and Social Discipline. Environmental consultancy and site visit review experience preferred.
• At least 2 years experience in a financial institution (preferred)

Competencies

• Strong Sustainability , environmental and social risk management skills
• IFC Performance Standard and World Bank EHS guidelines review and assessment experience
• Environmental and social legal experience, an advantage
• Financial Acumen, strategic, commercial, and entrepreneurial mindset
• Strong report writing, presentation, facilitation, and communication skills
• Strong problem solving, analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to engage with diverse internal and external stakeholders (stakeholder management/ networking/ relationship building)
• Experience working in financial institutions of at least 3 years (preferably in the lending / transaction life cycle)
• Strong awareness of business strategy and objectives
• Results driven
• High standards and control

EducationBachelor`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

Absa