Key Accountabilities (Duties & Responsibilities)

Business Growth – Time Split 60%

• Implement business strategic initiatives and create ownership of the branch performance targets. Agree on branch execution plans/strategies and ensure they are aligned to the Banks overall strategy- Growth, Transformation, and Returns.
• Diligently monitor branch business performance and make adjustments to the execution strategies accordingly.
• Manage branch portfolio risks in line with the bank’s portfolio appetite.
• In conjunction with the regional manager and product development, conduct product reviews and product development through constant feedback from the market.
• Collaborate and coordinate the development and implementation of sales initiatives with other business functions such as CIB, Asset Finance, Bancassurance, and Lead generation team to maximize cross-selling opportunities.
• Conduct market intelligence to identify new market opportunities, customer trends, existing geographical strength, emerging government directives, and changes in policy by regulators.
• Manage borrowing and non-borrowing accounts in the branch to enhance customer loyalty and retention.
• Harness existing staff potential and create new competencies in order to achieve competitive advantage.
• Lead the branch team to achieve its customer retention objectives, Transaction migrations from the counter to alternate channels, balance sheet growth goals, and acquisitions. Support will include achieving branch sales targets as well as participating in and leading sales activations.
• Establish firm relationships with the Top 200 clients and business influencers in the local area.
• Provide regular feedback to the staff (individual/corporate) on performance (Sales, NPS, etc).
• Provide clear direction and guidance to branch staff on business objectives, translating and prioritizing them into business performance measures at the branch level.
• Ensure proper controls, processes & procedures are always adhered to as per the laid down Absa bank policies.
• At all times, ensure the branch is opened and closed as per the approved regulatory timelines. Operations staff are ready and equipped to serve customers. This includes opening and closing branch batch on the core banking system.
• The Branch must maintain the look and feel as per the Absa bank standards.
• Ensure that Absa Bank’s policies are always adhered to when handling different products and solutions. Ensure adherence to all KYC & AML processes with regards to New to Bank business and acceptable TAT/Accuracy is always observed.
• Ensure all relevant system reports are printed, appropriately reviewed, signed off on a timely basis, and filed as per Absa Records Management policy.
• Ensure you and your team remain alert to the risk of financial crime and assist in the Banks efforts in combating it by adhering to the key principles in relation to: positively identifying your customers, knowing your customer, reporting suspicions, obtaining correct supporting documents in regard to LCT/OTT/FX Trades, safeguarding records and not disclosing suspicions to customers.

In conjunction with the Branch Operation Lead – BOL, you are responsible for strict cost management in the branch by reviewing all service provider quotations before the work can proceed. In addition, BOL must conduct regular reviews of the following cost elements:

• Branch expenditure.
• Equipment maintenance.
• Overtime approvals.
• Stationery consumption, telephones, electricity, water, travel etc.
• Staff costs
• Sundry losses
• Ensure compliance with operational, Security, controls, and process risks requirements to avoid losses and prevent fraud arising from operational lapses, and to protect Bank and customer assets.
• Ensure that the branch achieves a minimum satisfactory audit rating through continuous assessment and prompt closure of all audit exceptions sighted
• Ensure that relevant approvals for all transactions are always sorted as guided in the laid down policies.

Internal Controls, Governance, Processes & Procedures – Time split 15%

• Ensure proper controls, processes & procedures are adhered to at all times as per the laid down Absa bank policies through the BOL.
• At all times, through the BOL, ensure the branch is compliant with all regulatory requirements i.e. opened and closed within the approved regulatory timelines, all approved licenses are in place and up to date etc.
• Ensure that Absa Bank’s policies are adhered to at all times when handling different products and solutions. Ensure adherence to all KYC & AML processes with regards to New to Bank business and acceptable TAT/Accuracy is observed at all times.
• Ensure all relevant system reports are printed, appropriately reviewed, signed off on a timely basis, and filed as per Absa Records Management policy.
• Ensure you and your team remain alert to the risk of financial crime and assist in the Banks efforts in combating it by adhering to the key principles in relation to: positively identifying your customers, knowing your customer, reporting suspicions, obtaining correct supporting documents in regard to LCT/OTT/FX Trades, safeguarding records and not disclosing suspicions to customers.

Responsible for strict cost management in the branch by reviewing all service provider quotations before the work can proceed. In addition, BOL must conduct regular reviews of the following cost elements:

• Branch expenditure.
• Equipment maintenance.
• Overtime approvals.
• Stationery consumption, telephones, electricity, water, travel etc.
• Staff costs
• Sundry losses
• Ensure compliance with operational, Security, controls and process risks requirements to avoid losses and prevent fraud arising from operational lapses, and to protect Bank and customer assets.
• Ensure that the branch achieves a minimum satisfactory audit rating through continuous assessment and prompt closure of all audit exceptions sighted
• Ensure that relevant approvals for all transactions are sorted at all times as guided in the laid down policies.
• Ensure all fees and commissions due to the bank are collected.
• Drive quality sales through actioning of unfunded accounts, uncollected credit cards, and delinquency.
• Ensure Data privacy policies are adhered to at the branch at all times.

Customer Experience: Time split 15%

• The Branch must maintain the look and feel as per the Absa bank standards.
• Ensure excellent customer experience is always maintained.
• Ensure set TAT is achieved at all times.
• Appraise and promptly act on customer issues /complaints escalating as necessary to ensure timely resolution.
• Ensure set TAT in response to customer queries by phone, email, or by letters is strictly adhered to.
• Ensure customer data is up to date.
• Ensure branch NPS scores are maintained as per the set standards.
• Co-ordinate branch initiatives aimed at gathering feedback from customers on service standards and advise leadership for improvements.
• Provide leadership around customer experience at the branch.
• Monitor the counter service to ensure customers are served within the acceptable waiting time.

Capacity Building & People Management: Time Split 10%

• Build and develop a high performing and motivated staff team in the branch by creating a conducive work environment, teamwork, regular duty rotations, and effective succession opportunities to ensure maximum productivity.
• Help in resource planning, setting performance objectives and measures of success for direct reports, and providing regular feedback on performance.
• Provide leadership by constantly offering training and guidance on the colleague’s expectations. Adequate coaching and mentoring of branch staff.
• Effectively manage, mobilize, and coordinate branch resources (Staff, equipment, safe environment etc.) to achieve common goals.
• Ensure the assigned e-learning and internal training activities for self and direct reports is undertaken within set timelines.
• Determine and manage Training Needs Analysis and Succession plans for direct reports and ensure they do the same for all their staff
• Manage performance/disciplinary issues/grievances for branch staff
• Management of leave/sickness

Role/person specification

Qualification

• University degree in a relevant disciplines, post graduate qualifications will be an added advantage.

Preferred Experience

• At least 5 years Banking / Financial Services experience out of which at least 3 years in branch management with good track record of performance.

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Overall Job Purpose

• Responsible for end-to-end underwriting across credit life & Group Risk schemes
• To implement company Underwriting Best Practice standards and IRA guidelines and regulations.
• Periodic financial, actuarial, and non-financial reconciliation.

Key Accountabilities

• Timely Quote for Group Risk products within approved guidelines and approval limits
• Ensure prompt registration and acknowledgement and onboarding of new schemes
• Prepare and issue debit and credit notes
• Prepare & issue cover notes and/or policy document as per onboarded risk
• Ensure effective renewal process – renewal invites; costings; debit and credit notes and issue renewal endorsement
• Ensure timely and effective reporting to internal stakeholders and brokers.
• Implement credit control policy and ensure that premiums are debited and collected as required
• Ensure daily reconciliation and receipting of premium collections and subsequent accounting for commissions, taxes etc
• Participate in Business Development through end-to-end tender process directly and/or through brokers.
• Perform Monthly reconciliation for both premiums and commissions under underwriting
• Verify and analyse client data according to company practices and procedures
• Maintain updated group risk and associated files & records as per Information Risk Management guidelines.
• Prepare and compile weekly & monthly underwriting reports enhanced with qualitative assessment; portfolio analysis, risk recommendation within the stipulated time
• Implement fraud strategies that actively identify and prevent fraud within the area through enhancing manual process or through system enhancement improvement.
• Collaboratively assess the loss ratios and report as per claims and underwriting best practice.

Reinsurance liaison

• End-to-end processing of medical underwriting including broker and client engagement
• To prepare reinsurance bordereaux end-to-end
• To review underwriting special cases to effectively discharge Underwriting Best practice guidelines. Resolutions to be minuted/documented on email.

Customer Service& Stakeholder Engagement

• Adhere to the Query and complaint categorization & response standards to ensure client queries and complaints are dealt with timeously, efficiently and professionally
• Ensure corrective action is taken on complaints received by following correct procedure and input and provided feedback for root cause analysis  & resolution.
• Adherence to Treating Customers Fairly(TCF) principles
• Provide superior customer service by proactively and timeously obtaining outstanding documentation to ensure complete efficient claims processing
• Provide regular feedback and escalate concerns to the Manager: Risk Mitigation where process gaps should be addressed.
• Update the query and complaint registers timeously
• Provide underwriting and claims technical support to operation, business development and accounts departments in all phases of policy life cycle.
• Have regular meetings to review statuses, claims and underwriting progress etc with insurers and all stakeholders
• Attend industry engagements on innovation and best practices to help improve performance, and quality standards
• Query and complaint Case Management & resolution matrix  to support Customer Experience Help Desk & relationship managed business.

Special work requirements:

• Strong negotiations and influencing skills Knowledge of business acquisition and retention
• Oral and written communication skills Level:
• Attention to detail
• Basic numeracy
• Analytical skills
• Advanced Microsoft Excel; SQL; PowerPoint

Education and Experience Required

• BSC Actuarial or BCom (Insurance Option)
• Professional qualification in Insurance (ACII, FLMI or AIIK)
• At least 3 years’ experience in insurance underwriting and claims processing in credit life, Group Risk and/or Retail Life.
• Extensive experience in analysis of financial and legal documents and data analysis.
• Articulate the role’s end to end processes including applicable risks and controls and how this meets the corporate strategy.
• Managing the facilitation of internal and external auditors/actuaries to ensure complete and efficient audit process and follow up implementation of audit recommendations