Head Credit Origination Business Banking

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Job Summary

To lead the Credit Origination function for Business Banking, driving balance sheet and revenue growth through high-quality credit underwriting, portfolio optimization, and proactive risk management. This role ensures that all credit decisions align with the bank’s risk appetite while enabling sustainable business growth and supporting the Business Banking strategy, proactive portfolio oversight, ensuring compliance with internal credit policies and regulatory requirements.

Job Description

Key accountabilities/Deliverables/Outcomes

Accountability:  Credit Origination and Underwriting (Revenue & Market Share Growth – 40%)

• Oversee the assessment and structuring of credit facilities in line with customer needs and risk appetite. Lead the origination of new credit facilities to achieve business banking balance sheet and NII targets.
• Ensure quality credit assessment and structuring of deals to support
• Drive the achievement of key financial metrics
• Ensure timely and quality credit decisions that support revenue generation while maintaining credit standards.
• Contribute to sector risk credit appetite formulation by developing a strong understanding of key sector growth drivers and performance lead and lag indicators. Support embedment and understanding of sector risk acceptance criteria in deal origination and structuring by coverage teams.
• Demonstrate strong financial modelling capability to originate, evaluate, structure and present bankable transactions ensuring commercial viability risk transparency and alignment with credit standards and investment standards
• Covert complex model outputs into clear decision-ready insights for senior management and committees
• Work in partnership with Investment Banking team in deal structuring

Accountability:  Portfolio Risk Management (Sustainability Index – 35%)

• Ensure strong portfolio health by maintaining PAR within acceptable levels.
• Drive early warning, restructuring, and Exit Watch List (EWL) processes.
• Ensure rigorous oversight of covenant compliance, excess management, and deteriorating accounts.
• Uphold a robust control environment through timely reviews and credit risk reporting.
• Ensure RORWA thresholds set by the bank are met/tracked.

Accountability: Relationship Deepening and Customer Experience (15%)

• Collaborate with Relationship Managers to unlock additional value from existing portfolios.
• Improve Credit Client NPS through faster and more responsive credit processes by ensuring timely turnaround on credit reviews including New Business Committees, Internal Reviews and minimal RTSes
• Support customer engagement through joint visits and relationship deepening strategies.
• Support robust tracking of deal pipeline ensuring that deals originated are accurately tracked in the workflow tracking tools deployed the bank. In addition, track pipeline conversion and engage various stakeholders to unlock any challenges.

Accountability: Cost and Productivity Optimization (5%)

• Support delivery of the Business Banking efficiency ratio and headline earnings.
• Optimize resource allocation and productivity within the Credit Origination team.
• Contribute to the restructuring and recovery of struggling accounts in line with strategy.
• Contribute to capacity building within relationship and credit analysts teams by working alongside Credit and Learning & Development teams to facilitate trainings required to bridge credit/product learning gaps.

Accountability:  Credit Enablement, Stakeholder Engagement & Staff Management (5%)

• Partner with front-office and product teams to streamline credit processes and improve deal turnaround times.
• Lead initiatives to improve end-to-end credit workflow management and efficient TAT measurement.
• Foster collaboration across sales, product, risk, and operations to enable effective credit delivery.
• Support the Credit origination team and the team leaders in delivering effective performance.
• Drive proactive application of Absa values both personally and throughout the team.
• Coach and support colleagues within the Team

Role/person specification

Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field. Master’s degree or professional certifications (e.g. CPA, CFA, ACCA, FRM), Credit Certification (e.g., Omega, Moody’s, CFA Credit stream) preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years in credit origination or credit risk; at least 5 years in a leadership role within Commercial or Business Banking.
• In-depth understanding of credit underwriting, financial analysis, risk mitigation, and portfolio management. Proficient in credit systems and tools.
• Experienced user of Commercial Credit Risk System (CCRS) or a similar system to analyse, monitor and report on credit applications.
• Good interpersonal skills that have been proven in a Business or Credit environment at a management level

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep understanding of credit policy, risk appetite, and structuring complex deals.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire high-performing teams.
• Strong commitment to client experience and internal collaboration.
• Ability to balance growth with prudent credit decisions.
• Results-oriented with strong process discipline and performance management.
• Knowledge of lending fundamentals, credit procedures and processes as laid out in the Absa Africa Wholesale Credit Risk Standards.
• Products and services frequently used by customers 
• Knowledge of Commercial Credit Risk System and other relevant bank systems.
• Awareness of legislation affecting the Bank and customers having the highest regard for confidentiality.
• A fair understanding of current issues including macro and micro economic environment.

Absa Bank Kenya is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. 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.

***Application deadline: 12th March 2026***

Education

Bachelor's Degree: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)