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Job summary

The Markets sales dealer: commercial and e-channels role reports to the Head of Markets Sales within the CIB Markets function in the country.

This is a management-level role requiring a mature member of the CIB Markets Sales team who can operate in a customer-facing relationship management capacity. The role involves developing a client portfolio focused on derivatives products, applying strong business judgment, and demonstrating a sound understanding of Markets functions and the bank’s customer base.

The successful candidate will be expected to have full knowledge of Markets products and services and proactively use that knowledge to provide value-adding Markets solutions that address identified customer needs.

The role also requires balanced interaction with other key areas of CIB Markets to support the overall business strategy. The position involves close collaboration with colleagues from other functional areas of the bank, including:

• Corporate Banking
• Business Banking
• Investment Bank
• Trade Finance
• Retail

The role contributes directly to the bank’s overall business strategy, risk management, cost control, and revenue targets.

Purpose of the role

The purpose of this role is to:

• Actively participate as a team member of the CIB Markets Sales function.
• Become the preferred point of contact, both externally and internally, for the provision of Markets Sales derivatives products.
• Act as a bridge between the interests of Corporate and Commercial clients and the marketplace for Markets products, strategies, and structured solutions.
• Explore and develop business opportunities within the Markets Sales function, specifically around the Risk Management Products proposition.
• Maintain balanced interaction with other key areas of CIB Markets to drive the Markets business strategy forward.

Key responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following duties:

• Manage a portfolio of customers to offer Markets Risk Management Products propositions and related understanding to clients, including internal customers.
• Drive product and technology sales, including:
  • Absa Access FX
  • Investment products
  • Risk Management Products
• Trade directly with customers as required.
• Develop close contacts with Commercial Relationship Managers and customers.
• Promote the expansion and penetration of CIB Markets business into customer segments, including RBB and Corporate.
• Expand the customer base for CIB Markets products and services.
• Meet delegated volume and profitability targets.
• Ensure that Absa Group Limited policies, procedures, and relevant credit limits are always adhered to.
• Identify personal knowledge gaps and ensure that a self-training and development plan is in place.
• Assist the Head of Markets Sales in compiling the annual Markets strategic business plan.
• Ensure regular monthly feedback on performance is available.

Personal attributes

The ideal candidate should demonstrate the following personal qualities:

• Strong business awareness.
• Ability to think quickly and act decisively.
• Strong relationship management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a dealing room environment.
• Innovation and creativity.
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Confidence to make decisions with authority.
• High ethical and moral standards.
• Professional conduct at all times.
• Effective marketing, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Required skills and experience

Applicants should have the following qualifications, skills, and experience:

• Effective trading ability with a good track record.
• Exposure to Global Markets Sales.
• Degree to honors level.
• Postgraduate qualification preferred.
• Sound understanding of balance sheet and income statement analysis.
• Basic level ACI Dealing Certificate.
• At least 2 years of banking experience, including at least 1 year in a Global Markets environment.
• Understanding of financial risk management strategies and tools.
• Good knowledge of Financial Markets products, services, strategies, and back-office operations.
• Good general knowledge of other bank products, especially:
  • Trade finance
  • Structured trade finance
  • Forfaiting
  • Merchant banking products
• General knowledge of merchant banking products.

Risk and control objective

The successful candidate will be expected to manage risk and control effectively by applying relevant risk frameworks and embedding a positive risk culture.

Key expectations include:

• Understand own role in the end-to-end processes in which the role participates, including applicable risks and controls.
• Adhere to Absa policies and procedures applicable to the role.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and responsible risk management.
• Report all risk events, incidents, and issues using the defined process for the relevant business area.
• Help understand why risk events occurred and how they can be prevented in future.
• Proactively look for ways to improve the control environment.
• Consider what could go wrong in operational processes and how errors can be prevented.
• Maintain continuous and proactive engagement with regulatory bodies and unions where applicable.
• Complete all mandatory training by the required deadline.

Knowledge required

The candidate should possess the following knowledge:

• Knowledge of a bank’s products and services, or other relevant specialist knowledge.
• Full understanding of policies, processes, and ethical issues surrounding CIB Markets business.
• Knowledge of other parts of CIB Markets.
• Good understanding of Corporate, Retail, and Merchant Banking operations.
• Willingness and ability to proactively manage customer relationships through:
  • On-site visits
  • Presentations
  • Social gatherings

Exceptional aspects of the role

This role requires a high level of independence, professionalism, and market awareness.

The successful candidate should be prepared for the following expectations:

• A high level of self-direction is expected.
• Total commitment to sales and customer orientation.
• Frequent need to work outside normal working hours.
• Assistance in managing customer-bank relationships across different business lines.
• Increasing focus on risk orientation.
• Increasingly dynamic market presence.

Absa values

Absa’s values and behaviors represent the standards that guide the actions of all employees. These values are also used to assess and reward performance across the bank.

The Absa values are:

• Trust
• Resourceful
• Stewardship
• Inclusive
• Courage
• Education

• Manage a portfolio of customers to offer Markets Risk Management Products propositions and related understanding to clients, including internal customers.
• Drive product and technology sales, including: Absa Access FX, Investment products, Risk Management Products
• Trade directly with customers as required.
• Develop close contacts with Commercial Relationship Managers and customers.
• Promote the expansion and penetration of CIB Markets business into customer segments, including RBB and Corporate.
• Expand the customer base for CIB Markets products and services.
• Meet delegated volume and profitability targets.
• Ensure that Absa Group Limited policies, procedures, and relevant credit limits are always adhered to.
• Identify personal knowledge gaps and ensure that a self-training and development plan is in place.
• Assist the Head of Markets Sales in compiling the annual Markets strategic business plan.
• Ensure regular monthly feedback on performance is available.

• Effective trading ability with a good track record.
• Exposure to Global Markets Sales.
• Sound understanding of balance sheet and income statement analysis.
• Basic level ACI Dealing Certificate.
• Understanding of financial risk management strategies and tools.
• Good knowledge of Financial Markets products, services, strategies, and back-office operations.
• Good general knowledge of other bank products, especially: Trade finance, Structured trade finance, Forfaiting, Merchant banking products
• General knowledge of merchant banking products.
• Strong business awareness.
• Ability to think quickly and act decisively.
• Strong relationship management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a dealing room environment.
• Innovation and creativity.
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Confidence to make decisions with authority.
• High ethical and moral standards.
• Professional conduct at all times.
• Effective marketing, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Degree to honors level.
• Postgraduate qualification preferred.
• Basic level ACI Dealing Certificate.
• Bachelor’s degree and professional qualifications in Business, Commerce, and Management Studies.