Commercial Relationship Manager

Absa Group; Durban; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bank in South Africa seeks a professional to manage a portfolio of Business banking customers. The role involves building long-term relationships and ensuring efficient support for their needs through quick risk decisions. Ideal candidates should possess strong relationship and credit risk skills, with a required diploma in business. This position emphasizes business development and compliance with regulatory standards, fostering a culture of trust and stewardship.

Qualifications

• Strong relationship management capabilities to support business customers.
• Ability to assess credit applications in collaboration with CMA and CCM resources.
• Experience in business development and managing customer relationships.

Responsibilities

• Manage and sustain a portfolio of Business banking customers.
• Maximise risk‑adjusted portfolio contribution.
• Responsible for business development with new customers.

Skills

Relationship skills

Credit risk skills

General corporate skills

Communications skills

Education

National Diplomas and Advanced Certificates: Business, Commerce and Management Studies

Job description

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one 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.

My Career Development Portal: Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading‑edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility.

Job Summary

• Manage and sustain a portfolio of Business banking customers, building long‑term relationships founded on efficient and reliable support for their business, achieved through quick risk decisions and maintaining consistent and quality operational service.
• Maximise risk‑adjusted portfolio contribution.
• Responsible for business development with new customers and increasing wallet share of existing customers.

Job Purpose

To manage and sustain a portfolio of Business banking customers, building long‑term relationships founded on efficient and reliable support for their business, achieved through quick risk decisions and maintaining consistent and quality operational service; maximise risk‑adjusted portfolio contribution; responsible for business development with new customers and increasing wallet share of existing customers.

Main Accountabilities and Approximate Time Split

Sales and Service (65%)

• Maintain Relationship Plans for all customers; prioritise contact.
• Conduct annual and, if appropriate, interim reviews of customers’ borrowing facilities.
• Conduct annual and, if appropriate, interim reviews with non‑borrowing customers.
• Determine key messages such as agreed service standards, negotiated pricing, relationship team contact points and new product changes; decide upon the most appropriate communication method.
• Deal with and find solutions to customer complaints.
• Determine the products that most effectively meet customer needs; sell these reactively and proactively.
• Research, create and follow up a target list for potential new business.

Business Management (30%)

• Research, create and follow up on a target list for potential new business.
• Identify priority customers using the Customer Relationship Planning templates to assess present and potential contribution.
• Gather all required information to prepare and assess credit applications; input key judgemental information in collaboration with CMA and CCM resources.
• Control and quality of the portfolio, using available triggers and adherence to Risk management guidelines and policies.

Staff Management (5%)

• Day‑to‑day coaching and development of Corporate Service Assistants.

Risk and Controls Objectives

• Ensure all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Absa Operational Risk Framework and internal Absa Policies.
• Manage risk and control effectively by applying applicable risk frameworks and embedding a positive risk culture.
• Understand own role in the end‑to‑end processes in which you play a part, including applicable risks and controls.
• Adhere to Absa’s policies and procedures applicable to own role, demonstrating sound judgement and responsible risk management.
• Report all risk events/incidents/issues using the defined process; help understand why they occurred and how to prevent them in the future.
• Proactively look for ways to improve the control environment by considering what could go wrong in the processes you operate and how errors could be prevented.
• Continuous and proactive engagement with regulatory bodies, unions where applicable.
• All mandatory training completed to deadline.

Technical Skills / Competencies

• Relationship skills
• Credit risk skills
• General corporate skills
• Communications skills

Knowledge, Expertise and Experience

• Meeting customers’ needs
• Business awareness
• Business development
• Managing relationships
• Innovation
• Analysis and judgement
• Personal organization
• Adaptability
• Decision making
• Team results
• Active listening

Absa Values

• Trust
• Resourceful
• Stewardship
• Inclusive
• Courage

Education

National Diplomas and Advanced Certificates: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)