Credit Risk Manager

Bidvest Bank; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Bidvest Bank seeks an experienced risk professional to provide independent oversight of credit risk across the portfolio. You will develop and oversee credit risk frameworks, policies, and processes to support sound lending decisions and drive sustainable growth.

Key responsibilities include monitoring NPLs, provisions, budget inputs, and risk-based pricing while ensuring regulatory compliance and portfolio resilience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, risk management, accounting, economics, or related field is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent oversight of credit risk across the portfolio to align with risk appetite and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and oversee credit risk frameworks, policies, and processes supporting sound lending decisions.
• Identify emerging risks and drive sustainable business growth through risk-informed decision making.
• Monitor key credit risk metrics such as NPLs, provisions, and cost of risk.
• Support budgeting and forecasting from a credit risk perspective and ensure portfolio quality.
• Provide accurate risk analysis to protect portfolio quality and mitigate potential losses.
• Monitor and calibrate credit risk appetite and limits; ensure covenant compliance within customer groups.
• Prepare and distribute timely credit risk and regulatory reports.

Skills

Credit risk monitoring

Risk analytics

Regulatory reporting

Portfolio risk assessment

Budgeting & forecasting

Lending risk oversight

Financial risk management

Early risk detection

Covenant monitoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, Risk Management, Accounting, Economics, or related field

Tools

Regulatory reporting tools

Job description

Primary Purpose

Provide independent oversight of credit risk across the portfolio, ensuring alignment with the Bank’s risk appetite, regulatory requirements, and strategic objectives. The role is responsible for developing and overseeing credit risk frameworks, policies, and processes to support sound lending decisions, minimise credit losses, identify emerging risks, and drive sustainable business growth.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Risk Management, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.

Technical Competencies

• Protect the bank’s financial performance by minimising credit losses and impairments.
• Monitor and manage key credit risk metrics (e.g., NPLs, provisions, cost of risk).
• Support sustainable revenue growth by balancing risk appetite with business objectives.
• Evaluate credit portfolios to optimise returns and capital allocation.
• Provide input into budgeting and forecasting from a credit risk perspective.
• Support sound credit decision-making by providing accurate risk analysis that protects portfolio quality and mitigates potential financial losses.
• Monitor covenant compliance within LEX customer groups to ensure early detection of financial stress.
• Highlight financial risks and propose remediation strategies that align with the organization’s risk appetite.
• Monitor and calibrate credit risk appetite and limits

Duties and Responsibilities

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Protect the bank’s financial performance by minimising credit losses and impairments.
• Monitor and manage key credit risk metrics (e.g., NPLs, provisions, cost of risk).
• Support sustainable revenue growth by balancing risk appetite with business objectives.
• Evaluate credit portfolios to optimise returns and capital allocation.
• Provide input into budgeting and forecasting from a credit risk perspective.
• Support sound credit decision‑making by providing accurate risk analysis that protects portfolio quality and mitigates potential financial losses.
• Monitor covenant compliance within LEX customer groups to ensure early detection of financial stress.
• Highlight financial risks and propose remediation strategies that align with the organization’s risk appetite.
• Monitor and calibrate credit risk appetite and limits
• Control and manage costs and expenditure in line with departmental and Bank budget expectations.
• Reduce fines and penalties for Bank non‑compliance with regulatory requirements

CUSTOMER CENTRICITY

• Promote responsible lending through fair, transparent, and customer‑focused credit decisions.
• Maintain a Responsible Lending Framework covering affordability, suitability, fair outcomes, and approval authorities.
• Conduct independent second‑line reviews to assess policy compliance, consistency, decision quality, and fair customer treatment.
• Perform thematic reviews, recommend policy enhancements, and track remediation actions.
• Balance risk management with customer experience while supporting sustainable customer outcomes.
• Support product innovation and risk‑based pricing through credit risk insights.
• Protect financial performance by minimising credit losses, impairments, and customer over‑indebtedness.
• Provide independent oversight of portfolio risk, returns, capital utilisation, and concentration exposures.
• Monitor portfolio alignment with risk appetite, identify emerging risks, and elevate concerns through governance forums.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and portfolio optimisation from a credit risk perspective.

PEOPLE LEADERSHIP

• Communicating job expectations, planning, monitoring, appraising and reviewing job contributions
• Manage team in respect of recruitment decisions, performance moderation, talent
• Management employee relations, warnings, resolving conflict, disciplinary action, recognition and retention of employees
• Build team succession plans for roles in own area and influence resource planning
• Ensure timeous, clear contracting and assessment of performance expectations in line with identified objectives and enable a learning and growth culture
• Implement talent management practices in line with HR policies and procedures
• Provide direction, coaching, and regular feedback to employees to improve performance and implement performance improvement initiatives

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

• Monitor and manage concentration risk and counterparty exposures within regulatory limits.
• Identify emerging risks through early warning indicators, stress testing, and scenario analysis.
• Assess and challenge the impact of credit risk on financial performance and reporting.
• Manage cash flows, FX approvals, and Group exposures within regulatory and facility limits.
• Escalate and report limit breaches to relevant stakeholders and regulators.
• Prepare and distribute accurate credit risk and regulatory reports.
• Monitor excess positions, FX cash flows, trade finance settlements, and covenant compliance.
• Investigate variances, maintain data integrity, and ensure timely risk reporting.
• Oversee LEX customer groupings, credit limits, and system accuracy.
• Review deal files, complete regulatory submissions (e.g., BA200), and report findings.
• Support audits, strengthen controls, and drive process improvements.
• Manage loan activation and pay‑away processes with accurate record keeping
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of data used in all risk and regulatory reporting.

LEARNING AND GROWTH

• Work with Learning & Development and Internal Communications teams to design and implement appropriate AML education, learning and communication for employees.
• Take ownership for driving own career development.
• Achievement of objectives/milestones set out in the development plan.
• Preparation and signing off of the development plan.
• Development of knowledge base and intellectually property

This position is advertised in line with our commitment to Employment Equity.