Managing Executive - Small, Medium Enterprise

Absa Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution is seeking a visionary Managing Executive to lead their SME Banking Cluster. This role focuses on driving growth, profitability, and value creation for micro, small, and medium enterprises. The successful candidate will develop and execute strategies, inspire teams, and champion innovative financial solutions. With a strong background in banking and leadership, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape. This position is based in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Banking / Financial Services with SME focus.
• Proven track record in strategic growth and operational excellence.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to inspire teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead SME Banking Cluster, driving growth and profitability.
• Develop sector-led banking strategy targeting micro, small, and medium businesses.
• Foster customer-centric culture and improve operational efficiency.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Leadership

Digital Dexterity

Customer-Centric Innovation

Analytical Decision Making

Education

Postgraduate Degrees in Finance or Business Management

Job description

Managing Executive - Small, Medium Enterprise

Join to apply for the Managing Executive - Small, Medium Enterprise role at Absa Group

Job Summary

We are seeking a visionary Managing Executive to lead our SME Banking Cluster, driving growth, profitability, and value creation across micro, small, and medium sub-segments.

This is a high-impact enterprise role critical to our ambition of achieving sector leadership across key markets.

The incumbent will report to the Chief Executive for Business Banking and will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our sector-specific strategy across Wholesale, Retail and Franchise banking – WRF (including the township economy), tourism, manufacturing, transport, and agriculture, positioning the bank as the partner of choice for entrepreneurs in these segments.

By providing innovative financial and non-financial solutions, leveraging digital-first banking experiences, smarter funding, and data-driven insights, the incumbent will enable businesses to scale while driving measurable growth for the bank. Success in this role requires strategic leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, and digital dexterity.

The Managing Executive will influence strategy, inspire high-performing teams, and ensure the business unit delivers on our enterprise ambitions, strengthening our position as a sector-leading banking partner for African entrepreneurs.

Key Accountabilities

Segment Strategy, Growth and P&L Ownership

Develop and execute a sector-led Enterprise and SME banking strategy, targeting micro, small, and medium businesses across WRF, tourism, manufacturing, transport, and agriculture.

Drive market share growth and profitability while enhancing client value across enterprise and SME segments.

Leverage data-driven insights, AI, and analytics to identify sector-specific growth opportunities and optimise client outcomes.

Foster an entrepreneurial, client-centric culture, enabling teams to deliver innovative financial and non-financial solutions.

Customer Value Proposition and Ecosystem Development

Drive and influence value proposition design tailored to the diverse SME lifecycle (start-up, grow, scale) and sector specific.

Build strategic partnerships and ecosystems to strengthen SME access to finance, markets, and business support tools.

Customer Experience and Relationship Excellence

Champion a customer-centric culture across all SME touchpoints (digital, banker-led and contact centre)

Promote operational efficiency, digital onboarding, self-service platforms, and process optimisation to support scalable enterprise operations.

Measure and continuously improve NPA, engagement and retention metrics.

Risk, Governance & Portfolio Quality

Set performance goals and metrics that measure impact on revenue, client base, product adoption, and market share

Ensure strong risk discipline across credit, operational, conduct, and reputational risks

Partner with credit and risk executive to maintain a healthy, diversified portfolio aligned to risk appetite.

Drive proactive credit management, early warning systems, and turnaround strategies to protect portfolio health

Ensure full alignment with group architecture, compliance frameworks, and business continuity standards.

Leadership, People & Execution Excellence

Lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary team covering sales, relationship management, product, and enablement

Foster collaboration across digital, product, and operations teams to deliver integrated solutions for SMEs.

See clear performance targets, drive accountability, and build future leadership capability within the segment.

Key Requirements

Extensive experience

• years) in Banking / Financial Services, with proven exposure to micro, small and medium enterprises across multiple sectors.

Sector expertise in :

• WRF, tourism, manufacturing, transport, and agriculture.

Proven track record in driving strategic growth, operational excellence, and value creation in enterprise or SME banking.

Digital dexterity, with experience leveraging AI, data analytics, and digital banking tools to improve client outcomes and operational efficiency.

Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire high-performing teams, influence stakeholders, and execute strategic objectives across markets.

Entrepreneurial mindset with a history of delivering client‑centric, sector-focused solutions.

Solid understanding of financial products and services for enterprise and SME clients, including lending, trade finance, cash management, and advisory services.

Relevant tertiary qualification (NQF 8) in Finance, Banking, Business Management, or related fields.

Demonstrated ability to drive operational improvements, process optimisation, and digital transformation within a banking environment.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Execution
• Leadership & People Development
• Sector Expertise & Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Digital Dexterity (AI, Data & Analytics)
• Customer-Centric Innovation
• Operational Excellence & Process Optimisation
• Analytical & Data-Driven Decision Making
• Ethical Leadership & Integrity

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-impact SME banking business across multiple markets.

You will play a central role in achieving sector leadership, shaping the entrepreneurial landscape, driving measurable growth, and delivering exceptional value to clients and the bank.

In this role, you will champion innovation, operational excellence, and sector-focused solutions, empowering SMEs and enterprises to become the sector leader and transform the economy.

Education

Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Banking, Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Business, Commerce and Management Studies, Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Business Management

Equal Opportunity Employer

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

In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of

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.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised.