Specialist Legal Recoveries

Absa Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A major local bank in South Africa seeks a Specialist in Legal Recoveries to manage and optimize debt recoveries while ensuring compliance and risk management. This role involves collaborating with internal teams and external vendors to drive efficiency in recoveries strategies. The ideal candidate will have a strong legal background and experience in stakeholder management. This position requires a Bachelor Honours Degree in Business, Commerce, or Law, offering a competitive salary and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of recoveries strategies critical for the role.
• Ability to manage and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in monitoring budgets and resolving variances.

Responsibilities

• Implement strategies to maximize recoveries and achieve operational targets.
• Monitor high exposure clients and conduct relevant meetings.
• Ensure adherence to governance, processes, and audit requirements.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Risk Mitigation

Statistical Analysis

Communication

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor Honours Degree: Business, Commerce and Management Studies

Bachelor Honours Degree: Law

Job description

Overview

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.

Job Summary

The Specialist Legal Recoveries On and Off Balance Sheet needs to have a deep understanding, identify, manage/mitigate risks and risk events (incidents) relevant to the role. The specialist must have ability to manage and collaborate effectively with external services providers as well as internal stakeholders.

The specialist must be able to apply recoveries strategies that are cost effective and efficient in collection of outstanding bad debt exposure within the Absa Business Banking portfolio.

Job Description

Accountability: Business Management

• Manage the various functions within Legal Recoveries to maximize cost effective recoveries including the following:
• Implement and drive strategies to maximize recoveries to achieve operational targets including prioritization and work schedules.
• Minimize costs through effective use of resources or through selection, negotiation with and direction of appropriate internal and external suppliers.
• Oversee and manage the flow of relevant information to best inform stakeholders as to the status of the portfolio or individual clients within the portfolio.
• Rigorously monitor expenditure against approved budgets and put measures in place to address variances.
• Conduct basic statistical analysis to track performance variances and determine root causes. Make recommendations for productivity or process enhancements to process owners.
• Rigorously monitor high exposure clients and conduct meetings with relevant parties to maximize recoveries.
• Ensure a high level of professionalism in all business engagements.
• Take ownership and be solution oriented in dealing with customer requests or queries.
• Ensure effective feedback processes are undertaken to resolve and complete within agreed timelines.
• Escalate any matters that require management attention.

Accountability: People Management Team assistance & Support

• Ensure continuity in support by arranging a back-up in time of absence as well as provide support to other areas (as approved by management).
• Plan and manage direct line manager(s) and team (where applicable) diaries to support planning, business processes and effective time management.
• Prepare for line management meeting attendance in ensuring respective information/documentation (e.g. presentation, pre-reading material) is collated timeously and appropriately.
• Work closely with team members and peers to support business continuity and delivery of a high-performance culture.
• Distribute relevant communication/information impacting team with required follow-up to ensure compliance and meeting of deadlines (e.g. mandatory compliance training, PDs, etc.).
• Record and relay messages for line management and team in their absence.
• Understand the context of business area to provide effective support to stakeholder areas.
• Ensure that the resources and skills within Legal Recoveries are appropriate and comply with the requirements of the business area.
• Develop, mentor and train members of the team, driving performance, efficiency and career development.
• Ensure adherence to Absa values.

Accountability: Stakeholder Management

• Convene meetings with vendors to address performance issues.
• Convene meetings with internal stakeholders to address areas for improvement.
• Attend performance meetings with stakeholders, Alliance & JV partners.
• Ensure a high standard of business and professional etiquette is applied when engaging with stakeholders (e.g. written and verbal communication).
• Build and maintain an effective network across organizational disciplines to support business navigation, stakeholder management, communication and problem solving.
• Work closely with team in and out of immediate area to support and leverage off stakeholder areas and drive business performance.
• Build and maintain internal and external networks and relationships to enhance and support business collaboration and opportunities.

Accountability: Risk Management

• Implement risk controls as identified from the Risk Control Assessment register.
• Manage risk control items.
• Ensure that reputational risks associated with 3rd party relationships are mitigated through effective Service Level Agreements and the monitoring thereof.

Accountability: Governance

• Ensure adherence to mandates.
• Ensure adherence to documented standards.
• Ensure adherence to processes and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with audit requirements.

Education

Bachelor Honours Degree: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required), Bachelor Honours Degree: Law (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, 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