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Head of Markets Operations

Absa Group

Office

Absa Prime Plaza (BW), Botswana

Full Time

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.

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Job Summary

Responsible for directing and managing all Markets operational and governance requirements relating to business management, risk and control, and post trade service activities

Job Description

Accountability:  Operational enablement of Business Strategies, Planning & Reporting [Markets] (25%)

  • Support the Markets business in operationalising their business strategy in line with broader pan-African Global Markets business strategy, whilst considering the local operating and control environment;
  • Lead work streams where specific expertise relating to operations, governance, risk and controls can be utilised in support of the business planning activities in the assigned;
  • Monitor the execution of strategic initiatives ensuring alignment between the timing of strategic initiative deliverables and budget commitments;
  • Work with the Markets business, operating model leads and finance teams to coordinate and collate monthly/quarterly strategic reports including strategic business reviews ensuring timely high-quality submissions;
  • Coordinate resolution of operational and technical issues on behalf of the Markets business, so as to minimise any impact to Markets sales and trading activities;
  • Assist Markets business to evaluate and coordinate responses to ad hoc information requests from central teams; and
  • Assist the Markets business in performing other appropriate duties relating to operations, governance, risk and control, as required for the effective operation of the Markets business.

Accountability: Product governance and operational improvements [Markets] (10%)

  • Drive and co-ordinate New and Amend Product Approvals in conjunction with the business ensuring that all day 1 operational processes have been implemented prior to trading, and that day 2 conditions are monitored to closure;
  • Create and sustain an optimal Business Improvement climate to optimise performance via continuous provision of business insights and recommendations;
  • Work with In Country and Central support teams to identify, prioritise and implement operational improvement initiatives; and
  • Ensure all processes are documented/updated and ensure controls have been updated to reflect any new controls introduced as a result of any new or amended process/procedure.

Accountability: Operational service execution excellence [All businesses supported] (40%)

  • Ensure that all post trade (and related pre-trade) service activities are executed in an accurate, timely and complete manner in support of all trading businesses supported. Relevant pre and post trade service activities include:
    • External account management (cash and custody)
    • New and amended product approval
    • Client and account setup and maintenance
    • Client reference data setup and maintenance
    • Trade and life-cycle event affirmation, confirmation and settlement
    • Fee and tax operations
    • Client asset servicing
    • Secure custody of source document and securities/collateral
    • Cash, securities/stock and other reconciliations
    • Related third party payments
  • Actively participate in execution of trade service activities as a Subject Matter Expert and / or in a supervisory capacity;
  • Ensure teams under management are aware of their responsibilities and are appropriately trained; and
  • Take accountability for all operational losses, cooperate in root cause analysis and implement resulting actions.

Accountability: First Line of Defence (1LOD) Governance, Risk and Control [Markets] (20%)

  • Support the Markets business in maintaining an efficient and effective 1LOD control environment, by partnering with the three lines of defence and other stakeholders (In Country and Centrally) to implement and continually enhance the standardised Global Markets control framework;
  • Escalate any non-compliance with policies, legislation and regulations ensuring that teams complete all mandatory training and attestations in timely manner;
  • Coordinate execution of Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA), Critical Process Assessments (CPAs) and other such assessments including conformance testing in line with Enterprise Risk Management Framework (EMRF) and the Operational Risk Management Methodology;
  • Work with risk and compliance functions to prepare for Internal and External Audits, known issues have been raised with action plans and all observations are remediated within agreed timelines;
  • Management & Reporting of the overall Markets Management Control Assessment (MCA) & Control Environment (CE);
  • Embedment and roll out of the Conduct Risk Framework across Global Markets;
  • Compilation of the Conduct Material Risk Assessment (CMRA) and continuous tracking of actions;
  • Compilation of the Quarterly Conduct Risk Reporting in line with the Conduct and Reputational Risk Frameworks;
  • Ensure that clarity on supervisory ownership is provided regarding the Supervisory Framework engagement responsibilities;
  • Coordinate relevant regulator requests;
  • Work closely with Global Supervisory/ Compliance/ legal to understand pending regulations and determine impact on supervisors;
  • Establish, maintain and improve the governance framework and reporting mechanism to ensure optimal functioning of the regulatory initiatives with appropriate oversight;
  • Consider engagement reports obtained from business and translate them into less complex executive summaries to be discussed at the Supervisory meetings; and
  • Prepare, distribute and present business unit risk and control analysis to the relevant Management Committees.

Accountability:  Recruit and develop top talent [reporting team] (5%)

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with In Country and Centre business and infrastructure units;
  • Build and develop a team that enables that job holder to execute their role effectively;
  • Perform People Management functions including but not limited to:
    • workforce & recruitment demand planning
    • recruitment
    • Talent management & succession planning
    • Mentoring and coaching
    • Management of discipline & grievances
    • Performance development
    • Reward & recognition management
    • Training and development
    • Establish and maintain a succession plan for the team.
  • Ensure teams & directs develop SMART objectives that develop the individuals & are in line with business objectives and organisational values;
  • Drive and monitor all goals and objectives;
  • Develop & retain top talent through mobility & training programmes; and
  • Lead by example.

Education and Experience Required

  • A bachelor’s degree
  • Min 6 years relevant professional experience
  • 4 years management experience

Knowledge & Skills: (Maximum of 6)

  • Treasury/Markets banking product knowledge
  • Business Risk and Control experience

Competencies: (Maximum of 8 competencies)

  • Deciding and initiating action
  • Learning and researching
  • Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
  • Relating and networking
  • Adapting and responding to change
  • Persuading and influencing
  • Creating and innovating
  • Planning and organising

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Head of Markets Operations

Office

Absa Prime Plaza (BW), Botswana

Full Time

August 25, 2025

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Absa Group