Specialist Enterprise Development (Business Development Support)

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

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Business Support and Advisory Services:

• Design, Co-ordinate and  Oversee  ED  Value Proposition and Execution strategies  to support opportunities for SMMEs (for example Development programmes   strategic events, and conferences). These should be implemented in line with the Enterprise Development strategy, requirements, and agreements with external parties (for example preferred provider training vendors).
• Oversee the  identification , onboarding and execution of Service Providers for Enterprise Development in collaboration with the group procurement team
• End to End programme Management  including Facilitation with more emphasis  on Monitoring and Evaluation tools and metrics  on impact and Return on Investment b
• Research develop and maintain an information library of market intelligence (information should include but not limited to sectoral magazines, brochures, electronic resources, and pamphlets) in different sectors and make available to  internal stakeholders and  businesses as and when the need arises .
• Drafting detailed thought leadership articles , reports of the research inclusive of analysed quantitative and qualitative data
• Consolidate high level business performance deck based on business units performance with clear measurable indicators
• Identify  and  Co-ordinate   Strategic relationships for partnerships  and access to market opportunities that would assist the bank with Return on Investment in line with the partnership  for funding and other business resources e.g. both private and public sector institutions  (e.g., SARS, SEDA, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and Department of Trade and industry). 
• Facilitate and coordinate all relevant interna; stakeholders inputs on initiatives and campaigns i.e. legal, compliance, marketing , communication
• Provide informed  recommendations to enable objective decision making. The information must be clear and direct to enable business to make the right decisions specifically.
• Participate in panel discussions and talks on Enterprise Development , if and when the need arises
• Engage with stakeholders (for example Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), South African Revenue Services (SARS) etc.) to ensure that Enterprise Development (ED) activities are in line with the National emerging SMME agenda and in line with the Absa Enterprise Development Business strategy.

• Contribute to the strategic planning and Execution of the ED & Alternative lending plan and implement customer education interventions in line with the (ED) strategy. These interventions include, but are not limited to, workshops, roadshows, business opportunity days, presentations, stakeholder networking sessions and Small Business week.
• Identify support requirements to meet the different sectoral needs (e.g., transport sector, retail sector, mining sector etc.). Engage Business
• Development Support (BDS) to plan and implement interventions to address or meet sectoral needs.
• BDS Budget management against activities and ensuring the right supporting documents are received
• Coordinate Audit requirements for all Business Development Support interventions nationally and ensuring that pass rate is maintained
• Provide feedback by monthly written report to stakeholders (Small Business, National and Provincial Government) on progression of ED activities (i.e., number of clients contacted, types of businesses started, and interventions administered).

Financial and Value Management:

• Create awareness of the ED in internal and external communities   with high emerging market saturation by liaising with local authorise to identify opportunities, giving presentations, and other marketing strategies and encourage entrepreneurs to use services provided by the BDS budget e.g., workshops, training, conferences, library facilities and business advisory services). 
• Explore and initiate new business opportunities and relationships within the SMME & Commercial arena, for example with SEFA, Provincial and National Government and Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and create partnerships that can grow Absa Enterprise Development Business portfolio substantially through new customer acquisition and the uptake of financial products and account uptake. • Translate business lead information into proposals and pass these on to business bankers. Ensure that leads via Customer 1 are actioned effectively and timeously by following up on service level agreements agreed upon with the ED and Business. 
• Promote ED value proposition and the uptake of both asset products and transactional accounts to customers by providing product information and linking clients with Area Coverage Managers and Bankers within the client’s business area. These products include but are not limited to transactional accounts, credit facilities, investment accounts and guarantee funds. 
• Promote and market Absa Business value-add products and electronic banking solutions (i.e., internet banking, cell phone banking and telephone banking) to clients within the emerging market segment

Operations and Compliance:

• Ensure compliance to basic requirements of BBBEE and EEA legislation 
• Ensure that the business is always compliant with audit, control, regulatory requirements by adhering to all policies and procedures 
• Engage when required with Audit teams to agree on scope and audit findings and provide the auditors with the required documentation. 
• Manage SLA agreements with relevant stakeholders such as training providers, vendors, and suppliers. 
• Proactively keep up to date with relevant knowledge, legislation, operations, and developments in the financial sector 
• Ensure that all required documentation ac Additional Job Description

Education

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