Head: Commercial Asset Finance

About the role

Absa Business Banking is looking for a Head of Commercial Asset Finance to shape the next phase of its lending products business. You will set the strategic direction, lead commercial performance and build financing propositions that help businesses acquire productive assets, taking end-to-end accountability for the portfolio's strategy, profitability and risk-adjusted growth.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Commercial Asset Finance strategy and own portfolio performance across revenue, profitability, pricing, returns, capital utilisation and sustainable balance sheet growth
• Translate business priorities into commercial plans, identify market and customer opportunities and work with Finance, Credit and Risk on risk-adjusted returns
• Lead the development and lifecycle of customer-led propositions, driving product innovation and strengthening origination and distribution through Business Banking teams, dealers, suppliers, manufacturers and OEMs
• Own the people, processes, data and technology behind the portfolio, ensuring governance, risk and control standards are maintained
• Build and lead a high-performing function, attract and develop specialist and leadership talent, and strengthen succession pipelines

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent NQF Level 8 qualification in Commerce, Finance, Business, Economics or a related discipline
• Significant senior leadership experience in Commercial Asset Finance, vehicle and asset finance, equipment finance or a closely related commercial banking environment
• Demonstrated accountability for a material commercial portfolio, product P&L or business unit
• Proven experience leading senior and specialist teams
• Advantageous: postgraduate qualification, experience in asset-intensive sectors (agriculture, transport and logistics, manufacturing, commercial vehicles, equipment or yellow goods), established relationships across customer, dealer, supplier and OEM ecosystems, and experience leading product, digital or operating-model transformation

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of commercial lending, asset-finance origination, pricing, credit, deal structuring and portfolio management
• Experience in commercial strategy, product leadership, business growth and executive stakeholder management