Job Description

Who are we?
Sanlam Investment Group
The Sanlam Investment Group is uniquely equipped and positioned to deliver on its purpose of empowering generations to be financially confident, secure and prosperous. Through our vast in-house expertise and strategic partner networks, we can access all asset classes across the globe, private and public, actively and passively managed, to develop investment solutions that are in our clients' best interests and have a positive impact on society. Backed by the Sanlam Group's balance sheet, the Sanlam Investment Group has a true competitive advantage in its ability to invest alongside clients, particularly in private markets where impact investing drives the agenda.
The Sanlam Investment Group is one of the largest, most diversified financial services and investment firms in Southern Africa with assets under management and administration of more than R2 trillion. It is a B-BBEE level 1 contributor and one of the largest black-empowered asset managers on the African continent.
Sanlam Alternative Investments (SAI)
The purpose Sanlam Alternative Investments (SAI) business is to help build the African continent and make a real sustainable difference in the emerging economies in which we operate in, aligning to the Sanlam Group's mission of financial inclusion. The SAI business has a broad range of capabilities that include Private Equity, Specialised Finance, Property, Infrastructure and Partnerships. Sanlam is the biggest non-banking financial institution on the continent, operating in Africa for over 100 years.
What will you do?
Analyse credit related data to evaluate credit worthiness and financial risk of corporates operating on the African continent., within restricted limits. This involves analyzing financial statements, credit reports, industry trends, and market research reports as part of the credit approval process. The analyst will work closely with the SAI Country analyst in executing their role. The analyst would have access to contacts within the banks, trade and credit associations, research providers, external credit ratings agencies, salespeople and others to obtain credit information. The credit analysis process also involves studying industry-specific economic trends or branch of industry to predict creditworthiness. The analyst will need to prepare and present credit applications, to Credit committees or approval bodies within SAI. The credit analyst role also includes maintaining and reviewing a database of customer credit histories. Consults with management to assist in corporate planning.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Responsible for the credit risk management of a portfolio of counterparty exposures: identifying, measuring, monitoring and managing credit risk for all product types on a single obligor, group and portfolio basis:

• Analyze the creditworthiness of Corporates who conduct business on the African continent.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the relevant credit markets, industry trends, and economic conditions.
• Consult with external research analysts focused on the macroeconomic environment on the African continent in the respective countries.
• Produce research and impart knowledge to the broader business and credit committees on developments in the portfolio.
• Identification of transactions and business specific risk and introduction of risk mitigation factors on new transactions.
• Perform comparative analysis amongst industry peers to assess a proposed counterpart's position relative to its industry peers.
• Annual/ bi-annual/ quarterly assessment of credit risk per counterparty in the portfolio.
• Financial analysis and credit ratings to be accurate and updated as and when new information becomes available, using the suite of models used by SAI.
• Document analysis in the standard credit application format - information should be accurate, complete, comprehensive and of good quality.
• Critically and independently making recommendations to the relevant committees.
• Close consultation with Credit Portfolio Management ("CPM") to enable CPM to calculate accurate Economic Capital and Risk-adjusted return statistics.
• Ongoing monitoring of transactional and credit risk aspects in the portfolio.
• Always ensure compliance with the Credit Risk Strategy and Policy.

Assist various Risk Departments with the implementation of new transactions:

• Assist Compliance department where necessary with relevant information related to new account opening procedures.
• Assist the Legal department where necessary with the finalization of legal documentation.
• Assist the Legal Treasury Advisor with information pertaining to Facility Agreements and CSA documentation.

Other:

• Ongoing monitoring of limits and exposures in the portfolio.
• Assistance in resolving breaches.
• Interaction with front office on debt funding initiatives.
• Maintain credit files (electronic format) of counterparts, in good order.
• Take responsibility for reporting requirements as allocated from time to time.

Qualification and Experience

• Commerce Degree with minimum of 5 - 8 years of corporate credit analysis experience.
• Post Graduate Qualifications, CFA, CA(SA), FRM and or equivalent.
• Previous exposure to credit processes and procedures essential.
• Experience of corporate credit analysis of corporate operating on the African continent (ex-South Africa) beneficial.
• Analytical and numerical skills: ability to analyse financial statements and quantify financial risks.
• Ability to produce written reports to highlight financial matters of importance
• Ability to present credit applications, with confidence, to the Sub-Credit or similar committees
• General knowledge of business, industry and the macroeconomic environment and financial markets.
• Must be willing to travel for business on the African continent as and when required.
• Experience of commercial law principles and ability to assist with the documentary process (with legal assistance)
• Good presentation skills
• Strong organising and planning abilities
• Computer literacy: proficiency in Word and Excel
• Ability to interface seamlessly with other team members, both of credit as well as the front office teams

Knowledge and Skills
Competitor analysis
Rank companies within industry based on credit rating
Written reports for lending decisions
Recommendations and presentation of results
Financial Modelling
Personal Attributes
Manages complexity - Contributing through others
Decision quality - Contributing through others
Financial acumen - Contributing through others
Manages conflict - Contributing through others
Build a successful career with us
We're all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future - your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters - Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office - the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.
Core Competencies
Cultivates innovation - Contributing through others
Customer focus - Contributing through others
Drives results - Contributing through others
Collaborates - Contributing through others
Being resilient - Contributing through others
Turnaround time
The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers.
Our commitment to transformation
The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensure a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.