Manager, Client Relations, Southern Africa

About the role

Afreximbank is recruiting a Manager, Client Relations, Southern Africa, reporting to the Regional Chief Operating Officer. The role helps the Bank expand and diversify African trade and develop opportunities in trade projects and export development finance at the regional level. It focuses on building deep relationships with corporate customers and government officials, managing an extensive portfolio and adding prospective clients, while managing risk within the portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Implement client coverage and regional service coverage through proactive, individualized plans developed with product teams
• Provide timely responses to client inquiries and work with deal team members to ensure timely transaction processing
• Generate bankable leads, resolve customer queries within agreed authority and maintain strong knowledge of client portfolios and products
• Produce call reports and file notes, plan sales activities and undertake commercial negotiations and new business pitches
• Prepare new business pre-assessment memos and credit proposals and recommend them to the Regional Manager and Director, Client Relations
• Represent the Bank in high-level meetings and presentations, and assist in preparing the annual Regional Strategic and Marketing Plans
• Manage risk within the portfolio and perform other duties assigned by Senior Management

Required profile

• Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in Business Administration, Banking, Finance or another relevant field, or a recognized postgraduate professional qualification in Banking
• At least 8 years of experience with a leading financial services organisation
• Demonstrated leadership, including managing human resources, and experience closing deals related to trade finance
• Ability to communicate in a culturally diverse setting and interact with senior officials of banks, corporates and governments
• Passion for the socio-economic empowerment of African countries and support for Afreximbank's mandate

Required skills

• Familiarity with trade finance products such as syndication, co-financing, club deals, letters of credit, factoring, forfaiting, structured trade finance, carbon financing and project-related financing
• Good knowledge of banking practices in Africa
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English and Portuguese; French and Arabic are an advantage