Credit Risk Analyst: Home Loans

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 Step into a highly analytical role where your insights directly influence Home Loans acquisition strategies and portfolio performance. As a Credit Risk Analyst (AVP), you will leverage large and complex datasets to generate actionable credit risk insights, identify emerging trends, optimise customer acquisition strategies, and support data-driven decision-making across the Home Loans business. This role sits at the intersection of credit risk, advanced analytics, and strategy development, requiring strong SAS programming and quantitative analysis capabilities. You will be responsible for transforming data into meaningful insights, developing and monitoring risk strategies, producing management information and performance reporting, conducting deep-dive portfolio analyses, and evaluating the impact of strategy changes across the customer lifecycle. Working closely with stakeholders across Risk, Sales, Finance, Collections, Product and Technology, you will use analytics to influence key business decisions, improve portfolio outcomes, and ensure the Home Loans portfolio remains aligned to risk appetite and regulatory requirements. This opportunity is ideal for a curious, data-driven professional who enjoys solving complex business problems through analytics while building expertise in credit risk, strategy optimisation, and portfolio management. Job Description What You'll Bring A passion for using data and analytics to solve complex business and credit risk challenges. Strong SAS programming skills with the ability to manipulate, interrogate and analyse large and complex datasets. Experience translating data into actionable insights that influence credit acquisition strategies and portfolio performance. A solid understanding of credit risk principles, risk metrics and retail lending environments. The ability to identify emerging trends, customer behaviours and portfolio risks through advanced analytical techniques. Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence decisions across Risk, Sales, Finance, Collections, Product and Technology teams. Experience producing executive-level reporting, management information and performance insights with meaningful commentary and recommendations. The ability to communicate complex technical findings in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences. Exposure to strategy implementation, user acceptance testing (UAT), post-implementation monitoring and continuous optimisation. A proactive and curious mindset, with a desire to challenge existing approaches and drive data-led improvements. Key Accountabilities Credit Risk Analytics & Strategy Optimisation Develop, enhance and optimise Home Loans acquisition strategies through advanced data analysis and risk analytics. Analyse large and complex datasets to identify performance trends, portfolio opportunities and emerging credit risks. Use data-driven insights to support customer acquisition, portfolio growth and risk management objectives. Evaluate strategy performance and recommend improvements based on quantitative analysis and business outcomes. Monitor the impact of strategy changes and provide recommendations for optimisation. Portfolio Performance & Risk Insights Conduct detailed portfolio analytics to understand customer behaviour, risk trends and portfolio movements. Investigate anomalies, emerging risks and performance drivers to support proactive decision-making. Deliver meaningful insights that assist management in balancing growth, profitability and risk appetite objectives. Develop risk-based performance metrics and monitoring frameworks that enhance portfolio oversight. Management Information & Reporting Produce high-quality management information, dashboards and analytical reporting that support strategic and operational decision-making. Generate insightful commentary and recommendations based on portfolio performance and risk trends. Present findings to stakeholders and senior management through data storytelling and visual analytics. Drive continuous improvement of reporting processes, methodologies and analytical outputs. Stakeholder Collaboration Partner with Risk, Sales, Collections, Finance, Product and Technology teams to deliver data-driven business solutions. Support strategic discussions by providing robust analysis and evidence-based recommendations. Translate business requirements into analytical solutions that support portfolio performance and risk management objectives. Build strong relationships across the business and act as a trusted analytics partner. Strategy Implementation & Governance Support the implementation of new acquisition strategies, scorecards and policy changes. Conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and validate strategy outcomes before deployment. Monitor post-implementation performance and ensure expected business outcomes are achieved. Ensure all strategies, analytics and reporting comply with internal governance standards and regulatory requirements. Why Join This Team? This role offers a unique opportunity to combine advanced analytics, credit risk, business strategy and stakeholder engagement within one of the bank's most important portfolios. You will play a key role in shaping customer acquisition strategies, influencing business decisions, and driving portfolio performance through data and insights. Your work will have direct visibility across senior leadership, providing an excellent platform to further develop your career within Credit Risk and Analytics. Education Bachelor Honours Degree: Actuarial Science, Bachelor Honours Degree: Applied Mathematics, Bachelor Honours Degree: BMI - Business Management and Informatics, Bachelor Honours Degree: Statistics 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