Islamic Banking Regional Specialist at Absa · Polokwane

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 The Islamic Banking Regional Specialist is responsible for growing Absa’s Islamic Banking customer base in the region against targets. The role focuses on delivering support on Islamic Banking solutions across Retail, Business Banking, and Corporate clients, ensuring full adherence to Absa’s Shari’ah governance framework and regulatory requirements. The incumbent will work closely with internal Absa stakeholders in region such as, but not limited to Channel, Product, Segment, Risk, & Islamic Banking Head Office to support disciplined growth in the region.

Job Description

• Grow Islamic Banking client base across segments
• Act as a trusted support to clients on Islamic Banking solutions, structures, and value propositions.
• Drive acquisition of new Islamic Banking clients through proactive pipeline management, referrals, and targeted market engagement.
• Maintain high standards of client service, responsiveness, and execution discipline.
• Work closely with credit, risk & operations to ensure products are executed efficiently and compliantly.
• Support client education and awareness on Islamic Banking principles and offerings.
• Act as the first line of defence for Shari’ah compliance in all client engagements in your region.
• Ensure that no Islamic Banking product is marketed, structured, or executed without the appropriate Shari’ah approval in your region.
• Identify, manage, and escalate potential Shari’ah, conduct, credit, or reputational risks timeously.
• Partner with business units (Personal, Business Banking, and Corporate Banking) to embed Islamic Banking within mainstream client coverage.
• Work in alignment with the Absa Islamic Banking commercialization strategy to ensure alignment to Group strategy, product standards, Shari’ah governance, and balance sheet objectives.
• Collaborate with Group functions including Segments, Product, Credit, Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Operations to support end-to-end deal execution.
• Engage relevant community, industry, and institutional stakeholders to strengthen Absa’s Islamic Banking presence in the region
• Achieve agreed financial and non-financial targets, including transactional customer growth, asset growth, deposit mobilization, and revenue.
• Maintain accurate pipeline, portfolio, and performance reporting.
• Provide market insights and feedback to support clients & stakeholders in the region
• Ensure full compliance with Absa policies, regulatory requirements, and the Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate risks relevant to the role, including Shari’ah, credit, conduct, AML, and reputational risk.
• Ensure appropriate client due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and documentation standards are maintained.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Grade 12
• Advanced diploma’s/certifications in Banking

Preferred Qualifications

• Islamic Finance qualification (e.g. IFQ, CIFP, AAOIFI-aligned certification)
• Bachelor’s degree in commerce

Experience

• 3-5 Sales experience in a banking environment
• Demonstrable exposure to Islamic Banking or Islamic finance products (required).
• A good understanding of credit processes, risk management, and banking products (required)

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

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