Chief Quantitative Risk Officer at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) - Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Chief Quantitative Risk Officer

Position Number: 50076381
Location: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Position Grade:  PL3

The Complex

• The President, plans, supervises, and manages the business of the Bank Group. Under the direction of the Boards of Directors, the President conducts the business of the Bank and the African Development Fund and manages operations and activities in accordance with the Agreements establishing the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund.
• The President supervises several Departments and Units including the Office of the President; Independent Development Evaluation Department; Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department; Compliance Review and Mediation Unit; Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board; Administrative Tribunal; Office of the Auditor General; Group Risk Management Directorate; General Counsel and Legal Services Department; Communication and External Relations Department; Staff Integrity and Ethics Office and Office of the Secretary General & General Secretariat.

The Hiring Department

• The Risk Management Department (PGRF) develops policies and guidelines, methodologies, and systems relating to credit risk assessment, market risk, and operational risk, and as well as ensures internal consistency of all of the Bank’s risk management policies and guidelines, including those initiated and developed by other departments.
• The department’s main mandate is to safeguard the Bank’s financial integrity and consolidate all core-risk management activities of the Bank in order to exercise comprehensive oversight over the Bank’s risk exposure. In delivering its mission, PGRF focuses largely on promoting the Bank Group’s strategic goals within a defined risk tolerance framework.

The Position

• The overall purpose of the Chief Quantitative Risk Officer is to identify and monitor the credit risk and ensure the integrity of financial risk models and the reasonableness of assumptions used.
• The job holder ensures compliance with the capital adequacy policy and International Financial Reporting Standards requirements, optimizes the region lending program regarding the concentration risk and formulates, reviews and updates policies, guidelines and procedures relating to the credit risk management and capital adequacy.

Key Functions
Under the supervision and guidance of the Market & Sovereign Risk, Division Manager (PGRF.3), the Chief Quantitative Risk Officer will:

• Lead the development and updating of policies and guidelines, including procedures and processes relating to the bank’s capital adequacy.
• Lead the calibration of the Bank’s risk parameters: Model Probabilities of Default, Loss Given Defaults, calculate expected losses of the portfolio, and perform correlation analysis.
• Lead review, reports, and ensures compliance of the Bank with the Capital Adequacy framework and accounting rules (i.e., International Financial Reporting Standards 9).
• Lead the periodic validation of risk rating models.
• Lead the development and upgrading of risk identification and assessment methodologies, including appropriate assessment, monitoring, and management tools and systems.
• Manage prudential limits and concentration risk and ensure compliance with risk appetite limits.
• Lead the analysis of the lending scenario and assess the impact on the Bank’s prudential ratios as well as on the countries’ exposure limits.
• Lead data analysis and stress testing results.
• Lead the region country working groups and advise on the lending headroom.
• Participate in the sovereign and non-sovereign credit risk assessment.
• Monitor and participate in the different working groups on the optimization of the Bank’s balance sheet (e.g., Exposure Exchange Agreement).
• Discuss issues pertaining to the Bank’s ratings with rating agencies.
• Participate in the Global Emerging Market consortium.
• Maintain a close relationship with key partners, including the Bretton Woods Institutions, to review the Bank Group's credit management policies and guidelines.

Competencies (Skills, Experience, and Knowledge)

• Holds a Master’s Degree in Risk Management, Financial Engineering, Quantitative Finance, Applied Finance, or a related field.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience related to financial modeling. Strong knowledge of credit risk models as well as capital adequacy standards and International Financial Reporting Standards is required as well as strong quantitative and analytical skills. Experience with an Multi Development Bank (MDB) with an emphasis on quantitative risk is an advantage.
• Very Strong knowledge of credit risk models, Capital Adequacy requirements, balance sheet optimization transactions, and rating agencies models
• Problem-solving: Applies business knowledge to the resolution of problems and identifies solutions to the benefit of the client (internal and external) and the organization
• Communication: Provide clear and concise oral and written communication; present oral information with clarity and appropriate style and adapts language and style to suit the requirements of a particular audience.
• Operational effectiveness: The Commitment to ensure that full use is made of the systems, procedures, and culture within the organization in order to deliver the required results
• Innovation & Creativity: The commitment to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches to activities in order to enhance performance and create added benefits to the Bank and its clients.
• Teamwork & Relationships: Work with others to maximize the effectiveness of the team as a whole, and share the knowledge and workload. Develop strong working relationships with colleagues and contribute to the creation of a positive team environment
• Good knowledge of credit risk management techniques and sophisticated risk mitigation products;
• High-level professional knowledge of qualitative and quantitative credit portfolio management techniques, structured credit instruments, and credit risk derivatives.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English and French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other. Fluency in the national language(s) of the Region may be an added advantage depending on the Region.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications. Knowledge of SAP is an asset.

Application Closing Date
9th August, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This position is classified international status and attracts international terms and conditions of employment.
• Should you encounter technical difficulties in submitting your application, please send an email with a precise description of the issue and/or a screenshot showing the problem to: HR Direct [email protected]