Manager – Collections Strategy Optimisation, Debt Sale

Absa Group

Manager leading collections strategy and optimizing debt sales at Absa. Driving recoveries through innovative strategies, team collaboration, and data-driven insights.

Posted 4/26/2026full-timeJohannesburg • 🇿🇦 South AfricaSeniorLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and optimize the end to end debt sale debt sales strategy across the non-performing loans (NPL) lifecycle
Maximize recoveries through structured portfolio sales, data driven valuations and effective management with external debt buyers
Ensure robust governance, pricing discipline and alignment to the Bank’s credit risk and capital management objectives
Design and enhance collections and recoveries strategies through risk segmentation, SAS‑based data analytics, and strategy testing
Optimize collections ROI through SAS‑driven delinquent account classification and treatment strategies
Monitor and improve collections performance against STP and MTP budget targets using SAS‑enabled performance analytics
Develop and execute the annual debt sales strategy across unsecured portfolios (Card, PL and TxD)
Drive innovative debt sale strategies (e.g. spot sale, forward flow, activate to buy etc)
Align debt sale timing with macroeconomic conditions and portfolio performance
Partner with Finance to assess and recommend SAS‑supported debt sale methodologies, pricing, and write‑off strategies
Provide analytical and SAS‑based input into decisions on what debt to sell versus retain
Design segmentation strategies to identify optimal pools for sale
Define eligibility criteria (eg Balance, legal status, payment behaviour/recency etc)
Ensure portfolio packaging enhances competitiveness and buyer appetite
Lead portfolio valuation methodologies (NPV modelling, recovery curves, benchmarking)
Set reserve prices and pricing strategies to maximize proceeds
Build and manage relationships with local and international debt buyers
Ensure all sales comply with legal, regulatory, and internal governance frameworks
Manage reputation risk, especially customer treatment post the sale
Co-ordinate with Risk, Collections Ops, Finance, IT and Legal teams
Track and Report on Key KPI’s: Recovery uplift vs internal collections, Sale proceeds vs book value, ROI on debt sale strategy
Drive continuous improvement in recovery optimization.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Relevant B‑degree (NQF Level 7)
7+ years experience in Collections and/or Retail Credit Risk
Minimum 3 years people‑management experience
Strong financial modelling and valuation expertise
Proven debt sale and experience
Unsecured lending portfolios experience
Strong exposure to credit risk models and big data analytics
Experience developing data‑driven strategies
Data analytics capability (SAS advantageous)
Experience with dialler systems and strategy management tools (e.g. TRIAD)
Strong communication and change‑implementation capability
Strategic thinking and commercial acumen
Strong negotiation and influencing skills.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
401(k) matching
Flexible work hours
Paid time off
Professional development opportunities

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

data analyticsfinancial modellingvaluation expertisedebt salecredit risk modelsbig data analyticscollections strategyportfolio valuation methodologiesSASTRIAD

Soft Skills

people managementcommunicationstrategic thinkingcommercial acumennegotiationinfluencingchange implementationrelationship managementgovernancecontinuous improvement

Certifications

Relevant B-degree (NQF Level 7)