Head - Treasury Operations at Equity Bank Kenya

Job Purpose

Provide oversight / Overall supervision and monitoring of the processes in the Treasury Operations department in order to ensure that all transactions are handled promptly and efficiently and in compliance with the banks procedures and controls and applicable laws and regulations set by CBK, KBA, KRA and other regulatory bodies

Effective management and development of staff

Main Accountabilities 

Accountability 1 -  Operational efficiency

• Monitor submission of reconciliations & issues arising, Review of reconciliations and handling of complicated outstanding reconciliation entries with the Managers/ HODs
• Monitor statutory reports submissions & issues arising
• Monitor that deals and other transactions are within the set parameters through review of exception reports
• Follow up on incorrect/ delayed/ non-settlement of transactions.
• Monitor/ track that requests received are actioned, follow up and handling any issues arising
• Correspondent Banks
  • Assist with Relationship management – Group
  • Opening of correspondent accounts – Group
  • Handling of Requests for Information (RFIs) from Correspondent Banks
  • Provision of AML/ Due diligence requirements to the correspondent banks
  • Following up on AML/ Due diligence requirements to the correspondent banks
  • Handling of queries related to the correspondent bank accounts – Group
  • Handling of any issues arising on the correspondent bank accounts- Group
  • RMA exchange - Group
  • Follow up on funding of correspondent accounts- Group
  • Review of nostro charges & negotiation of charges across the group
• Provision of AML/ Due diligence requirements for other local and international counterparties & other treasury service providers – Group
• Liaising with other local and international counterparties & other treasury service providers  to obtain required AML/ Due diligence documents – Group
• Financial institutions liaison- local banks & International Banks (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda)
  • Handling of Due diligence queries from FIs
  • Provision of AML/ Due diligence requirements to the FIs
  • Handling of any other queries
  • Provision of any other support required
  • Exchange of RMAs

Coordination and follow up of requests for balance confirmations for the external auditors

Assist with follow up of balance confirmation requests from the external auditors for the Subsidiaries for the vostro & nostro accounts

Follow up on issues escalated by Subsidiaries- Group

Swift.com administrator

• Downloading and follow up of invoices for the Group- Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda)
• Approval of user requests
• Lodging and follow up of issues arising - Group

Central Bank

• Follow up internally for actioning of pending customer requests on the Dhow system advised by CBK
• Follow up with CBK on issues advised by the processing team on the Dhow system
• KEPPS Administrator
• Follow up with CBK on KEPSS issues arising
• Administrator on the Securities processing portal
• Central Bank Liaison – follow up on queries and requests, contacts for all requests
• Handling of Kepps user requests and renewal
• Handing of any customer queries
• Follow up of requests by the external auditors to CBK
• Ensure actioning of requests from CBK for balance confirmation

Liaise with Finance & the external auditors for the yearly swift interface audit report to facilitate preparation and submission of schedule H within the CBK timelines

Follow up and ensure renewal of the banks LEI number

Follow up and ensure actioning of requests from Treasury and Swift service providers

Administrator on the different correspondent bank portals

• Actioning of any user requests
• Follow up of issues arising

Review and follow up on the execution of treasury contracts- Group

• Liaise with / Engage service providers – for provision of services/systems - Group
• Update/ Coordination of the Treasury BCP
• Handle complex queries CBK, Correspondents
• Follow up with the relevant units for completion of the Central Bank Kepss questionnaires and schedules
• Follow up of invoices for Treasury/ Swift service providers with Finance and the Subsidiaries
• Review and approval of requests for creation of staff in FT- - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan
• Assist with Cash messages and queries on charges by CBK
• Assist with verification & authorization where necessary
• Follow up with CBK on KEPSS issues arising
• Assist with the follow up on overdue unresolved system issues for Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, EBCDC

Accountability 2 Customer Service                      

• Monitoring issues arising and follow up
• Monitor errors/ reversals and follow up for resolution
• Monitor unresolved customer queries for resolution
• Taking ownership of complex, unresolved queries for resolution.

Accountability 3 -  Financial                    

• Monitor through the review of reconciliations and exception reports that deals are done within approved limits and guidelines and settled as per dealing agreement with both local and foreign counterparties
• Monitor incidences of late settlement / incorrect settlement for counterparty deals and address/ escalate issues arising/noted
• Monitor through review of reports adherence to set risk management guidelines as per laid down approvals, Net open currency exposure (position) limits, trend on rates quoted and escalate issues arising/noted
• Monitor deviations and discretions from the approved guidelines and investment policies for example, on dealer trading limits, counterparty limits, trading portfolios and escalate issues arising/noted
• Monitor that the local regulations relating to treasury activities and financial reporting requirements are complied with
• Follow up on long outstanding settlements
• Monitor correspondent bank account charges and liaise with the correspondent bank on any issues arising/ negotiation on the tariff
• Monitor treasury income
• Monitor budget/ departmental costs
• Engage service providers on any issues arising
• Adherence to laid down policies and procedures for the bank, and other regulatory bodies
• Active participation in the testing of new products/ system enhancements
• Recommend changes to established policy when considered necessary to influence the shaping of improvements to business performance
• Identify opportunities for improvements in effectiveness and efficiency in the workplace, customer relations, and risk/ loss management.

Accountability 4  Audit, Compliance & Risk   

• Strict adherence to all bank procedures, controls and policies   
• Compliance with P & Ps
• Implementation of agreed audit recommendations relating to treasury operations/ middle office
• Communicate to relevant staff any changes in the industry affecting treasury policies and procedures to avoid violation
• Updating the treasury departments BCP document 

Accountability 5- People Management              

• Provide support to staff on any issues arising
• Monitoring workflow to ensure efficient allocation of resources
• Timely sign off of KPIs & Performance agreements
• Timely sign off of performance appraisals of staff
• Leave uptake self and staff
• Learning- Mandatory training self and staff
• Identify and recommend relevant staff training
• Oversee staff development through coaching, mentoring and on the job training
• Management of staff work performance and providing regular feedback to staff in this respect
• Succession plan for all critical roles
• Hold regular meetings to update staff
• Involvement in the Recruitment process

Qualifications

Experience and Qualifications 

• Minimum of 10 years of banking experience
• Under- graduate degree from a recognized university with a bias to a business-related field
• Must be outgoing and a point of contact in sharing best practice with colleagues

Training Requirements of the role

• Customer Service;
• Performance Management training;
• People management skills;
• Know Your Customer/Suspicious Transaction Monitoring/Anti-Money Laundering;
• Fraud Prevention;
• PC Skills including Keyboard skills;
• Product Training

TECHNICAL SKILLS & COMPETIENCIES

Competencies:

• Excellent numeric skills and meticulous attention to detail 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Keen/ Attentive to detail
• Strong analytical and Judgement skills
• Listening and questioning skills
• Integrity
• Goal oriented/ results focused
• Ability to work under pressure
• Team player

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE 

(relating to specialist knowledge and expertise required to undertake the role. May include knowledge of the Bank’s products, services and policies)  

Essential

• Excellent knowledge of/ experience in treasury operations
• Experience in other bank operations is desirable
• Knowledge of the AML/ KYC requirements for Banks
• Knowledge of Swift and various message types
• Knowledge of MSOffice suite especially MS excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Understanding of operational risk (fraud, credit risk and errors)
• Knowledge of CBK and Other Regulatory Bodies requirements/regulations