Principal Credit Officer: Portfolio Management
Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)
Midrand, South Africa · Southern Africa
Role type
Legal, Risk & Compliance
Experience
Senior
Deadline
9 Oct 2026
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Summary
DBSA’s Principal Credit Officer monitors the existing investment portfolio across South Africa, the Rest of Africa and its High Impact business. This is a post-approval credit role, working closely with Credit Origination while retaining responsibility for portfolio health after disbursement. The officer reviews borrower performance, challenges credit assessments and financial models, identifies deterioration and recommends practical interventions. Work includes covenant monitoring, stress testing, distressed-exposure support and risk-adjusted portfolio optimisation, with reporting to credit and governance forums. The role also supports IFRS 9 provisioning discussions and develops portfolio analysts. It is a permanent position in Midrand.
Key responsibilities
Lead scheduled and rapid credit reviews, identify early-warning signals and recommend amendments, waivers or restructuring.
Analyse borrower cash flows and credit ratings against projections, peers, sector conditions and macroeconomic developments.
Track financial and non-financial covenants, facility conditions and classifications following transaction handover.
Build or challenge financial models, assumptions, stress tests and scenarios; recommend collateral, guarantees or other mitigants.
Support light restructuring and rescheduling of distressed exposures and improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns.
Prepare committee and Board reporting and contribute to IFRS 9 provisioning and expected-credit-loss forums.
Work with origination and investment colleagues to improve handovers, credit processes and risk-mitigation practices.
Lead and mentor portfolio analysts and provide technical training in credit and portfolio tools.
Key requirements
Postgraduate degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Risk Management or a related field.
At least ten years in credit-risk analysis, portfolio monitoring or financial analysis within wholesale banking, investment banking or development finance.
Track record reviewing credit and monitoring investments across South Africa and broader African markets.
Extensive credit assessment, financial modelling and risk-analysis experience for new and existing investments.
Financial-structuring experience with complex lending instruments, including bilateral and syndicated facilities.
Ability to negotiate with stakeholders and assess complex transactions, amendments, restructurings and covenant waivers.
Familiarity with ESG, sustainable and blended finance frameworks.
Proficiency with credit systems and risk-reporting tools, strong credit writing and understanding of the full loan lifecycle.
Nice to have
Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting or a related field; FRM, CFA, CA(SA) or equivalent professional certification.
Sovereign-risk, infrastructure-finance and public-sector lending experience.
Bilateral, club or syndicated infrastructure transactions involving multilaterals, banks, government agencies and private sponsors.