Bradley Naidoo

Responsible for the procurement and relationship management of Absa Group’s cash clearing and custody network across the globe. The Network Management team also supports the organization by reducing the cost of cash clearing and custody services and ensuring that Absa receives the required service from correspondent banks and custody agent

Key Capabilities

• Risk and control knowledge
• Governance and policy enforcement
• Good stakeholder management
• Good relationship building and management skills
• Good negotiation skills
• Banking product knowledge
• Project management skills
• Banking operational Knowledge
• Issuing and implementing of RFP mandates for cash clearing and custody
• Relationship and stakeholder management at a senior level
• Performing due diligence on cash clearing and custody providers
• Cost saving initiatives on the cash clearing and custody network
• Onboarding new cash clearing and custody providers (End to end)
• Ensuring KYC and tax documentation is updated with cash clearing and custody agents
• Managing change projects for the Network Management Team

Network Management team Achievements

• USD RFP and implementation – Savings approximately R14 Million p.a (Major role)
• Converting Absa Group’s method of processing payments to serial method - Saving approximately R15 million p.a (Support role)
• Recoupment of overcharges and lost nostro Interest (Major role)
• Rationalization of Nostro accounts (Major role)
• Ensuring payments are routed in the most cost-efficient manner (Major role)
• Coordinated installations of new hardware components while minimizing disruptions to daily operations.

Responsible for enforcing the product risk policy and ensuring that all new products and structured transactions follow the correct governance set out in the product risk policy.

Key Capabilities

• Assess each new product and complex transaction that CIB would like to enter or offer to ensure the correct governance and support by functional areas are in place to support and manage the product.
• Understand various corporate and investment banking products, risks, governance, and operational aspects to effectively manage and navigate the approval life cycle of a product or structure.
• Coordinate various infrastructure partners to ensure each area’s risks and controls are adequately covered.
• Challenge infrastructure partners on approval if all aspects of the product have not been considered.
• Chair pre-screening meetings for new products.
• Conduct product reviews on market and trade products.
• Prepare MI reporting for the product risk team.
• Engage ARO teams and product champions to ensure approvals are received for products being launched in ARO.
• Compile NAPA committee packs and executive approval packs for all products under my portfolio.
• Manage PIR as well as pre- and post-trade conditions.

Operations team responsible for settlement of high-value loans (term loans, syndicated loans, and revolving credit facilities) for Absa Corporate and Investment Banking clients.

Key Capabilities

• Coordinating the settlement of complex loan structures
• Cash book reconciliation (ZAR and non-ZAR)
• Interpretation of amortization models
• Managing difficult stakeholders
• Driving automation projects
• Implementation of streamlined processes
• Promoted a positive work environment by fostering teamwork, open communication, and employee recognition initiatives.

Held various roles in Absa CIB Operations, gaining exposure to multiple internal Absa systems and processes.

Roles include:

• Trade Operations
• Client Onboarding
• Electronic Banking