Strategic Planning Lead needed at Rand Merchant Bank

Job Description
Hello Future Strategic Planning Lead,

• RMB is a place where exceptional people create their own opportunities by challenging the conventional and driving sustainable impact. 
• United by our proud heritage, strong ethics and philosophy of Traditional values. Innovative ideas, it’s the magic of our people and culture that sets us apart.
• Now, is the time to imagine your next move with South Africa’s number one employer in Financial Services for 2023, where you can embrace the power of collective thinking to unlock unique opportunities for our clients and society.
• Strategic Planning Lead for Corporate Client Group, supporting Head of Asia and Chief Representative: US, plays a strategic and operational role in serving as key support to the senior leadership of Corporate Client Group.  
• Corporate Client Group is RMB’s client and relationship management team focusing on Corporates.  Strategic Planning Lead will work closely with the Head of Corporate Client Group, Chief Representative of US business and Head of Asia. 
• They will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, coordinating cross functional teams and ensuring that client related activities align with Corporate Client Group and RMB’s objectives.

Are you someone who can: 

Strategic Planning and Execution Support

• Assist the Head in developing and executing strategic initiatives, particularly around new clients, retention of current client base and cross-selling capital-light business services.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure alignment with bank-wide goals, particularly in areas of treasury, and risk management solutions, corporate finance and lending.
• Provide analysis and recommendations on clients’ portfolios to identify cross-sell opportunities across business lines (e.g., trade finance, cash management, FX, and advisory services).

Operational Efficiency and Leadership Support

• Act as the right-hand to the Head, managing day-to-day operational tasks, streamlining processes, and ensuring smooth coordination across teams.
• Lead or participate in internal meetings, preparing reports and follow-up actions, and ensuring timely communication of critical decisions.
• Drive operational efficiency across the client facing and enablement team, ensuring teams have the right resources, data, and tools to meet revenue and client group goals.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Liaise with different internal departments (Treasury, Risk, M&A, FX, Trade, etc.) to ensure seamless collaboration on cross-selling efforts.
• Facilitate communication between global product teams and client group bankers to enhance exceptional client service delivery.
• Manage complex cross-regional and cross-product initiatives, ensuring clear objectives, accountability, and timely delivery.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to client group goals, cross-sell initiatives, and revenue generation.
• Prepare regular performance reports and dashboards for senior management, highlighting business performance, progress on key initiatives, and areas for improvement.
• Oversee the preparation of client segmentation, business development forecasts, and pipeline reports for clients.
• Prepare, review and organize presentations, client materials, and internal reports including market and client analysis.
• Prepare briefing notes, market intelligence and strategic information for the Head ahead of client meetings.
• Monitor and track the performance of the client team’s activities and cross-sell initiatives, providing regular update on progress toward strategic objectives.
• Assist in the analysis of financial data, client portfolios and market trends to provide insights and recommendations to the Head.

Client and Relationship Management Support

• Support the Head in managing relationships with key clients, preparing meeting agendas, briefing notes, and follow-ups.
• Develop insights and analysis on clients’ needs, market conditions, and competitive positioning to inform strategy.
• Ensure the team is leveraging internal and external resources to meet client demands and maximize cross-sell opportunities.
• Support cross-sell initiatives by assisting in tracking key opportunities across business lines and transaction services.
• Assist in planning and executing client events, such as roadshows, conferences and one-on-one meetings to ensure smooth execution and alignment with Corporate Client Group and bank’s strategy.
• Work closely with the Client Group enablement team to provide steer on client group strategy and key deliverables.

Leadership and Team Development

• Oversee special projects related to team development, such as mentorship programs, talent development initiatives, and training efforts for Corporate Client Group bankers.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance within the client team.
• Act as a bridge between senior leadership, junior staff and enablement teams, providing guidance and ensuring consistent communication.
• Assist in building cohesive and high-performance culture within Corporate Client Group.

Project and Initiative Management

• Manage high-priority initiatives on behalf of the Head, ensuring all projects are executed on time and within scope.
• Lead change management processes, ensuring that all business lines and regions are aligned with new strategic initiatives, particularly in terms of cross-selling.

Budgeting and Resource Allocation

• Assist in managing the budget for the Corporate Client Group team, ensuring resources are appropriately allocated to support strategic priorities.
• Monitor the financial performance of the Corporate Client Group, US Rep and Asia divisions, Return on Equity, providing insights on cost optimization and resource efficiency.

Regulatory and Compliance Oversight

• Work with compliance and legal teams to ensure that all initiatives are aligned with regulatory requirements and internal policies, especially in relation to clients and cross-border transactions.
• Monitor changes in global regulatory environments that may impact the bank’s ability to serve clients.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a key liaison, as needed, between the Head of Corporate Clients, Chief Rep: US and Head of Asia and other external stakeholders, including clients, regulatory bodies, and industry groups.
• Represent the Head of Corporate Clients, Chief Rep: US and Head of Asia in internal and external forums, as needed, ensuring alignment with the broader corporate and investment banking strategy.

Risk and Issue Management

• Identify and proactively manage risks related to client coverage, business development, and cross-sell activities.
• Work closely with risk and operation management teams to ensure the proper handling of credit, operational, and market risks for multinational clients.

You will be an ideal candidate if you:

• Are a strategic thinker with strong operational capabilities and an ability to manage multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams, driving the execution of key initiatives while ensuring alignment with the Heads’ vision and corporate goals.

You will have access to:

• Opportunities to network and collaborate
• Challenging Working
• Opportunities to innovate