SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Advanced Occupational Diploma: Business Banker

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
121911	Advanced Occupational Diploma: Business Banker
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - BANKSETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Advanced Occupational Dip	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Finance, Economics and Accounting
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	592	Not Applicable	NQF Level 07	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered		EXCO 1121/24	2024-01-30	2029-01-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2030-01-30		2033-01-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Business Banker.

A Business Banker works in financial institutions and manages the business portfolios of a range of business clients. They perform an analysis of client's needs and determine the best options to meet these needs. The Business Banker partners with clients to determine banking (financial) solutions that will optimise business performance and mitigate risks.

Business Bankers are responsible for building and maintaining relationships with clients to grow and retain a quality portfolio of business clients. Individuals in this position may also need to negotiate and set terms for loans and other banking solutions. Business Bankers generally work in small teams, so communication, influencing and collaboration skills are necessary for this position. A competent learner shall demonstrate among others the following attributes: honesty, punctuality, initiative, critical analysis, integrity, ethics, and professionalism.

A qualified learner will be able to:

Establish, maintain and grow a portfolio of quality small enterprise clients.

Help business banking clients manage their finances in the most successful way possible and facilitate processes to navigate the numerous financial services, procedures and products available, including stocks, bonds, loans, international transactions, real estate, trade credits, insurance policies and more.

Facilitate procurement of a broad range of specialised financial services to corporate customers.

Provide services such as portfolio analysis, leverage analysis, debt and equity restructuring, analyses of real assets, etc.

Rationale:
Banks provide business banking, also called commercial or corporate banking, financial and advisory services to small and medium businesses as well as larger corporations. These services are tailored to the specific needs of each business. These services include deposit accounts and non-interest-bearing products, real estate loans, commercial loans, and credit card services. Banks may also offer asset management and securities underwriting to their corporate and business clients.

Business Bankers are at the centre of these services.

These bankers play a critical role in establishing, growing and sustaining businesses. They also support businesses in the informal sector.

Business bankers help entrepreneurs secure the financing they need to start, maintain, or save their businesses. They are usually the first point of contact for anyone seeking to secure a business loan and are usually in charge of deciding if a client's business plan is feasible or not. The Business Banker, therefore, plays a critical role in the approval or denial of business loans.

Other job responsibilities of a business banker usually include analysing loan applications, reviewing clients' financial histories, addressing client concerns, and recommending alternatives when needed. That said, they must have extensive knowledge of business financing, banking protocols, and key financial and insurance matters.

The financial sector is a critical component of the economy of any country. Specifically, in a developing economy, where industrialisation and economic growth underpin the economic success and wealth creation of the nation. The financial sector plays a pivotal role in initiating and growing businesses at all levels of the economy.

Within the financial sector in South Africa, most of the financial institutions provide a dedicated service to small, medium and large enterprises (businesses) to assist them obtain appropriate financial services ranging from basic banking, operational financing, capital financing, insurance supplier payments, employee payments and a host of other business financial services. The services are customised to support the business models of the various financial service institutions that are targeted at the specific entities that make up the current and potential client bases of the institutions.

The work done by employees, of the financial institutions, to deliver the service is diverse. However, there is a core knowledge and skills base relating to business, legal aspects, client relationships and ethics that run through the competency base required to effectively deliver these services. The qualification shall enable both new entrants and employees to improve the industry growth competencies, career development and growth.

In South Africa, there is a shortage of the specific skills and attributes required for achieving national development goals. With this in mind, the qualification is intended to initiate a process to develop an occupational qualification that can be used by the Financial Services Industry to grow the required competencies in a structured manner. This qualification will serve as a launch pad for the development of these critical skills and will contribute towards job creation within the financial sector and the economy as a whole. The qualification was developed in collaboration with the banking sector. There is no registered qualification on the National Qualifications Framework for both horizontal articulation within the sub-framework and vertical articulation.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

RPL for Access to Training:
Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme.

Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme.

Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors.

For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA):

Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved.

For a Skills Programme, the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) must ensure all modular competency requirements are met prior to the FISA and keep a record of such evidence.

Upon successful completion of the EISA/FISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part qualification are approved by the QCTO.

Entry Requirements:

NQF Level 4 qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

Knowledge Modules:

331205-000-00-KM-01 Introduction to Business Banking. NQF Level 5, 36 Credits.

331205-000-00-KM-02 Dynamics of Small Enterprise Financing NQF Level 5, 16 Credits.

331205-000-00-KM-03 Dynamics of Medium Enterprise Financing. NQF Level 6, 30 Credits.

331205-000-00-KM-04 Advanced Business Analysis and Ethics. NQF Level 7, 46 Credits.

331205-000-00-KM-05 Dynamics of Large Enterprise Financing. NQF Level 7, 48 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 176

Practical Skill Modules:

331205-000-00-PM-01: Identify and Analyse the Financial Service needs of Business Clients. NQF Level 5, 16 Credits.

331205-000-00-PM-02 Build Appropriate Partnership Relationships with Business Clients and Win Business and Close Deals with Business Clients in the Financial Sector, NQF Level 5, 26 Credits.

331205-000-00-PM-03 Interpret Medium Enterprise Financial Services Needs and Match them with Appropriate Service Offerings. NQF Level 6, 30 Credits.

331205-000-00-PM-04 Analyse the Financial Performance of a Range of Businesses. NQF Level 7, 38 Credits.

331205-000-00-PM-05 Interpret Large Enterprise Financial Services Needs in Terms of the Short, Medium- and Long-term Business Strategies and Match these Needs with Sustainable Financial Services Solutions, NQF Level 7, 42 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 152

Work Experience Modules:

331205-000-00-WM-01 Processes Related to Determining Small Business Financing and Banking needs, NQF Level 5, 18 Credits.

331205-000-00-WM-02 Processes Related to the Growing of a Quality Small Business Client Portfolio; NQF Level 5, 16 Credits.

331205-000-00-WM-03 Processes Related to the Maintenance of Small business Client Relationships; NQF Level 5, 18 Credits.

331205-000-00-WM-04 Processes Related to Determining Medium Enterprise Client Needs and Matching them with Appropriate Financial Solutions/Products; NQF Level 6, 32 Credits.

331205-000-00-WM-05 Processes of Growing and Maintaining a Portfolio of Medium Enterprise Clients; NQF Level 7, 40 Credits.

331205-000-00-WM-06 Processes Related to the Identifying of Financial Services Needs for Corporate/Large Enterprise Clients and Matching these Needs to Appropriate Financial Services Solutions; NQF Level 7, 47 Credits.

331205-000-00-WM-07 Processes Related to the Growing and Managing of a Portfolio of quality Large Enterprise/Corporate Clients; NQF Level 7, 47 Credits.

331205-000-00-WM-08 Processes Related to the Managing of the Risks Associated with Large Enterprise/Corporate Clients; NQF Level 7, 46 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 264

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply the core areas of small formal and informal enterprise business theories and practices.
2. Select and apply standard methods, procedures or techniques to match client financial services needs to appropriate financial services solutions that are unique to Small Enterprise Clients.
3. Act and account in accordance with, prescribed organisational, professional and ethical codes of conduct, values and practices when growing a portfolio of quality Small Enterprise Clients for a financial institution.
4. Identify, evaluate and solve defined, routine and new problems to mitigate and manage the financial risk associated with small enterprise financial services clients.
5. Establish and maintain sustainable and professional relationships with appropriate members of the banking business development teams in order to collaboratively promote the selling of banking/financial services to current and potential business banking clients.
6. Manage problems relating to the performance of a business banking portfolio in the provisioning of business banking services to clients operating medium business enterprises.
7. Investigate customer requirements for recommendations of appropriate loan products to initiate approvals processes within a business banking environment serving business clients in small and medium enterprises.
8. Investigate and monitor business banking customer queries and complaints for medium enterprise businesses.
9. Develop appropriate processes of information gathering to assist large enterprises and commercial clients with all information for managing accounts.
10. Apply a range of methods of enquiry related to the procurement of appropriate business financial services, including but not limited to: loans and related credit products, Treasury Services, and personal wealth creation, to corporate customers and the ability to select and apply a range of methods to resolve problems related to the procurement and customisation of appropriate business products/services.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Apply the key terms, concepts, facts, general principles and rules related to financial service provisioning to informal and formal small business entities.

Accurately identify the regulatory requirements, that govern and guide, the application for and approval of a full range of financial services for informal and formal small business clients according to the most appropriate and relevant regulatory frameworks.

Explain the consequences of non-compliance with regulatory requirements in terms of the impact on clients, the company and the financial service agent/provider.

Collect and capture appropriate client information in a format required for analysing the information and making sustainable decisions relevant to a range of specific financial services solutions.

Analyse and interpret client business information to reflect the legitimacy and valid client needs.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Line the selected methods and procedures with the relevant legislative requirements and industry-leading practices.

Consistently apply methods for matching financial services offerings with client needs and all ethical and adhere to regulatory standards.

Observe and validate the use of appropriate techniques against industry-leading practices and customised to meet specific operational requirements.

Plan and manage implementation of financial services solutions within a specified banking context as part of a services team.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Identify ethical and unethical conduct for a full range of business banking transactions.

Accurately describe, debate and correct the unethical conduct relevant to their impact on the bank, the client and the individual.

Identify, describe and debate actions required to consistently ensure ethical conduct in a range of business banking.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Identify and classify small enterprise business risks using a risk assessment process accepted within the industry and align with prevailing legislation.

Use appropriate processes to solve problems and identify practical and feasible solutions that are ethical and legal.

Describe the relationship between risk mitigation and organisational sustainability in accordance with the prevailing industry business charter.

Apply solutions based on relevant evidence and procedures, services, and practices to mitigate and manage the identified risks.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Explain and contextualise the theory and generally accepted principles relating to professional business relationships within the context of a business banking environment.

Debate and appropriately contextualise theories, concepts and principles associated with the ethical marketing and sales of financial services to business banking clients within the daily realities of a dynamic business environment.

Analyse and evaluate a range of financial services marketing strategies in terms of their applicability to various business banking products and services.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Use appropriate processes to identify any problems associated with the performance of these portfolios.

Effectively utilise, analyse and identify collaborative processes and appropriate banking systems problems with business banking portfolios and identify the root causes of these problems.

Gather relevant evidence in relation to the business banking portfolio based on the identified problems using appropriate procedures within business banking services.

Utilise appropriate techniques to solve problems inherent to business banking portfolios and to identify ethical and legal solutions to these problems.

Apply solutions to business banking portfolio problems to clients for medium business enterprises.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Accurately identify the regulatory requirements that govern and guide the application for and approval of a full range of financial services for business banking clients according to the most appropriate and relevant regulatory frameworks.

Explain the consequences of non-compliance with regulatory requirements in terms of the impact on clients, the company and the financial service agent/provider.

Evaluate, select and apply appropriate methods, procedures or techniques to investigate customer requirements for appropriate loan products.

Collect and capture appropriate corporate client information in a format required for analysing the information and making sustainable decisions relevant to a range of specific financial services solutions.

Analyse and interpret corporate client business information to reflect legitimate and valid client needs.

Recommend appropriate loan products for approvals processes within a business banking environment serving business clients in small and medium enterprises.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Evaluate evaluations of the methods, processes and procedures for monitoring, evaluating and responding to client queries and complaints and their level of compliance with industry leading practices, ethical standards and elaborate regulatory requirements.

Evaluate, select and apply appropriate methods, procedures or techniques to investigate and monitor business banking customer queries and complaints.

Resolve business banking customer queries and complaints.

Resolve issues for new requirements and application processes for medium enterprise business.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:

Identify, describe and evaluate legitimate processes of information gathering to manage large business accounts in terms of the prevailing regulatory frameworks.

Execute validation of the sources of business information proffered by large enterprise/corporate business banking clients according to accepted industry practices and in line with sound accounting and regulatory requirements and standards.

Evaluate, manage and properly present information in order to influence decision-making.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:

Accurately identify the regulatory requirements that govern and guide the application for and approval of a full range of financial services for large enterprise/corporate clients according to the most appropriate and relevant regulatory frameworks.

Explain the consequences of non-compliance with regulatory requirements in terms of the impact on clients, the company and the financial service agent/provider.

Collect and capture appropriate corporate client information in a format required for analysing the information, and making sustainable decisions relevant a range of specific financial services solutions.

Analyse and interpret corporate Client business information to reflect the legitimate and valid client needs.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated Formative Assessment
The Skills Development Providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated External Summative Assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment
An External Integrated Summative Assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required to issue this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. Additional to the written assessment the learner must also submit a portfolio of evidence compiled of outcomes achieved in the workplace.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This qualification was compared with two qualifications in United Kingdom and Australia.

United Kingdom
The Professional Certificate in Relationship Management offered by London Institute of Management is made up of the following learning units:

Unit 4 - Professionalism and Ethics

Ethics and the role of ethical decision making within the financial sector.

Professionalism, professional identity and professional accountability.

Impact of regulation and legislation on the individual accountability regime and conduct rules.

Unit 5 - Relationship Management

The commercial environment in which business operates.

Different types of business customers.

Relationship management principles.

Business plan analysis and the role of the Relationship Manager in business development and customer retention.

Business Plans and portfolio management (including key account and portfolio planning).

Unit 6 - Advanced Business and Commercial Banking and Conduct

Application of advanced credit and lending analysis models.

The role of relationship managers as risk managers to promote responsible lending.

Principles and processes of responsible and sustainable lending.

Factors involved in Lending Decisions.

Impact of the key regulatory and legislative influences.

Similarities:
The qualifications' purpose, content and level of complexity are similar to the South African occupational qualification. They both cover the fundamentals of banking, banking regulatory framework, professional and ethical conduct, risk management, business/portfolio analysis, business dynamics, customer relations and business planning, and business types.

Differences:
The duration of the Professional Certificate is shorter than the South African Occupational Certificate.

Australia
A Bachelor of Banking and Finance degree offered by Monash University develops the skills required to manage money in institutional settings such as banks, investment houses or superannuation companies. Learners learn about key banking and finance concepts, and how to assess the financial needs of companies, governments and individuals and match them to suitable financial products. Students gain skills and knowledge to work across many different areas such as trading rooms, foreign exchange and bond trading, investment banking and personal financial planning, providing the ideal foundation for a career as a portfolio manager, business banker, funds manager, loan adviser or any of a wide range of roles across the banking sector. Additional opportunities, such as the international stock exchange. Internships are also available, to give learners practical experience before learners graduate.

This qualification covers modules such as:
Core:

Business dynamics.

Economics.

Banking Fundamentals.

Professionalism and ethics.

Electives:

Investment Practice.

Corporate Risk Management and governance.

Advanced financial services tools.

Similarities:
The qualification purpose, content and level of complexity are similar to the South African occupational qualification. They both cover the fundamentals of banking, professional and ethical conduct, risk management, business/portfolio analysis, and business dynamics and are at the same level.

Conclusion:
The Advanced Occupational Diploma:Business Banker compares favourably with the compared qualifications in terms of complexity and content.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification provides opportunities for the following articulation options.

Horizontal Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Financial Markets Practitioner, NQF Level 7.

Advanced Diploma in Public Finance, NQF Level 7.

Vertical Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Municipal Finance Manager, NQF Level 8.

Diagonal Articulation:

Postgraduate Diploma in Finance, Banking and Investment Management, NQF Level 8.

NOTES

Qualifying for External Assessment:

To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required knowledge and practical modules by means of statements of results and a record of completed work experience.

Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:

None.

Criteria for the accreditation of providers:

Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website. The curriculum title and code is: Business Banker: 331205-000-00-00

Encompassed Trade:

This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:

None.

Assessment Quality Partner (AQP)

BANKSETA.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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