Christiaan Ras

Experience

• 

  University of Pretoria

  Feb 2007 - Dec 2007

  Department of Statistics: Assistant lecturer

  Provide assistance to the lecturer and to provide guidance and practical classes to students.Key responsibilities:• Presenting practical classes to students;• Marking of test papers.

• 

  Aurecon Engineering (previously Africon Engineering)

  Jan 2008 - Sept 2008

  Systems Analyst

  Statistical analysis of project data, and development of models/databases for specific systems.

• 

  Nedbank

  Oct 2008 - Jun 2011

  Quantitative analyst: Credit Model Validation Unit – Retail

  To perform the independent validation of retail AIRB credit risk models (PD, LGD, and EAD) to ensure compliance with the Basel Accords and regulatory requirements.

• 

  Nedbank

  Apr 2012 - Jun 2016

  To perform ad-hoc tasks delegated by Nedbank Group management, with a focus on the independent review and analysis of the adequacy of impairments as well as the validation of pricing and non-RegCap models to ensure compliance with the internal guidelines. Currently also involved in the IFRS9 project, researching and proposing of definitions and suitable methodologies to use for the successful implementation thereof. To perform the independent validation of wholesale AIRB credit risk models (covering expert judgement models, simulation models, and slotting models for low-default portfolios) to ensure compliance with the Basel Accords and regulatory requirements. To manage, plan, and coordinate the independent validation of retail AIRB credit risk models to ensure compliance with the Basel Accords and regulatory requirements.

  • Quant manager - Group Credit Risk Monitoring

    Nov 2012 - Jun 2016

  • Quantitative analyst: Credit Model Validation Unit – Wholesale

    Jul 2011 - Oct 2012

  • Acting head: Credit Model Validation Unit - Retail models

    Apr 2012 - Aug 2012
• 

  Absa Group

  Jul 2016 - now

  • Within the Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) environment, develop and implement accurate and robust credit risk models, frameworks, methodologies, and processes to optimise operational efficiencies while managing model risk within appetite levels.• Leveraged data-driven insights to identify business opportunities and drive strategic initiatives that enhance CIB risk modeling capabilities.• Lead four dynamic teams, responsible for the development of regulatory credit capital models in South Africa, all wholesale decisioning and sanctioning models within Absa's Africa wholesale businesses, the related IFRS9 model development, finally ending with the data and implementation aspects of the models.• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including model validation, business and credit sanctioners, auditors, and regulators to address model related findings and drive continuous improvement. Show less • Developed and implemented robust risk-based model validation frameworks, methodologies, and processes to optimise operational efficiencies while managing model risk within appetite levels.• Leveraged data-driven insights to identify opportunities for process improvement and drive strategic initiatives that enhanced risk management practices.• Led four dynamic teams, responsible for the independent validation of all models within the bank, including regulatory capital, credit risk, market risk, operational risk, impairments, application/decisioning, economic capital, stress-testing, pricing and profitability, and others.• Collaborated with cross-functional teams including model developers, risk managers, and regulators to address model validation findings and drive continuous improvement.• Provided independent opinions on model appropriateness, fitness for purpose, and identified model risks, raising concerns and proposing remedial and mitigating actions as necessary. Show less • Maintain and refine the model validation process and framework for credit risk models, covering both Retail and Wholesale (Corporate and Investment Banking, Business Banking and Wealth across Africa), ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal governance standards.• Manage and coordinate the validation of various credit risk models, including regulatory capital, economic capital, IFRS9 impairments, pricing and profitability, stress testing, and scorecards (application, behavioural, and collections).• Led a team of quantitative analysts and reviewed validations performed by them, to ensure alignment with established criteria and provide recommendations for improvement. Show less

  • Head: CIB Credit Models

    May 2024 - now

  • Head: Independent Validation Unit

    Jul 2021 - Apr 2024

  • Head of Model Validations: Credit

    Jul 2016 - Jun 2021