Job Summary

To provide specialist advice and support in the development and implementation of business analysis and associated service delivery processes, methods and techniques.

Job Description

Business Systems Specialist

Overall, Job Purpose

• Lead projects and other initiatives to provide technical and business advice to business teams.
• Responsible for delivering projects and initiatives involving business processes, business change and technology solutions.
• Working closely with vendors, management, and technical staff to analyse, document and identify business and technical solutions to business problems and needs
• Analyse new and existing technologies and recommend changes in computer peripheral as per organization strategy.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis to derive functional requirements based on standard procedures.
• Coordinate with technical teams and business users to define business values and technical solutions that would improve the business.
• Aid in process improvement activities and in development of procedures and policies.

Project Definition & Planning - 25 %

Outputs:

• Support development of business requirements to meet business strategic objectives.
• Lead projects and other initiatives to provide technical and advice to business teams.
• Support business prepare testing plans and provide training to colleagues.
• Identify effective solutions for business software system issues.
• Report common patterns, questions, and other issues to management.
• Propose solutions for improving and restructuring company procedures.
• Assess company performance, information, and plans by conducting regular tests and analysis.
• Research and estimate costs of upgrades and system improvements.
• Work with the country Business Analyst to ensure requirements are scoped well and Impact assessment has covered all business requirements.
• Support business to put together change request requirements
• Support business teams to review functional specification documents prior to sign off.
• Review and confirm all relevant integrations are scoped
• Engage with developers from a technical perspective
• Form part of the working group for country projects.

Project Execution 60%

Outputs:

• Provide systems support for any changes made to existing business environment
• Work with the business to identify and resolve operational risks and gaps introduced by changes in the system to the business.
• Assist in the development of test cases/scripts for UAT testing/Identify any gaps existing in support of the business units.
• Ensure timely delivery of services, adhere to quality, and meet high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Improve training and operational procedures within a business to increase efficiency and productivity
• Coordinate with Project Managers and UAT release manager to align on batch run initiation requirements for projects.
• Support with testing during UAT phase and support unlock issues raised.
• Tracking UAT execution and reporting/ publishing UAT status to stakeholders
• Coordinate with Project Manager to ensure system regression tests are performed
• Support to plan for system(technical) deployments
• Support project team during Hyper care.

Resourcing 10%

Outputs:

• Aid in maintaining vendor relationships.
• Supporting project team with resourcing from a vendor perspective.
• Managing and coordinating resources during testing.

Controls 5%

Outputs:

• Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework and internal Policies and Policy Standards.
• Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) relevant to the role.
• Ensure adherence to the Group IT security policy and controls in accessing any system
• Comply with Operational risk and rigor in respect to protecting our people, customers, assets, and the organization.
• Responsible for driving own Performance Development, collating relevant documentation, preparing for, and arranging reviews.
• By utilizing skills matrix, identify training and development requirements, formulating own plan to be agreed with team leader. Responsible for ensuring own plan is completed within agreed timescales.
• Undertake all necessary training to perform the role to the required standards, including gaining accreditation where appropriate.

Education and experience required:

Essential

• Minimum 10 years managing system changes and Project delivery in complex Banking environment.
• Demonstrable track record of successful delivery of change projects
• Educated to degree or MBA level to be able to meet the intellectual demands of the job, or can demonstrate equivalent experience
• Experience with Oracle based systems (Flexcube Retail/Corporate).
• Experience with Card Management Systems (First Vision).
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM).
• Experience with ATM - Estate management systems and Cash Deposit Machines (CDM)
• Experience Credit/Risk Management Applications (Debt Manager, Client/Lending Management Systems)
• Experience with Enterprise Management systems i.e. (Asset/Wealth Management platforms and Bancassurance).
• Experience with Bank Payments and Clearing systems.
• PRINCE2 or PMP Certified.
• A Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIPA).

Knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge in Business analysis planning and monitoring, elicitation and collaboration, requirements life cycle management.
• Strategy analysis, requirement analysis and design definition and solution evaluation.
• Good understanding of value-based management principles
• Experience with appropriate change/programme management software (Ms. Project, Ms. PowerPoint, Advanced Excel) and collaborative tools (Microsoft Teams, Jira, Test rail)
• Innovative problem solving – ability to challenge the status quo and drive beneficial change.
• Value-based business perspective – appreciation of the Absa strategy and of commercial consequences of change/programme management decisions.
• Managing resources – mobilizes and manages corporate resources against a value-based agenda.

Competencies:

• Strong problem-solving capacity
• People skills
• Drive for results
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Stakeholder management (ability to negotiate/influence at senior level)
• Planning and organizing
• Critical thinking ability
• Proven ability to effectively work across teams at all levels
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• High analytical mindset.

Job Summary

To plan, manage and monitor the implementation of credit control management activities and processes in order to deliver on approved operational plans in an effective and efficient manner.

Job Purpose

• Facilitate the generation of revenue and assist the business strategic priorities in close working relationship with Corporate & Investment Banking stakeholders.
• Support the Credit leadership in management of impairment and other losses to ensure these are within agreed budgets / forecasts.
• Improving the control and governance environment for risk activities.
• A credit professional acting as credit expert to the relationship team and the conduit to the Credit Risk function for sanctioning purposes.
• Improve and deepen understanding of our clients needs through joint client visits with the assigned portfolio Relationship Managers.
• Responsible for developing practical and appropriate credit solutions (i.e., lending structures) through understanding customers’ needs.
• Delivering high quality and consistent, credit applications and making sound recommendations.
• Monitor and control accounts within designated portfolios to ensure early detection of signs of credit deterioration and taking appropriate actions.
• Maintain integrity of Commercial Credit Risk System (CCRS) data ensuring customer is accurately updated.
• Regularly maintain and update Early Warning Status (EWL) and related strategy sheets for clients classified under these buckets.
• Responsible for championing Credit policy issues to the designated portfolio and relationship teams through attendance of industry and portfolio meetings.
• Responsible for efficient use of Bank capital by challenging pricing of facilities within their portfolio and ensuring borrowings to customers meet the minimum required return for the bank.
• Ensuring Risk Key performance measures are captured correctly and in a timely manner to aid in performance management and decision making

Key Accountabilities

Understanding Credit Solutions Development - 35%

• Assessment of credit proposals through analysis of Business and Credit risks associated with the provision of the bank’s products and services to the customer. Facilitate the generation of revenue and support business growth through development of high-quality credit solutions aimed obtaining fast credit approval from Sanctioning teams.
• Ability to undertake sector and industry analysis to guide the bank in strategy formulation and areas of focus for lending and application of the same within designated portfolio.

The Credit Process - 35%

• Preparation Credit proposals using the CCRS with relevant supporting documentation and recommendations to Credit managers for Sanction. Liaise directly with the Absa Africa Credit Team (BACT) sanctioning office for all credits that are outside local Risk Team discretion. Attend customer meetings with the Relationship Manager where credit related issues are to be discussed/ resolved. Support the timely preparation of facility letters through preparation of accurate Facility Letter Aide Memoirs (FLAM) and ensuring all proposed conditions of sanction, covenants and internal risk triggers are correctly and accurately captured.
• Ensure efficient management of capital by ensuring. Where facility letters are not accepted within set timelines, facilities are cancelled from CCRS.
• Ensure efficient management of capital by ensuring. Where facility letters are not accepted within set timelines, facilities are cancelled from CCRS.

Portfolio Management- Monitoring and Control - 20%

• Responsible for reviewing and analyzing financial information produced by customers against set Credit triggers and financial covenants. Monitor and Control quality of portfolio using agreed triggers. Reviewing and engaging Sanctioners on deteriorating trends and trigger events if they give cause for concern, advising the Relationship Manager simultaneously. Recognise and control potential lending fraud risk through robust operational risk and control management.

Staff Management - 10%

• Support the Team Leaders in delivering effective performance development for Corporate Credit Managers Assistants (CCMAs) within the team. Drive proactive application of Absa values both personally and throughout the team. Coach and support colleagues within the Team

Technical skills / Competencies

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelors degree or equivalent and/or the ACIB
• Knowledge of credit analysis techniques
• Accreditation on use of the Commercial Credit Risk system would be an added advantage

Mandatory

Proven experience in a Credit role at a junior management level gained within the Bank or a blue-chip financial organisation Excellent understanding of credit and associated risks Experienced user of Commercial Credit Risk System (CCRS) or a similar system to analyse, monitor and report on credit applications. Good interpersonal skills that have been proven in a Business or Credit environment at a management level

Knowledge, Expertise and Experience

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of lending fundamentals, credit procedures and processes as laid out in the Absa Africa Wholesale Credit Risk Standards. Products and services frequently used by customers  Knowledge of Commercial Credit Risk System and other relevant bank systems. Awareness of legislation affecting the Bank and customers having the highest regard for confidentiality. A fair understanding of current issues including macro and micro economic environment.

Job Summary

To coordinate, plan & deliver day-to-day team tasks & activities in order to execute finance transactions accurately & timeously in support of org. policy compliance through the execution of predefined objectives as per agreed SOPs.

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Finance RBB, this role is responsible for several processing functions of Absa Asset Management Limited with particular emphasis on accounting, reporting, planning and reconciliations for Absa Asset Management Limited.

The jobholder is required to work in a specialist area, under tight operating controls.

Key Accountabilities

Assurance, Risk, Financial reporting, and Controls – 50%

• With oversight from the RBB Head of Finance perform the accounting role for Absa Asset Management Limited
• To manage the balance sheet and the profit and loss account of AAML and provide monthly management and statutory accounts
• Ensure proper accounting and reporting of both revenue and expenditure items
• Prepare and submit accurate regulatory returns and reports on time as per relevant statutory authority timelines.
• To oversee Absa asset management operations for review of adequate controls and to ensure accuracy of processed transactions and balance reconciliations
• Identify cost drivers and recommend cost control / management initiatives within AAML.
• To take lead in supporting internal and external audit process of AAML to deliver an appropriate control and compliant environment.
• Recommend changes to procedures and improve the process environment (through direct management)
• Perform revenue assurance reviews to identify risks and opportunities
• Document all procedures with respect to finance partnering AAML processes including Critical Process Assessments (CPA)
• Perform credit control procedures by ensuring that all outstanding debtors and creditor are current and ensure compliance with agreed payment timelines.

Finance Decision Support - 40%

• To help review and challenge the financial business case for all investment projects undertaken by the business and to monitor benefits by gathering data and calculating costs, benefits and returns.
• Prepare annual budgets for AAML and monthly forecasts including flash projections and compare actuals to plan
• Provide trusted financial analysis on a wide range of complex technical/business issues in connection with jobholder’s area of responsibility, e.g., variances, trend, impact of change initiatives, impact of new accounting regulations and how to account for new products approval process (NPA).
• To review business performance and provide insightful knowledge of the business drivers through robust and challenging analysis.
• To provide support and analysis on a range of technical issues in connection with the Financial and Management Accounts e.g., variance/trend analysis (actuals v budget) makeup of specific costs etc.
• Be up to date on all regulatory changes and can articulate the impact to the business. Well informed on current industry thinking.
• Coordinate activities with the Chief Data Office to provide business with key performance metrics including dashboards and scorecards on a daily basis
• To develop and report financial and other performance measures (metrics) required by the business e.g., the Monthly Business review Pack, Board papers, Country Management Pack

Strategy & Planning - 5%

• Undertake key elements of strategic management activity, involving the identification of how value is created, destroyed, and driven in the function.
• To support the business in its MTP/STP strategy processes

People Management – 5%

• Take responsibility for personal performance development, training and career development plans and ensure they are relevant and progressed.
• Actively contribute to both immediate team and relevant customer contacts.

Personal Attributes:

• Attitude:  Willingness to learn, positive “can do” approach and strong work ethic showing willingness to support team members in managing peaks and troughs in workload
• Interpersonal Skills:  Open, collaborative approach to teamwork and ability to build network / relationships within the business.  Should have confidence to communicate findings (including bad news) to stakeholders
• Communication:  Strong written and verbal communication skills.  ability to communicate complex financial analysis to non-financial stakeholders
• Flexibility:  ability to work across different teams and to pick up new skills quickly

Experience and Qualifications

• University degree in Business with specialization in Finance and/or Accounting
• Professional Qualification (CPA or ACCA)
• Additional desirable qualification-ICIFA, CISI
• Asset Management industry experience
• Investment and wealth management experience
• Experience in working in a financially focused role.

Knowledge Experience and Expertise

• Detailed knowledge of financial modeling using advanced Excel functionality.
• Knowledge and skills on power point presentations
• An ability to acquire skills quickly to interrogate systems, e.g., SAP, TM1
• Good communication skills, particularly the ability to analyze and summarize large amounts of data and present in a concise and readily understood format. 
• Good understanding of business strategic objectives and the value drivers of business products and markets.
• Good understanding of key banking account lines and drivers (Income, staff costs, recharges, depreciation, impairments etc.)