Manager FC Data Integration Management at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

This role involves managing, inclusive of planning, directing and coordinating all activities, resulting in effective information management (data management, maintenance, development, etc), as well as the day to day running and continuous improvement of the end to end data management processes by providing alignment to Financial Systems Architecture and support the current and improved business reporting requirements, alignment of available functionality to support the current and improved business reporting requirements, effective Information/data management and application support over the FC Reporting systems, and supporting for the design and implementation phases of new strategic initiatives.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Accountability:  Improve Architecture and Solutions Through Leadership

• Drive alignment by interpreting Group system architecture protocols and Operating Model in order to be able to provide solutions architecture in line with the organisational strategy.
• Make recommendations on solution delivery scheduling and resourcing based upon concept requirements and design proposals.
• Decide on solution options pertaining to identified system integration issues and other risks.
• Develop data and information architecture strategy, blueprint and roadmap and track progress towards achieving the strategic goals set out.
• Develop a strategy to ensure that operations, systems, and procedures are appropriate to absorb the impact of changes to increase the financial operations for Absa Group and specifically in the Financial Control environment.
• Provide leadership on SAP S/4 HANA functionalities for current and future financial system landscape.
• Decide on suitable alternatives in consultation with Head of Technology Enablement to address Financial Control system change impacts on the strategy i.e. timelines, integration, rework, etc.
• Recommend tactical solutions where required as part of the decision-making process in conjunction with System Change Management.
• Plan and prioritise required tactical solutions and manage the lifecycle expectation thereof
• Manage the impact of scope creep on initiatives in conjunction with FC Change Control Forum.
• Manage the impact on initiatives, should data quality issues not be prioritised and corrected.

Accountability:  Solution design, development and Implementation

• Manage multiple system development initiatives in terms of resources, timelines, dependencies and impact on operational service delivery.
• Recommend alternatives where applicable to technical requirements based upon specifications submitted in line with strategy, architecture and user needs.
• Manage effective data creation, storage and utilisation with appointed Data Stewards.
• Provide subject matter input to the definition, design and development phases of the improvement solution
• Understand the impact of new developments on the logical and physical designs
• Manage the effectiveness of consultants against Service Statements.
• Oversee the end-to-end solution development process to ensure benefit realisation and user adoption.
• Manage adherence to the standard interface testing procedure for all new systems before interfacing with SAP S/4 HANA to ensure prevention of rejections and miss-representation of financial information.
• Manage research, design, promotion, development and testing of innovative improvements or new solutions that will improve processes and ensure financial data integrity.
• Monitor post-implementation success and user adoption.

Accountability:  Small enhancements and continued process improvement

• Lead collaboration efforts with various stakeholders to balance maintenance tasks and new enhancement requirements.
• Evaluate the impact of small enhancements, changes on strategic initiatives and system landscape.
• Ensure that testing methodologies are followed before the implementation of small enhancements and changes.
• Assess all system, data or recurring process issues and decide how to best prevent the reoccurrence thereof by taking a leading role in resolving of issues.
• Oversee the end-to-end execution of changes requested.
• Oversee system and application updates, upgrades and patches.

Accountability:  Meta Data Management

• Oversee the availability of quality Meta data between financial systems inclusive of adequate support and data maintenance.
• Ensure maintenance of Meta data not integrated via MDM or system related.
• Ensure that all monthly master and meta data are maintained in a timely manner and related controls are executed as documented.

Accountability:  Operational Management

• Manage all maintenance and operational activities performed on the finance system to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Plan resource levelling and task assignments to obtain optimum resource utilisation, specifically during peak performance timeframes.
• Balance capacity issues where project implementations coincide with key reporting activities or restatement of prior periods.
• Oversee daily and monthly data transfers, reconciliations, data integrity, data availability and data quality.
• Ensure execution of all required data management integrity check processes and controls as well as evidence thereof.
• Ensure that all Data Management tasks (Data loads, translations, aggregations, enrichments, Feeder file exports, etc) are executed as per monthly schedules.

Accountability:  Stakeholder management

• Build constructive relationships with key role players in order to have a clear understanding of their business needs.
• Understand the impact of the changes and inform business of any risks or impact as a result of changes.
• Developing and implementing solutions for continues stakeholder satisfaction improvement.
• Provide regular and timely feedback to stakeholders.
• Managing the relationship with the appropriate specialist areas to ensure ongoing delivery.
• Resolve stakeholder dissatisfaction / issues.
• Provide direction and input to enable Business Units to manage and resolve issues.

Accountability:  Business direction and support

• Contribute to the development of business unit strategy.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the vision for the team.
• Agree targets and take accountability for the overall achievement of performance objectives in the business area.
• Agree and manage service offerings and SLAs with internal stakeholders (agree annually and measure on a monthly basis).
• Define customer experience metrics.

Accountability:  Risk management, compliance, and controls

• Ensure that the team understands applicable risk management, compliance, and control requirements, including required compliance training.
• Keep up to date with all the relevant legislation/regulatory requirements.
• Own and agree corrective action items with Internal and External Audit for findings related to the functional area under management.
• Participate in the development of the Business Continuity Plan by reviewing and ensuring the critical financial processes are adequately covered and tested.
• Perform proper maintenance of all actions needed for the completion of DEA (Design Effectiveness Assessment) and OET (Operating Effectiveness Testing).

Accountability:  People and talent management

• Exhibits Absa Way, Purpose and Values and champions them in the team towards development of a corporate culture.
• With the support from the HR Business Partner, interview and recruit direct reports and provide support to them during the recruitment of their teams on request.
• Effectively assign and balance staff allocations to attain the required performance levels.
• Develop suitable induction training solutions for the area of business.
• Ensure that staff is developed in accordance with personal development plans aligned to organisational priorities and individual development areas.
• Ensure that the people and talent management record keeping system is kept up to date.
• Establish and maintain a succession plan for the management team in the area using the formal Talent Management process for identified talent and an informal process for remaining roles.
• Perform quarterly "health checks" with staff and confirm that they are meeting their required level of performance.
• Diversity - manage and make sure that every team member is treated with respect in terms of culture, gender and religion.
• Create effective workforce and recruitment demand plans to ensure that current and future business requirements can be met. Plans should be revised at least twice a year.

Accountability:  Process management

• Ensure alignment of process with organisational strategy; take accountability for relevant processes within area of responsibility and ensure delivery and maintenance of standardised processes and controls.
• Owner of the end-to-end business process including defining the goals, objectives and KPI's, and performance management thereof.
• Plan, implement and develop operating procedures for relevant area and updating user and working guides.
• Constantly review and improve processes (automation included) to drive and implement a sustainable and effective process in support of quality and accuracy.
• Drive sustainable cost and processing efficiencies through continuous innovation, industry benchmarking and alignment to best practices.
• Act as escalation and decision point for operational decisions related to specific process.
• Management of relevant executors of processes within ambit of control including co-ordination and management of capability and performance.
• Change Management including facilitating change in process within scope of deliverables.
• Identify process-specific risks and work with Process Architect to mitigate risks.

Role/Person Specification

Education and Experience

• B-degree in information technology (NQF level no. 7)
• At least 5 years SAP DI experience
• At least 5 years banking experience
• At least 5 – 8 years financial reporting experience
• People Management Experience

Competencies

• Applying expertise and technology
• Working with people
• Analysing
• Relating and networking
• Creative and innovating
• Persuading and influencing
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking

Knowledge and Skills

• System support and enhancement
• The ability to work in a pressured and unstructured environment and to cope with the demands of working to tight deadlines
• Excellent ETL skills
• Solid SAP S/4 DI skills
• Solid financial background
• Solid accounting knowledge
• Networking and relationship management
• Exceptional interpersonal & team working ability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Understanding of Absa processes and systems
• Commercial awareness