Specialist FC Data Interface Management at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Technology Enablement owns the data processes that enable sustainable, accurate and timeous financial information in support of internal and external reporting. The individual will operate in Technology Enablement with primary focus to design, build and maintain SAP S/4 HANA interfaces.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Accountability: Design and Maintain Data Interfaces

• 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.
• Manage stakeholder engagement in order to ensure consensus and approval of the data interfaces.
• Be pro-active and manage changes impacting SAP S/4 HANA, enable long-term planning and input development.
• Design, build and manage SAP S/4 HANA DI processes
• Maintain DI and replication mapping tables
• Liaise and engage with Functions Technology to discuss system and technology enhancements to increase performance of data integrity.
• Obtain and sustain knowledge and experience on the end-to-end processes, including product systems and general ledgers, to support business units with enhanced service delivery.
• Obtain and maintain technical knowledge, skills, and benchmarking to keep up to date in specialist areas to perform at the required standards.
• 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.

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

• Work with different Stakeholders to achieve excellent business results through continues engagements
• 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.
• 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 data interfaces and integrity.
• 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.

Role/Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills:

• Understanding of business processes
• Excellent ETL skills
• Solid SAP S/4 DI skills
• Solid financial background
• Solid accounting knowledge
• Networking and relationship management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Understanding of Absa processes and systems
• Commercial awareness

Education and Experience Required

• 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
• Analyzing
• Relating and networking
• Crating and innovating
• Persuading and influencing
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)