Senior Manager Business Enablement and Strategy

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

Job Description

The purpose of the role is to provide managerial support to the African Regional Operations (ARO) Chief Operating Officer (COO) in the development and implementation of business enablement planning, service delivery processes, methods and techniques; enabling the provision of well-researched information to inform organisational decision making. This includes, Financial Performance Management, Business Enablement, Business Project Change Management, Strategy Implementation, Management and Exco reporting, Human Capital, Service Catalogues, Vendor Management, Compliance and all other Operational issues supporting the ARO10 banks.

• Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with Regulatory requirements, the Enterprise Risk Management Framework, Internal Policy and Standards. Provides end to end oversight of regulatory risk management including related infrastructure, frameworks and policies, etc.

Accountability:  ARO Aggregated Risk Management, Governance and oversight

• Drive the implementation and continuous improvement of the Risk framework as defined in the ERMF, including risk identification, assessment, management, monitoring and reporting processes.
• Ensure Regulatory Risks are appropriately managed in line with the bank’s risk appetite.
• Ensure knowledge and compliance with Regulatory requirements for risk and with all other relevant laws and legislation pertaining to the regions.
• Ensure that risk management activities are robust, thorough and complete and that risk capabilities in the region and relevant Function are developed and commensurate with risks inherent and strategy/plans.
• Identify emerging regulatory risks and influence the ARO strategy to ensure compliance to effectively design, implement and oversee governance frameworks, policies and processes to achieve strategic objectives, ensure accountability and manage risks.
• Monitor, check and challenge the Risk profiles of the Countries / Group Functions
• Monitor adherence to Policies and Procedures and frameworks.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders including Management, Auditors and Internal functions.
• Promote a risk-aware culture through training and awareness campaigns.
• Identify and assess the risks and controls related to new products, projects, systems and regulation.
• Influence behaviour to reduce risk and foster a strong risk management culture throughout the Group Function.
• Ensure risks are well managed and anticipated by monitoring and analysing trends and changes in the business and regulatory environment.
• Ensure reporting to stakeholders is timely, accurate and complete.
• Identify and respond to risks posed by Regulatory and Strategic business changes in ARO.

Accountability: Financial Planning, Performance Measurement and Reporting

• Ownership and accountability for the annual planning and review of MTP, STP and RAF budgets.
• Review and approve the consolidated financial plans for ARO Risk (RAF, MTP and STP) before presenting to the Function / Business Unit Exco and Head for final approval.
• Manage the effective and efficient operation of the function in a manner consistent with the overall Risk Target Operating Model agreed by ARO and Group Risk ExCo.
• Direct and oversee the preparation of budgets, special data analysis, and ad hoc information reports by collaborating across ARO Risk specialists and business partners (Finance, HR, Technology, Change).
• Own the timely preparation of budgets by cost Centre owners including financial plans, headcount, IT plans as well as project / programme expenditure across ARO Risk.
• Enable ARO Risk management to take timely appropriate actions and to ensure a rational utilisation of assets through the monthly analyse (quantitative and qualitative), of its financial results including the provision of an actionable executive summary.
• Establish, maintain and interlock the ARO Risk Services catalogue across consuming Business Units and legal entities, including the identification and classification of activities, cost drivers, allocation methodologies / principles and service level agreements. Ensure the quarterly service reviews are evidence based and measured against established SLAs.
• Own the process of governance reporting for ARO Markets at Group and Board (AGL ERC, GRCMC, GACC), for ARO Risk reporting to Executive Management and Regulators (Prudential Authority, Regulatory College) and investors / DFIs in cases of capital raising exercise.

Accountability: Risk Functional Strategy and Technology Book of Work

• Responsible for interaction with Risk functions and ARO Business management to develop and drive strategic decisions and solutions and associated strategic or BAU funding.
• Attend relevant forums and key management committees to stay up-to-date with operational conditions and provide early warning of any probable issues and possible solutions.
• Lead on ARO Risk Strategy and balanced scorecards.
• Provide expertise, support and guidance on complex and key strategic change matters, ensuring alignment with business strategy.
• Lead or contribute to project activities, ensuring successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Participate in relevant forums and committees e.g. Group Risk and Business Change Councils and ARO Business Enablement Forum.
• Actively promote and manage the collaborative engagement of internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers, clients, service providers, business partners and other Absa entities.
• Ensure that the appropriate return on investment (ROI) is realised by building a culture and discipline of benefits tracking.

Accountability:  People and Stakeholder Management

• Builds and maintain effective relationships with Regional and country stakeholders.
• Ability to lead with influence at both Centre and in-country.
• Value adding advice and contribution to the ARO and Risk Excos.
• Provides strategic input and influences decisions in key risk management committees across Absa Group representing ARO Risk.
• Influence policy and regulatory to ensure applicability for the ARO region (Localisation)
• Manage all matters in the Regulatory Risk and Reporting framework at an Aggregated ARO level.
• Uplift the skills of the team by training engagements, including Centre, ARO CMC and Board members.
• Manage the Culture of the ARO Risk Function for both Centre and Country functions through engagement, collaboration and knowledge sharing and proactive recognition.
• Strengthen capacity and capability of the ARO Risk function by partnering with country risk functions, monitor execution against plans and ensure training content is appropriate to the development of critical skills.

Continuously monitor succession plans to identify talent and opportunities for development ( Mobility, rotation and secondment plans).

Education

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised