Data Steward

Liberty, a prominent financial services organisation, is seeking a dedicated Data Steward to join their team in Johannesburg. This role is crucial for ensuring the effective management and governance of the organisation's data assets, aligning with established frameworks and policies. The successful candidate will play a key part in promoting data quality, lifecycle management, metadata standards, and privacy protections across the business.

About the Role

As a Data Steward at Liberty, you will be instrumental in implementing and upholding operational standards for data and information management. This includes a strong focus on data quality, ensuring data is managed effectively throughout its entire lifecycle, and maintaining comprehensive metadata. You will also be responsible for reinforcing data privacy and protection measures in line with the organisation's data governance frameworks, policies, standards, processes, and procedures. Your expertise will help the business understand how data is collected, stored, used, and ultimately deleted, utilising specific tools and methodologies to foster greater adoption of information management practices and enhance accountability.

The Data Steward will be tasked with a range of responsibilities designed to elevate the organisation's data governance capabilities. Key duties will include:

• Implementing and enforcing data and information management operating standards, covering areas such as data quality, data lifecycle management, metadata, and data privacy.
• Supporting business units by providing insights into data collection, storage, usage, and deletion processes.
• Utilising various tools and methodologies to improve the business's understanding and adoption of information management principles.
• Driving accountability for data management practices throughout the organisation.
• Collaborating with stakeholders to identify and document data-related requirements and translate them into actionable governance solutions.
• Assisting in the identification, assessment, reporting, and management of data-related risks.
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of data governance documentation and standards.

What They're Looking For

To excel in this role, candidates will need a solid foundation in data management principles and practical experience within a corporate environment. A relevant tertiary qualification, such as a Diploma or Degree in Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Management, or a closely related field, is essential.

Furthermore, candidates should possess:

• A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in Data Governance, Data Management, and Information Risk, with a preference for experience within the banking or financial services sector.
• Proven expertise in data lifecycle management, encompassing data quality assessment, metadata management, data analysis, data validation, and the management of data artefacts.
• A demonstrable ability to gather, document, and translate complex business and technical requirements into practical data and governance solutions.
• A robust understanding of data structures, various data repositories, database types, data warehousing concepts, and data movement across different systems and platforms.
• Experience in identifying, assessing, reporting on, and managing data-related risks, coupled with an understanding of banking regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of information risk, data privacy, information protection, data security, and governance practices, with the capacity to interpret regulations and align them with business needs.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft technologies, such as Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint, and Azure Data Services, including the ability to develop applications, dashboards, and automation solutions.

Behavioural competencies such as adopting practical approaches, articulating information clearly, checking details meticulously, documenting facts accurately, embracing change, establishing rapport, examining information thoroughly, following procedures diligently, interpreting data effectively, producing tangible outputs, taking decisive action, and upholding standards are also highly valued.

In South Africa, Data Steward roles in the financial services sector typically command competitive salaries, reflecting the critical nature of data governance and the required expertise. This position at Liberty offers an excellent opportunity for professionals looking to advance their careers in a dynamic and globally recognised financial group.

• Diploma or Degree in Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Management, or a related field.
• Relevant certifications in Data Governance, Data Management, Risk Management, and/or Microsoft Technologies will be advantageous.

Experience Required:

• 5-7 years' experience in Data Governance, Data Management, and Information Risk, preferably within Banking or Financial Services.
• Strong experience in data lifecycle management, including data quality, metadata management, data analysis, data validation, and the management of data artefacts.
• Proven ability to gather, document, and translate business and technical requirements into effective data and governance solutions.
• Strong understanding of data structures, data repositories, database types, data warehousing, and data movement across systems and platforms.
• Experience identifying, assessing, reporting, and managing data-related risks, with an understanding of banking regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of information risk, data privacy, information protection, data security, and governance practices, with the ability to interpret regulations and align them to business requirements.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft technologies (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint, Azure Data Services, or related tools), including the ability to develop applications, dashboards, and automation solutions to support governance and business requirements.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Adopting Practical Approaches
• Articulating Information
• Checking Things
• Documenting Facts
• Embracing Change
• Establishing Rapport
• Examining Information
• Following Procedures
• Interpreting Data
• Producing Output
• Taking Action
• Upholding Standards

Technical Competencies:

• Business Acumen (Audit)
• Data Analysis
• Data Compliance
• Data Integrity
• Data Management (Administration)
• Data Quality
• Process Analysis and Redesign
• Process Governance