Specialist: Data Insights & Intelligence MI/BI

Absa, a prominent South African financial institution with over a century of history and a strong pan-African presence, is seeking a seasoned analytics specialist to join its Management Information (MI) and Analytics team in Johannesburg. This role is pivotal in transforming raw data into strategic business intelligence, driving informed decision-making across the organisation.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to significantly impact Absa's strategic direction. The core of the role involves delving into complex datasets, unearthing trends, identifying potential risks, and pinpointing opportunities for growth. You will be instrumental in developing predictive and diagnostic analytics that directly support executive leadership in making crucial strategic choices. A key responsibility will be translating intricate business needs into tangible analytical solutions that yield measurable results. The insights you generate will be presented to senior stakeholders through compelling visualisations and executive-level reports, ensuring that data-driven narratives are clear, concise, and actionable.

Your responsibilities will span several critical areas, focusing on both insight generation and the optimisation of reporting processes.

• **Analytics and Insight Generation**:
• Analyse large and multifaceted datasets to identify emergent trends, promising opportunities, and potential business risks.
• Develop sophisticated predictive and diagnostic analytical models to underpin strategic decision-making.
• Effectively translate business requirements into robust analytical solutions and clearly defined, measurable outcomes.
• Present findings compellingly to senior stakeholders, utilising clear visual aids and executive-level reporting formats.

• **Reporting and Business Intelligence**:
• Design, develop, and maintain automated dashboards and essential management reports.
• Streamline existing reporting mechanisms by minimising manual intervention and enhancing data accuracy.
• Ensure reporting outputs are timely, consistent, and provide actionable intelligence.
• Establish reusable reporting frameworks and standardised metrics to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• **Data Management**:
• Extract, transform, and analyse data from various enterprise systems.
• Thoroughly validate data quality and systematically investigate any anomalies.
• Develop and maintain robust data models to effectively support business reporting needs.
• Document analytical processes meticulously and uphold appropriate data governance standards.

• **Stakeholder Engagement**:
• Collaborate closely with teams across Product, Finance, Risk, Marketing, Operations, and Technology.
• Elicit business requirements and convert these into practical analytical solutions.
• Communicate technical findings in clear, business-oriented language.
• Influence business decisions through well-supported, evidence-based recommendations.

• **Process Improvement and Technical Leadership**:
• Identify opportunities to enhance operational efficiency through data-driven insights.
• Apply statistical techniques to accurately measure business performance.
• Support process optimisation initiatives with concrete analytical evidence.
• Recommend improvements based on measurable business outcomes.
• Act as a technical mentor to junior analysts, offering guidance and ensuring the quality and consistency of analytical work.
• Promote best practices in coding, documentation, and data governance.
• Drive innovation within the team by championing automation and the adoption of modern analytics techniques.

What They're Looking For

To excel in this role, candidates will need a strong blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and interpersonal skills.

• **Minimum Requirements**:
• A Bachelor’s Degree in a quantitative field such as Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, or Engineering. An Honours degree or postgraduate qualification would be advantageous.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, or Management Information roles.
• Previous experience within the Banking or Financial Services sector is highly desirable.

• **Technical Skills**:
• **Essential**: Advanced SQL, SAS, Python or R, Power BI, Advanced Microsoft Excel, Data Visualisation, Statistical Analysis, ETL concepts, Data Modelling.
• **Advantageous**: Cloud analytics platforms, Machine Learning, AI-assisted analytics, API integration, Git version control, Azure or AWS analytics services.

• **Competencies**:
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex information effectively.
• A strong commercial awareness and understanding of business drivers.
• Critical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently.
• Proficient stakeholder management skills.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and a proactive mindset.
• Demonstrated leadership and coaching abilities.

This role aligns with Absa's commitment as an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, giving preference to suitable candidates from designated groups to foster workforce diversity.

In South Africa, specialist data insights and BI roles with this level of responsibility, requiring advanced technical skills and significant experience, typically command competitive salaries, reflecting the critical nature of data-driven decision-making in the financial sector. Absa, as a major financial institution, offers a stable environment with potential for career advancement within its extensive operations.

 

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, Engineering or a related quantitative discipline.
• Honours degree or postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence or Management Information.
• Experience within Banking or Financial Services highly advantageous.

 

Technical Skills

Essential:

• Advanced SQL
• SAS
• Python or R
• Power BI
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Data visualisation
• Statistical analysis
• ETL concepts
• Data modelling

 

Advantageous:

• Cloud analytics platforms
• Machine Learning
• AI-assisted analytics
• API integration
• Git version control
• Azure or AWS analytics services

 

Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Commercial awareness
• Critical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Stakeholder management
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Leadership and coaching capability

 

 Key Responsibilities

 

Analytics & Insight Generation

• Analyse large and complex datasets to identify trends, opportunities and business risks.

• Develop predictive and diagnostic analytics to support strategic decision-making.

• Translate business requirements into analytical solutions and measurable outcomes.

• Present findings to senior stakeholders through clear visualisations and executive-level reporting.

 

Reporting & Business Intelligence

• Design, develop and maintain automated dashboards and management reports.
• Improve existing reporting processes by reducing manual intervention and increasing accuracy.
• Ensure reporting delivers timely, consistent and actionable insights.
• Build reusable reporting frameworks and standardised metrics.

 

Data Management

• Extract, transform and analyse data from multiple enterprise systems.
• Validate data quality and investigate anomalies.
• Develop robust data models to support business reporting.
• Document analytical processes and maintain appropriate governance.

 

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Product, Finance, Risk, Marketing, Operations and Technology teams.
• Gather business requirements and translate them into analytical solutions.
• Explain technical findings in business language.
• Influence business decisions through evidence-based recommendations.

 

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency using data.
• Apply statistical techniques to measure business performance.
• Support process optimisation initiatives using analytical evidence.
• Recommend improvements based on measurable business outcomes.

 

Technical Leadership

• Mentor junior analysts and provide technical guidance.
• Review analytical work to ensure quality and consistency.
• Promote best practices in coding, documentation and data governance.
• Drive innovation through automation and modern analytics techniques.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: BMI - Business Management and Informatics

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