Specialist Business & Systems Support Analyst - Commercial Lending Technology

Absa is inviting applications for a Specialist Business & Systems Support Analyst to join their Commercial Lending Technology division, based in Sandton. This role is a key appointment within the Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) technology group, designed to serve as a bridge between the bank’s operational stakeholders and the technical teams managing the Commercial Lending ecosystem.

In this position, you will move beyond standard business analysis. The role is multifaceted, requiring a professional who can seamlessly toggle between deep-dive technical troubleshooting, stakeholder management, and strategic process improvement. As an organisation with a significant footprint across Africa, Absa is focused on building technology that supports complex lending products, and you will be central to maintaining the stability and performance of these mission-critical systems.

About the role

The core objective of this position is to ensure that the Commercial Lending platform functions effectively while evolving to meet the bank’s future requirements. You will not only resolve production incidents but also act as a proactive partner to business units, helping them navigate technical challenges and identify opportunities for operational efficiency.

The ideal environment here is collaborative; you will interface daily with engineers, DevOps teams, product owners, and external vendors. Your ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business insights—and vice versa—will be the key to your success in this high-pressure financial environment.

What you’ll do

Your daily responsibilities will revolve around keeping the lending ecosystem resilient and aligned with the bank’s strategic goals:

• **Stakeholder Engagement:** Act as the primary point of contact for business users, facilitating workshops to capture requirements and managing expectations throughout the solution lifecycle.
• **Systems Analysis:** Translate business needs into detailed user stories, functional specifications, and process models using industry-standard methodologies like BPMN and UML.
• **Incident Management:** Provide second-tier functional support, performing root cause analysis on production issues and ensuring that system integrations remain stable.
• **Quality Assurance:** Define success criteria, lead User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and ensure that delivered solutions are thoroughly vetted before deployment.
• **Knowledge Management:** Maintain a library of documentation, including system architecture, integration maps, and operational procedures to ensure team-wide knowledge resilience.

What they’re looking for

Absa is seeking a candidate who brings a blend of technical acumen and business-process literacy. While specific qualifications are not listed, the nature of the work suggests a candidate comfortable with complex system landscapes and data-driven environments.

• **Analytical Rigour:** A proven ability to elicit requirements and document intricate system interactions.
• **Technical Versatility:** Proficiency in modern modelling tools and a strong understanding of the SDLC, particularly within an Agile or DevOps-led environment.
• **Problem-Solving Skills:** A systematic approach to incident resolution and root cause analysis, ensuring that "quick fixes" do not supersede long-term stability.
• **Communication:** The ability to explain technical risks and dependencies to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring transparency across projects.

Context for Applicants

This role is typical of a high-level specialist position within South Africa’s "Big Four" banks. Analysts in similar financial-tech environments can generally expect a competitive package that reflects the seniority of the role, often including performance-based incentives and comprehensive corporate benefits. Working in CIB technology provides a strong career trajectory for those looking to move into product management, lead systems architecture, or senior business management roles. Given the location in Sandton, applicants should be prepared for a hybrid work model, which is standard practice for major financial institutions in the district.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Information Systems, or a related field.

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• 6 - 8 years experience in Business Analysis and Systems Analysis.
• Eliciting, analysing, and documenting detailed business and system requirements.
• Creating user stories, acceptance criteria, process models, and system documentation.
• Supporting business-critical applications and investigating production incidents.
• Participating in solution design, testing, defect management, and user acceptance testing.
• Working within cross-functional technology environments.
• Engaging with business stakeholders, technical teams, and third-party vendors.
• Experience within Commercial Lending, Commercial Property Finance, Corporate Lending, or Business Lending environments.
• Understanding of system integrations, databases, interfaces, and related technology concepts.

Advantageous

• Experience with FIS Commercial Loan Servicing (CLS), formerly ACBS.
• Experience in Corporate & Investment Banking or Commercial Banking environments.
• Knowledge of end-to-end loan origination, servicing, and loan management processes.

Skills & Competencies required

• Strong Business Analysis and Systems Analysis capability.
• Requirements elicitation and requirements engineering expertise.
• Business process and system process modelling.
• Analytical thinking and structured problem solving.
• Application support and incident investigation skills.
• Stakeholder management and relationship-building capability.
• Workshop facilitation and requirements validation.
• Ability to translate complex business needs into clear, actionable requirements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to influence and align diverse stakeholder groups.
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong collaboration and knowledge-sharing mindset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Visio.
• Working knowledge of UML and BPMN modelling standards.

Education

Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology