BI Data Analyst else Data Analyst

Absa, a prominent African financial institution with a century of experience, is seeking a skilled BI Data Analyst to join their team in Johannesburg. This role is integral to empowering the business by transforming raw information into actionable insights. If you have a passion for data, a keen analytical mind, and a desire to contribute to a leading financial group, this opportunity might be your next career move.

Absa is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are core principles. They welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, recognising the value that diverse backgrounds bring. In line with their Employment Equity objectives, preference may be given to candidates from underrepresented designated groups, including individuals with disabilities. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process are encouraged to make their needs known.

The Essence of the Role

At its heart, this position involves bridging the gap between complex data sets and clear business understanding. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining accurate information systems and performing in-depth analyses. The primary goal is to provide the business with valuable insights that support strategic decision-making, performance measurement, and the identification of new opportunities. This involves not just gathering data, but also ensuring its integrity and presenting it in a way that is easily digestible and actionable for various stakeholders across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities and Contributions

The scope of this role is broad, encompassing several critical areas of data management and analysis:

• **Management Information Production:** A significant part of your work will involve coordinating the collection of vital environmental sustainability data from both internal and external sources. This includes metrics on energy consumption, fuel usage, waste generation, water usage, paper consumption, and renewable energy. You'll ensure these datasets are submitted accurately and on time, conducting thorough reviews for completeness, consistency, and reasonableness before they are integrated into reporting systems. Developing new reports, setting standards, and using multiple technologies to meet evolving business requirements will be key. You'll also be tasked with creating customised reports for specific business needs, including regular performance reports for the sales force, aiding in their measurement and management. A proactive approach to identifying opportunities for report automation and the elimination of manual processes will be highly valued.
• **Value-Add Insight Generation:** Beyond routine reporting, you will delve deeper to understand the core challenges facing the business. By engaging with stakeholders, you will identify areas where advanced analytics can provide solutions and present these proposals for implementation. Analysis of management information, both internal and external, will help uncover business opportunities, particularly in support of sales initiatives. You will also contribute to the development of business cases for new products by providing credible, data-backed information. Proposing monitoring measures and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the success of these initiatives, and ensuring the data supporting them is sound, will be crucial. Furthermore, analysing trends within the business data is essential for risk reduction, performance optimisation, and informing critical People Function decisions. You will also be responsible for reviewing and validating Power BI dashboards and visualisations, ensuring accuracy and integrity of reported figures against source data and approved outputs.
• **Governance and Control:** Maintaining the integrity and quality of data is paramount. This involves conducting detailed monthly validation and quality assurance reviews on all environmental sustainability data. You will verify the completeness, accuracy, consistency, and integrity of all datasets, challenging any anomalies or inconsistencies and collaborating with data providers and technology teams to resolve them. Performing trend and variance analysis, along with reasonableness checks, will help identify potential reporting errors and uphold data quality standards. Maintaining a comprehensive audit trail and supporting documentation is essential for internal audits, external assurance, and regulatory compliance. Ensuring all data adheres to approved methodologies, calculation approaches, and governance standards is a non-negotiable aspect of this role. Escalating significant data quality issues or compliance risks to management will also be part of your responsibilities.
• **Business Partnering:** Building strong, collaborative relationships with business stakeholders is vital. You'll strive to gain a deep understanding of their objectives and imperatives. Maintaining open communication throughout the analytical solution development process, seeking and incorporating feedback, will be key to successful project outcomes. Acting as a consultant to business stakeholders, presenting findings and work-in-progress, and fostering a partnership approach will drive effective data utilisation across the organisation.

What Absa is Looking For

To excel in this role, Absa is seeking candidates with a strong foundation in data analysis and business intelligence. Key requirements likely include:

• Proven experience in a Data Analyst or Business Intelligence role.
• Proficiency in data manipulation, analysis, and visualisation tools, such as Power BI, SQL, and potentially other BI platforms.
• A solid understanding of data governance principles and data quality assurance methodologies.
• The ability to interpret complex data sets and translate them into clear, actionable business insights.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• A proactive and problem-solving mindset, with a keen eye for detail.
• Experience in environmental sustainability reporting or a related field would be advantageous.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in a quantitative field (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, or a related discipline).

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a leading financial institution's strategic objectives while developing your career in data analytics within the dynamic South African financial sector. Roles of this nature in South Africa can typically range from R450,000 to R700,000+ per annum, depending on experience and specific responsibilities. Absa, as a major employer, offers a stable and growth-oriented environment.

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in one of the following:

• Information Technology

• Statistics

• Environmental Management

• Environmental Science

• Business Analytics

Work Experience:

• 3-5 years’ experience in data analysis, business intelligence, sustainability reporting, environmental reporting or data governance

• Experience performing detailed data validation, reconciliation and quality assurance activities

• Experience working with large and complex datasets from multiple source systems

• Experience developing, reviewing or maintaining Power BI dashboards and reporting solutions

• Experience supporting audit, assurance or regulatory reporting processes would be advantageous

• Knowledge of environmental sustainability of ESG reporting metrics and methodologies would be advantageous

 

COMPETENCIES

Leadership Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking

• Attention to Detail

• Courageous Challenge

• Driving Execution

• Accountability

• Risk and Control Mindset

• Stakeholder Management

Knowledge and Skills

• Data Quality Management

• Data Validation and Reconciliation

• Power BI Reporting

• Root Cause Analysis

• Attention to Detail

• Analytical Thinking

• Environmental Sustainability Data Management

• Reporting Governance and Controls

• Stakeholder Management

• Audit and Assurance Support

• Report Writing

Education

Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology