Senior Business Analyst: Business Banking Risk

Embark on a significant career move within Absa's Business Banking division, a sector instrumental in shaping the financial landscape of Africa. With a legacy spanning over a century, Absa is dedicated to fostering growth and innovation. This opportunity presents a chance to be at the forefront of transforming and digitising critical credit processes, contributing to the organisation's vision of empowering the continent's future.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Business Banking Change Risk, the Senior Business Analyst will be a linchpin in driving substantial changes within the Business Banking Credit Value Chain. Your mandate will be to translate high-level strategic goals into tangible, technology-driven solutions. This involves enhancing operational efficiency, fortifying risk management frameworks, and elevating the overall customer experience. The role demands a deep dive into the entire credit lifecycle, from origination and assessment to sanctioning, fulfilment, and ongoing monitoring. You will be instrumental in modernising how Absa approaches credit, ensuring robust processes and cutting-edge technology go hand-in-hand.

Your responsibilities will be broad and impactful, requiring close collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders. You will work hand-in-hand with business leaders, credit specialists, technology partners, external vendors, and dedicated change delivery teams. A key part of your contribution will be identifying opportunities to streamline existing processes, making them more efficient and effective.

This will involve:

• Defining and meticulously documenting business requirements, ensuring they accurately reflect the needs of the business and its customers.
• Conducting thorough impact assessments across various systems, operational processes, and organisational models to anticipate and mitigate potential disruptions.
• Providing comprehensive business analysis support throughout the entire project lifecycle. This includes:
• Eliciting and analysing intricate requirements.
• Contributing to solution design and development phases.
• Managing and engaging with stakeholders at all levels.
• Coordinating and overseeing testing activities.
• Supporting implementation and managing the associated change processes.
• Facilitating training and knowledge transfer to ensure smooth adoption.
• Contributing to operational readiness before launch.
• Providing post-implementation support and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

You will also lead initiatives focused on critical areas such as core credit platforms, workflow automation, refining credit decisioning processes, enhancing risk assessment and management techniques, and optimising the various banking systems that support the Business Banking Credit ecosystem.

What They're Looking For

Absa is seeking a seasoned professional with substantial experience in the banking industry, particularly within Business Banking. A deep, end-to-end understanding of the credit lifecycle is non-negotiable, encompassing credit risk, credit operations, credit systems, or lending environments.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as Business, IT, Finance, or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification or a recognised Business Analysis certification (e.g., CBAP, Agile, Lean Six Sigma) would be advantageous.
• A minimum of 7 to 10 years of dedicated Business Analysis experience, with a mandatory focus on Business Banking.
• Proven experience supporting large-scale automation and digital transformation initiatives within a banking context.
• Demonstrable experience working within a credit environment is highly valued.
• Strong expertise in business process transformation, requirements management, system implementation, testing methodologies, effective stakeholder engagement, and successful change delivery.

Crucially, you must be adept at engaging and influencing stakeholders. This involves building robust relationships with senior business and technology leaders, expertly leading complex requirements gathering workshops, driving progress across cross-functional teams, and influencing key strategic decisions. Operating effectively within a fast-paced, evolving change environment is paramount.

This role is ideal for a strategic thinker with a passion for operational excellence and a proven track record in driving significant change within the financial services sector. As an equal opportunity employer, Absa is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Business, IT, Finance, or related) – essential
• Postgraduate qualification or BA certification (e.g. CBAP, Agile, Lean Six Sigma) – advantageous
• 7–10+ years’ Business Analysis experience (in Business Banking non-negotiable)
•  Experience supporting large-scale automation and digital transformation initiatives within a banking environment will be highly advantageous.
• Demonstrable experience working within a credit environment is advantageous.
• Strong experience in business process transformation, requirements management, system implementation, testing, stakeholder engagement, and change delivery.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences (Required)

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