Operational Reference Data Analyst

An opportunity has opened for an Operational Reference Data Analyst to join a major financial institution in Johannesburg. This role is central to maintaining the data integrity that underpins the organisation’s complex financial services ecosystem. As a key player in the data team, you will be responsible for ensuring that reference data remains accurate, consistent, and fully aligned with the strict regulatory frameworks governing the South African financial sector.

About the role

The primary focus of this position is the stewardship of operational reference data. You will be tasked with validating data quality, overseeing the publication process between core systems, and managing the health of data pipelines. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying discrepancies and a technical mindset to rectify anomalies before they impact broader business operations. You will spend a significant portion of your time maintaining data dashboards, managing access permissions, and ensuring that all data activities remain audit-ready.

This is a dynamic position that balances hands-on technical data manipulation with the governance requirements necessary for an enterprise-level environment. By ensuring that data remains timely, consistent, and complete, you directly support the effectiveness of the firm’s reporting and operational decision-making processes.

Your daily responsibilities will revolve around both the technical maintenance of data sets and the collaborative support of internal stakeholders. Key tasks include:

• Overseeing the monitoring of OSD (Operational Service Data) to ensure adherence to established business rules and quality standards.
• Managing and refreshing Power BI dashboards, which involves troubleshooting scheduled refreshes and consolidating exception reports for weekly management reviews.
• Identifying and remediating data discrepancies between various systems, including the oversight of CIF (Customer Information File) to OSD publication flows.
• Administering system access to data lakes and reservoirs, including conducting regular quarterly access reviews to maintain security compliance.
• Documenting data governance procedures and maintaining comprehensive audit trails for all data changes.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to support data migrations, system enhancements, and incident management protocols.

What they're looking for

The ideal candidate possesses a mix of analytical rigour and technical proficiency, specifically in the areas of database management and reporting tools. You should have a solid foundation in data principles, supported by relevant academic qualifications in fields such as Finance, Risk Management, or Business Analytics.

Technical requirements include:

• Advanced proficiency in SQL for querying and manipulation, coupled with expert-level Microsoft Excel skills.
• Hands-on experience with data visualisation platforms such as Power BI or Tableau to build and maintain quality dashboards.
• A strong understanding of data architecture, database structures, and master data management (MDM) principles.
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities, with a proven track record of handling large datasets and identifying complex anomalies.
• Previous experience working in a regulated, compliance-heavy industry, which is essential for understanding the data governance requirements of this position.

For applicants in the South African market, this type of role typically serves as a bridge between traditional IT and business-focused financial analysis. Within large South African financial groups, analysts in this space often progress into Senior Data Engineering, Data Governance Management, or specialised Project Management roles. Depending on your years of experience, compensation in the Johannesburg financial hub for such analytical roles is generally competitive, often reflecting the critical nature of data oversight in a highly regulated banking environment.

• Matric, Diploma, Degree or Postgraduate qualification in Data Analytics, Finance, Risk Management, or Business Analytics

Experience Required

• Building and maintaining OSD data-quality dashboards.
• Monitoring data publication from CIF to OSD and reporting data discrepancies.
• Tracking remediation of identified discrepancies and exceptions.
• Monitoring OSD data against agreed standards and business rules, including completeness, correctness, consistency and timeliness.
• Refreshing and monitoring Power BI dashboards, resolving scheduled-refresh failures, and consolidating critical exceptions for weekly reporting.
• Supporting applicable data requests and administering access to the Reservoir/Lakehouse, including quarterly access reviews.
• Providing data support for Operational Incident Management.
• Proven experience in data analysis, data management, or a related analytical role
• Proficiency in SQL and advanced Microsoft Excel for data manipulation and analysis
• Strong attention to detail with exceptional organisational abilities
• Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical mindset
• Demonstrated ability to work with large datasets and identify patterns or anomalies
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment
• Experience with data quality assurance and validation processes 
• Experience with reference data management systems or master data management (MDM) platforms
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks and best practices
• Familiarity with financial systems, operational systems, or enterprise resource planning (ERP) environments
• Experience with data visualisation tools such as Tableau or Power BI
• Project management experience or exposure to data-related projects
• Understanding of database structures and data architecture principles
• Experience working in a regulated industry or compliance-focused environment