Senior Specialist: Business Analysis (Business Banking)

About the Opportunity

Absa is seeking a seasoned Senior Specialist in Business Analysis to join their dynamic Business Banking division. This critical role is rooted in Sandton and offers a unique chance to contribute to the evolution of Africa's financial landscape. As part of a team with over a century of experience and a forward-looking vision, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of financial services, driving transformation, digitisation, and automation within the Business Banking Credit Value Chain. This position is not just about analysis; it's about driving tangible change and enhancing critical banking processes.

The core purpose of this role is to bridge the gap between strategic business aspirations and effective, technology-driven solutions. You will be responsible for translating high-level objectives into actionable plans, ensuring that the systems and processes supporting business banking operations are not only efficient but also robust in their risk management and customer-centricity. This involves a comprehensive understanding of the entire credit lifecycle, from origination through to ongoing monitoring, and leveraging technology to optimise each stage.

As the Senior Business Analyst, your responsibilities will span the entire lifecycle of change initiatives. You will work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including business leaders, credit specialists, IT departments, external vendors, and change delivery teams. A key aspect of your role will be identifying opportunities to streamline existing processes, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing potential risks.

Your day-to-day activities will involve:

• **Requirements Elicitation and Analysis:** Gathering, documenting, and analysing detailed business and functional requirements, ensuring they align with strategic goals.
• **Solution Design and Development Support:** Providing expert input and guidance during the design and development phases of new or enhanced systems and processes.
• **Stakeholder Engagement and Management:** Building and nurturing strong relationships with various stakeholders, facilitating effective communication, and managing expectations.
• **Impact Assessment:** Evaluating the potential effects of proposed changes across systems, operational processes, and organisational models.
• **Testing Coordination and Execution:** Overseeing and contributing to the testing of solutions to ensure they meet defined requirements and quality standards.
• **Implementation and Change Support:** Assisting in the rollout of new solutions, including developing training materials and facilitating knowledge transfer to end-users.
• **Operational Readiness and Post-Implementation Support:** Ensuring that business operations are ready for new systems and providing ongoing support to address any issues and drive continuous improvement.

You will be a driving force behind initiatives focused on core credit platforms, workflow automation, credit decisioning, risk management processes, and the broader banking systems that underpin the Business Banking Credit ecosystem.

What They're Looking For

Absa is looking for a highly experienced Business Analyst with a significant track record in the banking sector, specifically within Business Banking. A deep understanding of the end-to-end credit lifecycle is paramount, encompassing experience in credit risk, credit operations, credit systems, or lending environments. Your ability to effectively engage with and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior business and technology leaders, will be crucial. This includes leading complex workshops and driving delivery across cross-functional teams.

Essential qualifications and experience include:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as Business, IT, Finance, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 7 to 10 years of dedicated Business Analysis experience, with banking experience being a non-negotiable requirement.
• Demonstrated experience in driving large-scale automation and digital transformation initiatives within a banking context.
• Strong experience in business process transformation, requirements management, system implementation, testing, stakeholder engagement, and change delivery.

While not mandatory, a postgraduate qualification or a professional Business Analysis certification (such as CBAP, Agile, or Lean Six Sigma) would be highly advantageous. Similarly, prior experience working within a credit environment will strengthen your application.

This is an opportunity to join a reputable organisation that values diversity and is committed to developing its people. Absa adheres to the Employment Equity Act and prioritises candidates from designated groups to ensure equitable representation. The bank reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Minimum Requirements

• 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 (Banking experience 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