Head Finance Operations

Absa is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to head Finance Operations, a crucial role within their Finance Shared Services (FSSA) function across Africa. This position is based in Johannesburg and offers the opportunity to shape the future of financial operations within a prominent African financial institution. The successful candidate will partner closely with the Regional Head of FSSA, leading and developing teams responsible for a wide array of finance operations.

About the Role

This leadership role is instrumental in defining and executing the strategy for Finance Shared Services in Africa. You will be tasked with growing and managing teams that handle critical finance operations, ensuring alignment with the broader organisational and operational strategies. A key aspect of this position involves fostering a conducive environment for team growth and the continuous development of the operational model. Building robust and sustainable relationships with key stakeholders, including Finance Executives and Senior Finance Business Partners, will be paramount to success. You will also be at the forefront of driving significant strategic and operational projects that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the finance function.

The Head of Finance Operations will take ownership of several key areas:

• **Leadership and Strategy:** Lead, direct, and manage a comprehensive finance operations function, encompassing financial control, fixed assets, CRES finance, and ETA operations. This includes developing and implementing a clear vision and strategy for streamlining financial controls and integrating new processes. You will be responsible for seeking sponsorship from senior leadership, such as the Group CFO and Financial Controllers, to facilitate the transition of work into finance shared services.
• **Operational Model Development:** Design and evolve the target operating model for Global Finance and Finance Shared Services. You will oversee the finance portfolio, ensuring the successful definition and delivery of programmes that realise value, efficiencies, and synergies. This includes supporting the Regional Head of FSSA in the execution of consolidation opportunities.
• **Transformation and Automation:** Proactively identify and drive automation and transformation programmes. This involves researching and implementing industry best-in-class solutions, fostering innovative thinking within the business and group finance teams, and packaging relevant concepts to meet strategic objectives related to cost reduction and enhanced controls. You will build strong stakeholder relationships to ensure a deep understanding of business needs and to refine service offerings. Specific focus will be placed on automating processes such as invoice processing, journal entries, reporting, and reconciliations, potentially leveraging robotics.
• **Stakeholder Engagement and Network Building:** Cultivate and maintain strong working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders to achieve excellent business outcomes. Develop and implement an effective communication and engagement model for the Finance Shared Service teams, engaging with management at all levels, up to and including Managing Directors. You will establish agreed-upon agendas with business partners, manage, track, and deliver against goals and Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Staying abreast of regulatory changes, business processes, and policy updates is essential to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of projects and change initiatives.
• **People Leadership:** Manage and mentor teams responsible for delivering finance operations and driving automation and transformation programmes. Guide, coach, and develop team members, fostering the acquisition of necessary skills for their roles. You will lead the change management practice for project management and business analysis, and drive improvements in people capability through talent acquisition, performance management, and career development programmes. Inspiring, motivating, and developing staff will be a core responsibility.
• **Financial Management:** Oversee the budget for transforming the organisation and monitor the return on investment. You will also manage the budget for the team, which is estimated to be in the range of £10-20 million. Support in the development of robust business cases for the expansion of Finance Shared Services in Africa.

What They're Looking For

The ideal candidate will possess a strong academic foundation, holding a B-degree and a CA(SA) qualification (NQF level 7). They will have at least 12 years of experience managing finance processes, ideally within the banking or financial services sector. Proven success in implementing multiple finance transformation programmes is a prerequisite, coupled with a minimum of 7 years of people management and leadership experience. The ability to drive programmes utilising skills in Lean, Six Sigma, and robotics automation is highly desirable.

Essential skills include extensive networking and relationship management capabilities, strong project management expertise (PMBOK principles are advantageous), and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The candidate must demonstrate strong influencing and negotiating abilities, a solid understanding of Absa's processes and systems, and robust commercial awareness. Key competencies sought include decisiveness, entrepreneurial and commercial thinking, strong relational and networking skills, adaptability to change, persuasive abilities, and a capacity for innovation and expertise application. A commitment to operating within regulatory requirements, the operational risk framework, and internal policies and standards is also critical.

This Head of Finance Operations role represents a significant opportunity for a seasoned finance professional to make a tangible impact within Absa's expanding African footprint. In South Africa, senior finance leadership roles overseeing shared services and transformation initiatives typically command competitive remuneration packages, reflecting the strategic importance and complexity of the responsibilities. Employers in this space often include major banks, financial institutions, and large multinational corporations. Career progression often leads to more senior executive positions within finance or broader operational leadership roles.

Education and Experience Required:

• B-degree, CA (SA) (NQF level no.7)
• At least 12 years’ experience in managing finance processes within banking / financial Services
• Proven experience implementing multiple finance transformation programs
• Minimum 7 years people management and management experience
• Experience driving programs utilizing skills across lean, six sigma and robotics automation

 

Knowledge & Skills:

• Networking and relationship management
• Extensive project Management Skills – PMBOK
• Networking and relationship management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong influencing and negotiating skills
• Understanding of Absa processes and systems
• Commercial awareness

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Competencies:  

• Deciding and initiating action
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating
• Applying expertise and technology
• Analyzing

Education

Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Financial 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