Head: Business Data Insights and Enablement at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• We are seeking a senior leader to integrate and lead two high-performing data teams focused on two key headline product portfolios within the Personal and Private Banking cluster business.
• This role is central to enabling strategic, data-driven decision-making and customer-centric innovation across the Personal and Private Banking segments.
• This role falls within the Analytics & Modelling sub-job family, where the focus is on employing advanced analytics and modelling techniques to extract insights from data, inform decision-making, and support strategic initiatives. The successful candidate will act as a value enabler and integrator, bringing deep functional expertise and industry insight to shape and execute the data enablement strategy.
• Importantly, the current teams are at varying levels of maturity and are primarily focused on reporting. This role requires a leader who can build and scale insight-generation capabilities, embedding advanced analytics practices and uplifting the overall data maturity.

Job Description

Qualifications & Experience required

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, Economics, or a related field (required).
• Postgraduate qualification in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, or Applied Statistics (preferred).
• Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in data analytics, insights, or data enablement roles within a commercial bank, specifically in Personal and Private Banking.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence data strategy across business and technical domains.
• Demonstrated experience in working with engineering and data architecture teams to define and deliver structured, scalable data solutions.

Preferred Certifications (not all required)

• SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional
• Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
• Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
• Advanced SQL Certification

Key areas of responsibility/performance:

• Insight Leadership & Capability Building: Transition reporting-focused teams into insight-driven analytics hubs. Develop and embed advanced modelling and analytics capabilities to unlock deeper customer and product insights.
• Team Leadership, Development & Integration: Lead, manage & mentor two specialist teams, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture that values continuous learning, innovation, and delivery excellence.
• Advanced Analytics & Modelling: Apply sophisticated techniques using SQL, SAS, Python, and BI platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to uncover trends, predict behaviours, and support strategic initiatives.
• Data Quality & Governance: Champion high standards of data integrity, accuracy, and compliance. Implement robust governance frameworks aligned with regulatory and internal policies.
• Operational Efficiency & Automation: Lead initiatives to automate reporting and streamline data processes, freeing up capacity for strategic analysis and innovation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with the Enablement team to embed horizontal capabilities, standardised tooling, and best practices across the data value chain.
• Work closely with the Customer team to ensure insights are aligned with customer needs across products and channels.
• Collaborate with the Engineering team and the Chief Data & Analytics Office (CDAO) to define and structure data requirements, ensuring optimal data warehouse design and accessibility for analytics use cases.
• Strategic Enablement & Monetisation: Translate insights into business opportunities, supporting sustainable growth, product optimisation, and data monetisation initiatives.
• Functional Leadership: Influence and provide structure to key value elements within the data enablement function, aligning delivery with ABSA-wide strategic goals and benchmarking for optimal fit.
• Change Enablement: Lead the planning and execution of controlled changes to data practices and processes, fostering innovation and organisational agility.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree: Data Science

End Date: October 31, 2025