Finance Business Partner

time left to apply End Date: March 17, 2025 (7 days left to apply)

job requisition id R-15972692

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

To support and educate line managers in the execution of finance related activities and monitor line adherence to Finance best practice and principles.

Job Description

Accountability: Managing the Finance Environment

• Execute strategic objectives as articulated by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Business Unit (BU) explaining key focus areas to Executives and line managers.
• Review and present monthly financials and variance commentary at Business Unit Manco meetings and where required support the Senior Finance Business Partners with presentation to EXCO Meetings.
• Implement and monitor cost control initiatives within the different functional areas within the Business Units to achieve overall Business Unit cost targets.
• Track cost savings benefits for the different centres within the business unit for which the role is responsible as and when required.
• Implement programmes and financial systems and policies as may be directed by the Senior Finance Business Partner for the financial year.
• Compile and present Financials to the relevant business owners monthly including financial actuals against forecasted trends.
• Conduct research and develop financial forecasts and indicators for the business to enable effective financial decision making and early warning systems.
• Participate in business initiatives or Group and Cluster financial initiatives on behalf of the business unit where required and ensure deliverables and frameworks are effectively implemented in own area of responsibility.

Accountability: Financial management and Business Partnering

• Allocate duties to team members where required to execute and coordinate finance activities required within the business unit to ensure adherence to sound financial management and accounting practices within Business Unit.
• Monitor financial trends and identify gaps, based on gaps identified, motivate requests and new ways of work to the Senior Business Partner for additional resources including people, budget and equipment.
• Obtain a thorough understanding of the business unit’s strategy and explain it to team members in such a way that they understand the contribution they must make.
• Provide financial advice and guidance to line managers and business owners on new initiatives, current budget management practices and trends in expenditure in their areas of accountability.
• Explain targets and take accountability for the monitoring and achievement of own and team performance objectives in the department in terms of return on investments, financial risk, financial planning and governance.
• Manage departmental budgets including signing off invoices and quotes within mandate. Escalate out of budgets or items higher than approved mandate to the next level manager.
• Rigorously monitor expenditure against approved budgets for the areas of accountability and put measures in place to address variances. Continuously identify areas for improved efficiency and reduced cost.
• Conduct basic statistical analysis to track performance variances and determine the root causes of errors. Make recommendations for productivity or process enhancements to process owners.
• Implement productivity improvement measures by coaching line managers on any new processes or on their areas for improvement.
• Populate balanced scorecards for the specific department monthly. Work with the team to address shortcomings during the next month. Escalate any major issues identified to the next level manager.

• Participate in the measurement and reporting of internal and external Service Level Agreements monthly.
• Address any process failures specific to the department under management.

Accountability: Business Planning

• Partner with the departments and the BU line managers to complete sound annual financial plans within the agreed timeframes.
• Review the 3 year forecast for Medium Term Plans (MTP's) for the area of accountability in accordance with BU strategy annually.
• Review the 3 year forecast for Short Term Plans (STP's) for the area of accountability in accordance with BU strategy annually.
• Review the 3 year forecast for Revised Annual Forecast (RAF) for the area of accountability in accordance with BU strategy annually.
• Review the expenditure against budget with accountable managers monthly and engage on areas of over expenditure or cost opportunities and help line managers to implement initiatives where budget savings can be made.

Accountability: Governance

• Authorise the reconciliations submitted in terms of the GL Framework from the Finance Business Partner (FBP) monthly.
• Ensure that processes, control requirements and risk management frameworks that have been designed for the area are understood by all members of the team and that these are adhered to monthly.
• Monitor compliance training undertaken by team members and ensure that they complete the required training within prescribed timelines.
• Implement required governance forums to support improved financial management practices within own area of responsibility.

Education and Experience Required

• NQF Level 7 / BCom Accounts
• CA (SA) / CIMA/ Honours / Master’s Degree
• Minimum 3 years financial management experience

Competencies: (Maximum of 8 competencies)

• Deciding and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: 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.

About Us

Absa Group Limited (“Absa Group”) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups.

Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.

Absa Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Absa also has representative offices in China, Namibia, Nigeria and the United States, as well as securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, along with technology support colleagues in the Czech Republic.