Strategic Execution - Run Operations Lead

at  Absa Bank Limited

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
The purpose of the Run Operations Lead is to ensure that all services are available and performing as per the agreed upon service level agreements. This role also strives to improve the service management processes and the services themselves on a continuous basis. Furthermore, the role must act as a principle contact person between Technology teams, internal/external suppliers and most importantly business to ensure that services offered are aligned.The role needs to, with the Head of Run, direct and manage an effective service delivery team across the Compliance and Financial Crime Function and end to end proactive management of a portfolio of high and low criticality platform and services to fulfil business demand. The role will participate in enhancing relationships with client stakeholders and service suppliers that define and demonstrate value that Run Team services provide. Coordinate technical resources across organisational boundaries to achieve optimum service performance.
Job Description

Applications Support and System Monitoring

• Accountable for reviewing implementation of vendor recommended solutions to improve system effectiveness
• Daily monitoring of system performance and escalating observed issues to Functions Tech
• Identifying any system defects related to data quality and engaging with various data providers such as ARO data and SA data teams to resolve issues
• Responsible for capturing and updating the issues logs
• Assist in system issue root cause analysis from start to the implementation of the required fix
• Understanding the technical environment in which the Service operates, and mapping the dependencies between the service and others, and among the services
• Conducting performance and trend analysis, with a view both toward establishing strength(s) and weakness(es) of services for the near term, and toward continuous improvement for the intermediate to longer term
• Participating actively on Event and Incident teams, to remediate the issues and return the service to expected service levels as quickly as possible · Exhibiting leadership in making continuous improvement a way of life in the Organisation
• Understand the Technical Environment
• Deliver effective run management rigour and control capability across a portfolio of business critical platforms and services to complement the service management proposition.
• Apply knowledge of the technical environment to optimize platforms and service performance on behalf of the business.
• Primarily accountable for providing end user support, rule tuning and testing
• Day to day operational disciplines

Systems Improvement, Testing, and Process Governance

• Identifying opportunities for system enhancements and engage with functions tech for implementation
• Perform UAT and obtain the required sign offs for change and new system releases
• Perform business impact analysis in liaison with key business stakeholders on any change that is imposed on current departmental operational and project areas
• Escalate all strategic and high-risk issues to ensure these matters are dealt with timeously and as per the standards set out it in the relevant functional framework.
• Consulting with the software development team, internal users, and clients to improve the functionality of various internal systems
• Accountable for providing system training to all new joiners and external departments, where required

Monitor & Evaluate

• Conduct Performance and trend Analysis
• Actively monitor the performance of the application end to end against key metrics
• Produce weekly Operational reports
• Generate operational performance metrics to optimize the services used by a business cluster; provide to Performance Manager.
• Measure and track service quality; take appropriate actions to address service issues and align service to business priorities.
• Manage accurate and timely heat maps (risk, operational, vendor) which easily demonstrate the health of

Stakeholder Management

• Build effective working relationship/information flows with key stakeholders, across FC and within the various Businesses and Functions;
• Ensure effective interaction with Head of I & S and keep both the Head of I & S and all stakeholders informed of key issues at all times;
• Build relationships with across FC Senior management and BU Senior Management in order to gain understanding of risks, processes and controls and develop product specific risk expertise to enable pro-active risk management, and to ensure alignment and operating within the set risk appetite with consolidated reporting;
• Create a continuous relationship with business in order to be aware of any new strategies that could potentially affect the risk profile of the business, and to understand and guide on any risk concerns identified;
• Understand the business concerns in order to be able to give provide optimisation guidance and advise; and
• Working with local regulatory authorities to develop solutions that are of relevance to the Bank.

Skills and experience needed:

• 7+ experience years in systems support and dev/testing roles 5+ experience years in systems development lifecycle (as a developer or tester)
• 3-5 experience years in business process optimisation roles (beneficial)
• 3-5 industry experience in process optimization and re-engineering
• Experience and Knowledge of Banking and Financial Services business.
• Experience in Quality Assurance.
• Experience in Service Level Management.

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to distil complex issues to clear and concise briefings for senior management;
• Excellent negotiating and interpersonal skills; Ability to navigate in a complex organization and work within a matrix structure;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Report writing skills;
• Knowledge of risk management and banking · Results oriented · Understanding of the business context
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Team player – approachable, ability to share and consult others

Preferred

• Experience in a financial crime discipline and familiarity with key concepts of AML, Sanctions, and ABC risk management;
• Experience in working with culturally diverse teams in different geographic locations

Minimum requirements:

• An appropriate university degree with preference for a BSc, BSc (Eng), BSc (Computer Science) or BCom (Informatics)

Education
Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (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 advertise

Please refer the Job description for details