Business Analyst: Commercial Growth Segment at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• The Business Analyst in the Commercial Growth Segment (“Growth”) within Business Banking plays a critical role in overseeing and optimizing data mining, preparation, reporting, and maintaining data validity and integrity. The role is essential in supporting management decision-making and performance analysis within Growth.
• This role involves understanding and evaluating business performance, assessing key metrics, generating management reports, and supporting decision-making processes. The Business Analyst will work closely with leadership and data owners to ensure accuracy and availability of relevant business information

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Process Optimization & Improvement

• Oversee and streamline key Growth processes, ensuring efficient credit application and risk management workflows, amongst others.
• Continuously analyze and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate with the Business Process Optimization team to implement efficiencies and best practices within Growth Credit Origination.

Stakeholder Engagement & Management

• Act as a liaison between the Growth teams, RB Credit Risk, Sector, Product, Legal, Compliance, and other relevant departments.
• Engage with the Growth leadership cohort to ascertain key Management Information  needed to guide decision-making.
• Provide regular updates and reporting to senior leadership regarding Growth’s performance per scorecard.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Identify key priorities, agenda, and dynamic data within the segment.
• Translate business priorities into key metrics to measure performance.
• Identify data sources and engage with data owners to obtain required data (e.g., C1, IRA regional heads).
• Verify and interrogate data accuracy, engaging with stakeholders to resolve any gaps.
• Transform raw data into usable formats such as pivot tables, Excel sheets, and reports, including:
• Pipeline reports
• Production reports (core and NTB)
• Activity reports (e.g., client meetings captured)

Analyze data to identify:

• Areas of concern (e.g., incorrect data capturing, such as emails recorded as face-to-face engagements).
• Trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Disseminate data packs to stakeholders, highlighting key insights and stale transactions.
• Engage with the Management Information (MI) team to develop management reports.
• Assist Area Sales Managers (ASMs) and frontline teams in data capturing.
• Generate ad-hoc data reports as required.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure Credit Origination processes adhere to all regulatory and compliance standards.
• Monitor credit quality and approval processes to minimize risk exposure for the bank.
• Work closely with risk management teams to address any concerns in credit applications.

Skills & Qualifications

Experience:

• 5-7 years of experience in banking or financial services, particularly in Sales and Credit Risk, Product Management, or related areas.
• Strong understanding of credit risk, underwriting processes, and credit policies.
• Experience with lending products such as Business Overdrafts, Term Loans, Commercial Property Finance, etc.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in data analysis tools (Excel, SQL, or similar) for tracking performance and generating reports.
• Familiarity with credit scoring models.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks (e.g., Basel, Dodd-Frank) and their impact on the Client Value Chain.
• Understanding of Business Banking, including product types, pipeline stages, and sales processes.
• Experience with Salesforce or other CRM tools.

Soft Skills:

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Leadership and team management capabilities.
• High attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s or MBA preferred).

Competencies Required

• Strong report writing and communication skills.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel and data processing skills.
• Ability to deal with complexity and translate raw data into meaningful insights.
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders and ensure alignment on business priorities.
• This role is critical in ensuring that decision-making within Growth is data-driven, efficient, and aligned with strategic business objectives. The Business Analyst will play a key role in optimizing Growth’s key processes, managing risk, and providing insightful data analysis to support business growth.

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)