Lead Client Data Strategy Enablement at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

Strategic Enablement: 

• Play a central role in enabling the strategic execution of CIB’s Client Data Strategy by providing guidance and oversight to ensure alignment with the broader organizational vision. 
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership to ensure that data initiatives are integrated into the bank’s overarching business objectives and client engagement strategies. 

Tactical Execution: 

• Support the execution of key client data initiatives, ensuring that strategic plans are realized and business value is delivered. 
• Work with cross-functional teams (including data, technology, and business leaders) to drive the operational execution of client data programs, ensuring strategic alignment and successful implementation. 

Alignment with PAN and ARO: 

• Act as a strategic liaison to ensure that ARO’s client data initiatives are aligned with PAN’s overarching client data strategy and key themes. 
• Ensure visibility of PAN and group-level client data initiatives within ARO, fostering collaboration and coherence across all teams involved. 

Prioritization & Strategic Planning: 

• Maintain a strategic roadmap that identifies key client data initiatives, with a focus on business impact and alignment with broader strategic goals. 
• Prioritize data-related initiatives based on their value to the business, ensuring a clear focus on the most important opportunities that drive client insights and monetization. 

Client Data Insights & Monetization: 

• Drive the transformation from basic data management to advanced client data insights that inform business decisions, enhance customer experiences, and unlock monetization opportunities. 
• Work with business and product teams to identify and implement ways to monetize client data insights, ensuring these opportunities align with the organization’s strategic objectives. 

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: 

• Build and nurture strong relationships with key stakeholders across ARO, PAN, and the wider business, ensuring alignment and shared understanding of client data initiatives. 
• Influence senior leaders and key decision-makers, providing strategic advice and recommendations that drive the successful execution of the client data strategy. 

Continuous Strategic Improvement: 

• Regularly evaluate the performance and outcomes of client data initiatives to ensure that strategic objectives are being met. 
• Continuously refine and optimize the strategic approach to client data, identifying areas for improvement and fostering a culture of innovation and agility in data utilization. 

Change Leadership & Adoption: 

• Support the successful adoption of the client data strategy across the organization, providing guidance and support to ensure that teams are ready to embrace changes in data management and analytics. 
• Drive organizational change by advocating for a strategic approach to data, helping stakeholders understand the value of evolving data practices and insights. 

Education/Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Business Analytics, Information Technology, or a related field. 
• Relevant certifications in data management or business strategy are advantageous but not required. 

Experience Required: 

• Proven Leadership: A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in strategic data management or leadership within a large-scale organization, ideally within banking, financial services, or a related industry. 
• Knowledge of financial products and services within Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB). 
• Familiarity with modern data technologies, platforms, and tools (e.g., data lakes, cloud platforms, machine learning,AWS, SQL, PowerBI). 
• Experience in implementing data governance and regulatory frameworks within a financial services environment. 

Skills & Experience Required: 

• Strategic Vision: Strong background in developing and driving strategic data initiatives that deliver high business value, with a particular focus on client insights and monetization. 
• Prioritization & Decision-Making: Ability to prioritize and make strategic decisions based on business objectives, ensuring resources are allocated to the highest-value initiatives. 
• Client-Centric Approach: Experience in transforming basic data management systems into actionable insights that directly enhance client relationships and contribute to business growth. 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across business units, aligning stakeholders from different teams to ensure strategic initiatives are executed successfully. 
• Monetization of Data: A strong understanding of how to leverage client data for both actionable insights and new revenue streams, ensuring that data strategies drive tangible business outcomes. 
• Influence & Communication: Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and guide both technical and business stakeholders at all levels. 
• Strategic Planning & Problem Solving: Ability to develop strategic plans, solve complex problems, and drive alignment across multiple teams and business units. 
• Data Strategy Experience: Deep understanding of data governance, privacy regulations, and the evolving landscape of client data usage within financial services. 

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology

End Date:

• June 4, 2025 (5 days left to apply)