Productivity Programme Director at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Reporting into the Head of Group Financial Decision Support in the Group Finance Function, the Productivity Programme Director will lead Absa’s Productivity Programme that drives Productivity initiatives across the Group. Their core responsibility will be to maintain the programme’s strategic alignment to Absa’s Productivity-related targets at Group level and to ensure these are delivered on by Business Units (BUs) and Functions.  
• Applicants have experience in the African Banking market and a strong track record executing programmes to drive productivity and efficiencies in large, federated organisations.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Strategic programme direction 

• Accountable for maintaining programme alignment to Group strategy and relevant performance metrics at a Group-wide and Business Unit/Function level
• Accountable for proactively shaping and adapting the programme based on upcoming demands and delivery risks
• Responsible for effectively escalating key strategic Productivity decisions to Group ExCo, presenting options and trade-offs for consideration, and provide strong, well-evidenced recommendations to the Board
• Responsible for critical review of Productivity portfolio based on deep programme knowledge, to challenge direction of programme and its initiatives

Ambassador for Productivity

• Responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with relevant BU and Function leadership for collective buy-in and momentum on the programme, including presenting to and influencing senior stakeholders in relevant forums
• Responsible for providing context and direction to change resource on the programme short- and long-term targets for productivity to support the shift in culture required for long-term benefits
• Responsible for building and leading a small, high-performing team for Productivity, and leveraging further resources as and when required to deliver on demand

Ownership of Productivity frameworks

• Accountable for ensuring the right set of metrics are used to assess productivity gains and these are reflected in performance assessment at all levels of the organisation
• Responsible for ensuring correct reporting on Productivity metrics by BUs and Functions and that measurement frameworks are correctly adhered to
• Responsible for collaborating with Finance to ensure that Productivity is incorporated correctly within financial planning and tracking processes

Ownership of Productivity Programme governance

• Responsible for chairing the Productivity SteerCo, ensuring agendas are aligned to programme priorities, attendees are well-informed ahead of meetings, and actions are communicated and completed
• Informed on the BU and Function-level engagement and input to relevant Change governance forums, to support ability to raise and action risks to initiative execution

Performance management 

• Responsible for ensuring that collaboration mechanisms (working groups, committees) are effective in executing cross-cutting initiatives and unblocking progress
• Consulted on BU and Function performance against target to manage performance where required to advise on remediation or escalate performance issues to SteerCo
• Consulted on adaptations to BU and Function productivity planning based on updates to forecasted benefits

Risk management

• Accountable for proactively identifying and communicating programme risks and issues, and ensure sufficient mitigation and contingency plans are in place and executed

​Role/Person Specification

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree qualification (Finance, Accounting, or Business-related qualification desirable)
• CA (SA) is preferred
• 8+ years of experience in Programme Management, oversight and financial planning
• Proven track record of leading large cross-functional programmes and managing governance
• Highly organised and able to prioritise and work to deadlines
• Skilled communicator and influencer, able to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• Demonstration of commitment to Absa’s values and vision

Education

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