Senior Finance Business Partner - Commercial Property Finance at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Develop tactical strategy and delivery plans, formulate associated practice/s and ensure operational implementation and adoption i.t.o. finance & performance management methodology, governance and delivery objectives.

Job Description

• Financial & Performance Reporting:
• Prepare financial and performance reports, both management and adhoc, by coordinating the execution of the day to day and general accounting functions in order to enable decision making.
• Present monthly reports by ensuring the completeness, accuracy and relevance of the information to be presented to enable Group Finance Management Team to make informed decisions.
• Prepare, sign off and discuss the short term plan (STP), medium term plan(MTP) and rolling forecast(RAF) and budgets with the relevant stakeholders to enable consolidation into Finance forecast and budget.
• Work with the team to consolidate the financial plans generated by MTP, STP and RAF and sense check the consolidations prior to recommending 2 approval by the Head of Group Finance
• Advisory Support: 
• Provide advice and support to management on financial risks that might have an impact on profitability by discussing at regular intervals all financial related matters | Financial Control and Compliance:
• Sign off on the quarterly supplementary schedules and attestation to Group Finance prepared by the relevant staff in the prescribed format.
• Maintain appropriate internal controls in line with Absa group policy by reviewing regularly all variance reports and other reports where applicable. Interact with the Internal and External Audit team and provide necessary information as and when required
• Ensure cost centre Managers comply with all regulations and policies when reflecting the financial position of the business
• Stakeholder Management:
• Communicate financial policies, procedures, standards and guidelines to the Senior Business Manager and Group Finance Management Team.
• Support projects by developing the financial component of the business case that is created by the management team to actively track and change benefits and costs of the project.
• Provide strong support to the operational team by having regular meetings with to share financial performance.
• Executive Administration:
• Prepare the key themes, presentations and reviews for the Senior Business Manager and assist with detailed content when required.
• Ensure that presentations are packaged to reflect the business unit's brand and the Senior Business Manager’s preferred style.
• Screen requests for meetings or events to be attended by the Senior Business Manager and determine which ones would be appropriate for personal attendance and which ones should be delegated to other managers in the business unit.
• Sign off proposals, quotes, invoices etc. based on the mandate delegated by the Senior Business Manager.
• Managing the Finance Environment
• Review and present monthly financials and variance commentary to CPF Manco team and where required support the Senior Finance Business Partner with presentation to EXCO Meetings.
• Engage with the Central Planning team to deliver monthly reports for Group reporting purposes
• Compile and present Financials to the relevant business owners on a monthly basis including financial actuals against forecasted trends and prior year performance.
• Conduct research and develop financial forecasts and indicators for the business to enable effective financial decision making and early warning systems.
• Actively engage with Capital Management team to review and ensure RWA reporting for CPF is correct
• Performing a consolidating function for BB, Wealth and ARO and CIB for finance manager as well as for CPF Head
• Actively manage a team to ensure internal deadlines are met and support business
• Accountability: Financial management and Business Partnering
• Monitor financial trends and identify gaps, based on gaps identified, advise business and finance on actions that can be taken
• 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 have to make and can relate that strategy to a forecast
• Provide financial advice and guidance to line managers and business owners on new initiatives, current budget management practices and trends in their areas of accountability.
• Explain targets and take accountability for the monitoring and achievement of front office performance down to a Headline Earnings Level including return metrics (RoRC, PARCC etc)
• 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
• Populate balanced scorecards for the specific department on a monthly basis. 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 on a monthly basis.
• Address any process failures specific to the department under management.
• Assist in preparing and consolidating monthly pack for BB , Wealth and ARO and CIB for finance manager as well as for CPF Head
• Accountability: Business Planning 
• Develop sound annual Financial Plans together with your Front Office Desk Heads 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 Revised Annual Forecast (RAF) for the area of accountability in accordance with BU strategy annually
• Review the income statement and balance sheet against budget with accountable managers on a monthly basis and engage on areas of under-performance.
• Performing a consolidating function for planning for BB , Wealth and ARO and CIB for finance manager as well as for CPF Head
• Accountability:  Governance
• 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 on a monthly basis.
• Complete compliance training undertaken within prescribed timelines.
• Implement required governance forums to support improved financial management practices within own area of responsibility. (e.g. monthly finance reporting and monthly finance meetings.)

Education and Experience Required

• NQF Level 7: Honours/Master’s Degree BCom Accounts
• Minimum 3 years financial management experience

Education

• Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Financial Sciences (Required)