Senior Finance Specialist: Group Planning at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Group Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), formerly known as BP&A, supports decision making within the Absa Group through the provision of relevant financial information and analysis at a Group-wide level.
• FP&A’s aim is to deliver strategic insights into the Group based on historic trends as well as forward-looking ambitions. The strategic value of robust financial analysis cannot be overstated.
• By offering a clear picture of an organisation’s financial health and performance, FP&A enables the Group’s most senior leadership to identify strengths, weaknesses and growth opportunities.
• This analysis extends beyond simple financial metrics, incorporating broader market trends and competitive dynamics to provide a holistic view of the business landscape.

This role is a specialist role within the Planning team within wider Group FP&A. The Planning team is responsible for:

• the overall financial planning across Absa Group (preparation and review of forecasts and short- and medium-term budgets that inform the Integrated Plan including restatements and rebase of plan where required)
• preparation of key financial reports including commentary for use by the Absa Group Exco and Board
• analysis of competitors, trends, revenues, new products/businesses etc
• preparation of briefing notes for annual results presentations
• ad hoc analysis and research, often related to presentations to Exco and other senior management

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

• Accountability: Manage and execute the following deliverables to Exco and other members of senior management in collaboration with teammates, wider FP&A and with the support of business cluster financial decision support teams, risk colleagues and treasury colleagues:
• Project management and analysis of key planning deliverables throughout the year: revised annual forecasts (RAF), short-term and medium-term plans (STP and MTP), stress testing and integrated plan outputs
• Monthly and quarterly key financial reports on financial performance
• Competitor analysis
• Research projects - gathering financial data and creating insightful, decision useful analysis and thought pieces
• Results presentations at half year and year end
• Other ad hoc projects and presentations
• Financial scenario analysis and stress testing
• Consolidating financial information for senior management
• Attend meetings to assist executives to understand and complete their tasks to achieve team goals

Accountability: RAF and STP review packs

• Assess the attainability and reasonability of the various budgets and forecasts put forward by comparing them to market expectations, past performance and management expectations. Reliance is not simply placed on the numbers themselves but utilisation of various key metrics (return on regulatory capital, return on equity, cost-to-income, JAWS, etc.) is essential.
• Compile review packs for submission to Exco and any other relevant committee. The pack together with commentary is necessary to provide a sounds basis on which the budget is approved.
• Interact with other departments such as Treasury, Risk and Group Tax may be necessary to provide comfort and assurance that the more technical aspects of submissions (e.g. funding plan impacts, risk-weighted assets and leverage) have been scrutinized and appear reasonable given the Groups economic outlook.

Accountability: Ad-hoc requirements/submissions

• Execute ad-hoc queries that are dependent on external and internal requirements and vary considerably throughout the year.
• Attend various committee meetings in which one will use their understanding of e.g. margins, impairment trends or economic understanding to provide a valuable contribution. In some instances, the contribution will be on a discussion basis and in others a submission to the committee is required.
• Provide other departments (Productivity Office, Office of the CEO, Treasury, etc.) with a range of information (analysis, forecasts and actual financial data etc) to perform their respective tasks. The information supplied may need to be package in a different format to make it relevant for their respective needs. An understanding of the roll-up structures within the Absa business and good financial understanding is vital in this instance to avoid misrepresenting information.

Accountability: Interim and year-end reporting (twice a year)

• Compile briefing packs used as summary and in some instances as additional detail for the annual and half year end financial statements. The packs are utilised by senior executives as a summary for interim and annual financial statements.
• Compile quick reference packs. An individual is required to engage with stakeholders such as Investor Relations and the various business unit representatives to ascertain possible topical subjects and key financial data for the relevant period. Scope is also given to frequently asked questions by investors.
• Attend investor "one-on-one" sessions in which one would either play a support role to a more senior Absa representative or through a more passive role for educational purposes.
• Compile competitor analysis which compares the Group’s performance to peers.

Accountability: Cluster Relationship Manager (CRM) roles

• Provide analysis support relating to role to respective cluster through submissions, due dates and planning Interact with and supply guidance to Business units on a daily basis
• Perform all other duties as reasonably assigned

People Investment Accountabilities

• Peer responsibility: Coach, inspire, engage, mentor and develop finance and business savvy leaders.
• Play to our A-Game culture of inclusivity, diversity, entrepreneurship, and ownership.
• Network with finance colleagues across Group Finance and create awareness of challenges, opportunities and issues and encourage collaboration
• Focus on finance skills evolution and remaining relevant.
• Maintaining and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders across the organisation, e.g. Group Financial Resource Management, Group Risk, Group Treasury Finance, Finance Business Partners and Financial Decision Support Heads.

Qualifications and experience:

• B Com degree with Honours of Masters (major in Accounting, Financial Management or Economics)
• CA SA / CIMA (5-8 years post qualifying)
• Non-CA SA / CIMA (7-10 years’ experience in Financial Services organisation)
• Able to work effectively across a multi-service Financial Services organisation
• Previous exposure to financial management reporting in a financial services organisation

Knowledge and skills:

• Financial Accounting
• Report writing
• Analytical skills
• Self-driven and good interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Deadline driven
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Experience in handling big data and landing process efficiency projects
• Some knowledge of dashboards and PowerBI
• Knowledge of financial markets
• Knowledge of economics

Education

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

End Date: September 3, 2025