Senior Productivity and Cost Manager at Absa South Africa

Job Summary

• Reporting into the Productivity Director in the Finance Management Function, the Senior Productivity and Cost Manager will support in the measurement and reporting (internal and external) of productivity initiatives across the Group as part of Absa’s Productivity Programme. As part of the role, the candidate will also intrinsically be responsible for managing Group costs. The Senior Productivity and Cost Manager will provide Productivity Programme governance support and will play a key role in ensuring that Absa’s productivity-related targets, including cost ambitions, are delivered at a Group level.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Productivity (including cost) measurement and reporting 

• Responsible for the end-to-end co-ordination and control of systems/applications and processes supporting Group productivity (including cost) measurement and reporting
• Responsible for ensuring that appropriate metrics are used to assess productivity delivery and cost objectives on an ongoing basis and that these are reflected in performance assessment at different levels of the organization as appropriate
• Responsible for ensuring accurate and complete reporting of productivity benefits by BUs and Functions in terms of identified metrics and otherwise, including that measurement frameworks are correctly adhered to 
• Critically checking and challenging BU and Function qualitative and quantitative inputs and engaging with key stakeholders where necessary to obtain further insights and context in support of more effective measurement and reporting
• Through independent analysis and review, including peer analysis, and in conjunction with BU and Function inputs, develop and consolidate insights with appropriate commentary on key emerging themes for input/escalation into both internal and external Group-level reporting requirements
• Identify and recommend potential enhancements to existing productivity (including cost) management information on an ongoing basis in support of improved decision-making

Performance management

• Assisting the Productivity Director in managing productivity benefit and cost objective delivery against targets and escalating performance issues to appropriate committees, including but not limited to the Productivity SteerCo, Group FinCom and Group Exco.
• Collaborating with Finance to ensure that productivity benefits are incorporated correctly within BU and Function financial plans and performance management scorecards
• Responsible for maintaining the controls and processes supporting productivity benefit measurement for short-term incentivisation purposes
• Collaborating with BUs and Functions in promoting productivity-linked award schemes and supporting the operational co-ordination of similar such Group-level schemes

Productivity Programme governance support

• Support the Productivity Director in effectively managing the Productivity Steerco, Quick-wins Committee and any other relevant programme committees, ensuring agendas are aligned to programme priorities, attendees are well-informed ahead of meetings, and actions are communicated and completed

Risk management

• Supporting the Productivity Director in proactively identifying and communicating risks and issues, and tracking the execution of identified contingency plans

Role/Person Specification

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree qualification (Finance, Accounting, or appropriate Business-related qualification desirable)
• CA(SA)/CIMA is preferred
• 5+ years of experience in financial management and/or financial reporting and analysis 
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail with a proven track record for being able to interpret data from various sources and drawing conclusions and providing recommendations based on analysis, in a decision-useful format
• Strong operating knowledge of relevant tools and applications to assist in the interpretation of data and conversion of data into decision-useful management information 
• Highly organized and able to prioritize and work to deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstration of commitment to Absa’s values and vision

Education

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