Senior Specialist: Data Analytics at Auditor-General of South Africa

About the job

Role Purpose

The purpose of this role is to support and integrate with the Regularity Audit Business Units’ (RABU) efforts towards clean audit outcomes by pro-actively identifying key risks, red flags, suspicious

transactions/ trends relating to maladministration, fraud, corruption and non-compliance through the use of data analytics and sharing these risks with RABU’s (ISA240 audit support).

The incumbent will also be responsible for developing specialist skills through data analytics, research and in-depth analysis to enhance the efficiency of the audit process. Provide support to

Audit Research and Development (ARD) by contributing to the development of data analytics to inform audit processes. Contributing to specific sectors by conducting transversal data analytics, and supporting sector activities (such as planning, execution and reporting).

Strategic Function

• Provide strategic inputs to the strategy of the business unit (BU) and support the implementation thereof.

• Develop data analytics related innovation and thought leadership to advance audit analytics and ensure alignment with BU Balance Score Card (BSC).

• Provide insights on strategic government initiatives and the impact of these on Information Systems Audit.

Product Management

• Develop the leading practices in audit data analytics and provide innovative analytical insights that support various ISA products and projects.

• Provide strategic direction to the business unit on the use and deployment of leading practices in data analytics.

• Develop and perform new data analytics services that focus on predictive analytics

• Develop new ways of connecting and leveraging various data sources using statistical models or industry accepted tools.

• Collaborate with regularity audit and investigation business units to drive the integrated approach to data analytics.

• Improve data visualisation by providing meaningful insights from auditees’ data.

• Provide technical advice and translate the business needs to design; and develop tools, techniques, and metrics, and dashboards for insights and data visualization.

• Design and develop analytical solutions, tools and capabilities to drive value-add to the audit process

• Manage the development and deployment of data driven solution in the business unit.

• Conduct detailed data analysis on data used across RABU to evaluate and improve business processes.

• Provide technical guidance to data and product related inquiries in real-time to support business.

• Provide support to the centre and manage data security and data access.

Reporting:

• Develop and execute tools to monitor and report on data quality.

• Compile comprehensive reports after each project including recommended actions/strategies/approaches.

• Provide requisite input into the BU/portfolio quarterly reports and the integrated annual report.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain positive and value-adding relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Provide strategic support and guidance to internal stakeholders on total rewards matters in order to ensure alignment.

• Scan the environment to ensure a clear understanding of stakeholder needs.

• Engage with both internal and external stakeholders to identify and evaluate performance barriers and success in order to continuously improve on the service delivery

Research techniques & methodology

To identify, design and apply appropriate research methodologies for information management according to AG’s needs.

Auditing

Technical understanding of audit environment, needs and standard practices to interpret information and ensure relevant research outcomes.

Information technology

• Technical understanding of information technology, needs and standards practices to interpret information and ensure relevant research outcomes.

Analytical Skills

• Ability to use CAATs and data analytics to drive efficiencies

Project management

Ability to provide oversight for projects and all related activities. Ability to establish a set of tasks and activities associated with an intended outcome and timeline and ensure that actions are implemented to achieve the desired results of the project

Reporting

Ability to document and communicate the scope of work and findings and recommendations in line with relevant reporting standards or guidelines

Data knowledge

• Data Storage Technologies (i.e. SQL, Oracle, NoSQL, Hadoop, MSFT Access, etc.)
• Data Manipulation and Analysis Languages (i.e. R, SAS, Python, SQL, SPSS, Java, MATLAB, etc.)
• Data Visualization Technologies (i.e. PowerBI, Tableau, Qlikview, Spotfire, Advanced Excel, Access, etc.)
• Knowledge of a variety of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Big data
• Knowledge of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and related technologies (i.e. Blue

Formal Education

• This position requires a minimum qualification of a B-Degree in IT (e.g. Bcom Informatics or BSC Computer Science), Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Data Science, Engineering (software, electronics), Business Science in Finance and Accounting or equivalent.

• Certification, degree or postgraduate diploma in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and/or Robotics will be an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 12 years work experience in data analytics environment of which 5 years must be in a senior special role.

• Advantage: Experience with data architecture, data modelling, dashboard/visualisations and relational databases Involvement in application development,