Current Opportunities at The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA)

This role will form part of our plan to instill in-depth knowledge of the payments industry on our successful incumbent while adding significant value to the Strategy department.

Job Purpose:

• To support the strategy team and the strategy development process through research that has adequate breadth & depth.
• To develop and grow unique payments expertise that will allow the incumbent to become a valued contributor in the strategy team and eventually a fully-fledged thought leader.
• To become familiar with international trends, strategic payment scenario’s, regulatory standards and objectives, possible payment related risks, stakeholder needs and broader ecosystem challenges or dependencies.
• To become proficient in the articulation and presentation of factual information, and the conceptualisation of options and choices.
• To develop relevant facilitation skills that can support an effective strategy process and contribute to effective industry wide strategic dialogue.
• To help formulate solutions through problem solving, logic and research.
• Gain knowledge and experience into the payments environment including trending innovations.

Core Accountabilities:
Core Accountability 1

Support the strategy team in facilitating structured strategic dialogue related to the relevant payment stream and in relevant formal interbank forums.

• Engage in continued evaluation of current payment system strategy with stakeholders and support strategy team managers to formulate and develop new strategic positions and payment system plans and strategies.
• Maximise the effectiveness & efficiency of the research & analysis through the effective presentation and articulation of findings and recommendations.
• Support the strategy team to review and ensure high quality meeting artefacts such as agendas, review of minutes, and other relevant documentation.

Core Accountability 2
Assist with specific ad-hoc strategic focus areas and topics and help strategy managers to prepare for the facilitation of insight, decision making and progress in specific projects.

• Become familiar with techniques, strategic tools and strategic frameworks to enable strategic processes.
• Engage in research where necessary.
• Engage National Payments System (NPS) stakeholders, both in structured and ad-hoc engagements to expand networks necessary for the role.

Core Accountability 3
Articulate strategic facts and findings in formal documentation and from time to time also assist the strategy team to publish relevant high quality position papers.

Core Accountability 4
Participate in relevant project work groups and ensure that project implementation / execution is progressed through the provision of strategic facts, recommendations, and by making relevant strategic options and choices clear at all decision junctions.

• Support projects in any of the phases of defining, scoping, designing and implementing of industry requirements.

Education and experience

• 2-3 years hands on experience in general banking with an applicable Bachelors degree; or
• 1-year hands on experience in banking (preferably payments related) with a formal applicable post graduate degree

Closing Date 08 September 2023

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Overall Job Purpose

• Assists Project Managers during the development of major projects from commencement to completion. Monitors progress of the development projects within his/her area of responsibility and assists the Project Manager with the documentation when necessary.

Key Stakeholder Management including Communication and Interaction

• Internal: Payment Association of South Africa (PASA) Executives, Relevant Committees and Workgroups, PASA Functional areas
• External: PASA members and non-members, Payment Clearing House: Participant Groups (PCH PG) representatives,  PCH System Operator (PSO), System Operators (SOs) Third Party Payment Providers (TPC), South African Reserve Bank (SARB), National Treasury, Financial Sector Conduct Authority, International Payment System Bodies and Regulators.

Project Management Support:

• Performing project administrative functions such as organise and coordinate meetings, planning sessions, scoping sessions and workshops and associated logistics within time requirements
• Ensuring that meeting rooms are prepared, and all technology is functional to allow for effective engagements
• Record minutes, decisions, risks, issues, and actions at meetings and on-time distribution of all documentation/reports and filing of project documentation (Project Administration Audit Checks)
• Keep an action log and follow up on agreed actions from meeting with Project Managers or Project Stakeholders
• Handle general project communication and administration activities
• Assist and/or prepare project performance reports, dashboards and/or presentations to provide a comprehensive view of a project
• Provide support to project managers with changes in existing projects or execution of additional projects that cause changes to project schedules
• Ensure accurate distribution of reports to relevant stakeholders
• Facilitate approval/sign-off processes
• Identify potential risks involved in delivery and timelines

Stakeholder Management:

• Build and maintain sound relationships with project stakeholders
• Understand the deliverables of internal and external project stakeholders and contribute to success through support

Networking:

• Cooperate and work with others, encourage a positive team spirit
• Exercise a considerable degree of initiative in the execution of duties and perform duties independently
• Portray a professional image and a high degree of social skill when dealing with colleagues and stakeholders
• Keep abreast of changes and trends in project management

Role/Person Specification

Education and Experience Required:

• 3-5 years of hands-on experience as a project administrator or coordinator, with at least 2 years or more involved in complex multidisciplinary projects or multiple projects/programmes in the financial services and banking industry.
• A tertiary qualification in project management would be advantageous.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Project Management Methodologies
• Strong Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Knowledge of MS Project
• Knowledge of financial processes (e.g., invoicing and budgeting)
• Knowledge of project portfolio office (PPO)is an advantage

Skills

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Strong planning and organizing
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and to collaborate with others
• Build credibility and trust
• Ability to analyse problems and make decisions
• Ability to work under pressure
• Diligent attention to detail and quality
• Experienced in reporting and report writing i.e. Can summarize important information accurately and ensure that the key message does not go missing in translation
• A strong team player with team leadership potential
• Demonstrating resilience

Closing Date 08 September 2023

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• The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) is looking for a junior or entry-level employee who will form part of our initiative to build capacity for payments knowledge in the banking and financial services industry.
• This role will form part of our plan to instill in-depth knowledge of the payments industry on our successful incumbent while adding significant value to the operations and risk departments.

Duties:

Card and Electronic Payments (High Value and Low Value):

• Support the day-to-day process for the management and administration of the electronic and card payment systems environments.
• Ensure the PASA Governance Framework is adhered to in all the administrative functions and processes.
• Support the delivery of project in the card and electronic payment systems and PASA Structures
• Support incident management processes within industry Service-Level Agreements (SLAs)
• Compile Management Information Systems (MIS) and reports for the PASA Operations environment
• Ensure effective stakeholder management, internally and externally.
• Develop an understanding of the payments’ modernisation and innovation landscape through participation in key projects.
• Facilitate performance of risks and controls self-assessment reviews and reporting, in line with the approved Risk Framework and policies, within the card low value and high value electronic payment streams, as well as related key projects.
• Facilitate the identification, tracking and reporting of industry key risk indicators.
• Facilitate the escalation of material risk and operational incidents and issues in accordance with the approved escalation criteria and process.
• Provide support to and receive skills transfer from the Risk Manager and Specialist.

Knowledge and skills:

• Basic understanding of the various payment streams that make up the National Payment System (NPS) of South Africa and how they function.
• Microsoft 365 suite - intermediate
• Stakeholder management.
• Information management.
• Business process management (monitor, measurement and problem solving).
• Project Management (advantage)

Experience and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree related to financial services or banking.
• 1-3 years’ work experience in Financial Services / Banking industry