Opportunities at Allan Gray Proprietary Limited

Job Summary
We are seeking a dynamic individual with critical thinking and a data orientated mind-set. The role of the ideal candidate would be to develop and implement new or improved business solutions that drive our business forward in support of the overall business objectives and strategy.

This space is particularly interesting, as it requires us to build systems which are responsible for or assist in the key day-to-day activities of our business.

Job Responsibilities
Problem solving and solution design

• Analyse, problem-solve and interpret business need and translate them into application and operational requirements
• Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a general understanding and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs

Requirements elicitation

• Identify key stakeholders and gather requirements for specific problems / opportunities
• Elicit requirements using a range of techniques
• Drive and challenge business areas on their assumptions in an effort to come up with solid solutions
• Investigate feasible solutions, i.e. enhancing of existing functionality or development of new functionality

Value identification

• Recognise and articulate the expected 'customer' value for a specific problem or enhancement
• Use the knowledge of our internal and external systems to maximise business value
• Analyse data to maximise business value
• Liaise with various industry partners around service integration and product offerings

Presentation and facilitation

• Interact professionally with a diverse group including executives, managers and subject matter experts
• Prepare and present content as well as facilitate workshops.
• Drive agreement and outcomes even when there are conflicting views / stakeholders

Communication and listening

• Liaise between the business units, IT domains, third party vendors and team members
• Actively listen, be responsive and express thoughts effectively
• Convey information regarding business processes and anticipated changes

Documentation and written communication

• Develop requirements specifications to an appropriate level of detail, using various techniques, while conforming to team standards
• Interpret and express the needs of our users through visuals, e.g. mock-ups and user journeys
• Assist in drafting user and training documentation

Testing

• Defining the test approach
• Extracting test requirements and creating test scenarios
• Execute manual front-end and webservice testing that may be required – which includes system, integration, regression, functional and end-to-end testing as well as exploratory testing
• Managing and maintaining the regression test suits
• Collaborate closely with developers, identifying, logging, prioritizing and verifying defects in a defect tracking system.

Project management and implementation

• Plan and manage individual projects, whilst coordinating stakeholders and timelines.
• Support and drive the implementation

Teamwork and ownership

• Serve as the conduit between the customer community and the software support team
• Collaborate with consultants and subject matter experts to establish the technical vision and analyse trade-offs between usability and performance needs
• Support and Collaborate with team to achieve good outcomes.

Skills & Competencies

• 2 years’ experience in a business analysis or system analysis role
• Experience in financial services sector would be advantageous
• Flexcube experience would be advantageous
• Experience in the use of business analysis frameworks and methodologies
• Experience preparing and executing functional test scripts

Qualification

• Relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. Information Systems, Software Development, Systems/Data Analysis, BComm, B Bus Science) with strong academic performance preferred

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Job Description
The Support Analyst will provide 2nd level IT application support to the Operations support team, business users and domains at a senior technical level, as well as assist with deploying software to the various release development environments as well as troubleshooting environment specific problems. This job also involves adhering to agreed change management procedures and assisting with improving release and operations procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide a lead technical role on all Retail SQL based applications.
• Work with domains to continuously drive application architecture and configuration improvement.
• Work closely with the Digital support and development teams to continuously improve the stability in this environment.
• Work with domains and support teams to improve software deployment techniques and procedures.
• Ensure that software releases deployed into the production environment follow documented IT procedures.
• Ensure all agreed release and support procedures are followed.
• Provide 2nd line application technical support on all Retail applications and databases to support teams and all Retail Domains when required.
• After hours standby and support may be required from time to time.
• Liaise with 3rd line development teams to resolve user incidents, when required.
• Adhere to agile work management methodologies.

Qualifications And Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Computer Science or Information Systems.
• Excellent Microsoft Windows and SQL server knowledge with practical experience.
• SQL scripting skills.
• Significant experience in an eCommerce web application environment and IIS management.
• A comprehensive working knowledge of a Windows Server environment.
• Significant previous experience in a pressurised operations support environment.
• 5+ years work experience in an IT Applications support environment.
• Linux experience advantageous

Key Attributes & Competencies

• A good understanding of application development principles and methodologies.
• Knowledge of Allan Gray’s application environment would be a distinct advantage.
• Detail oriented.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong logical thinking and deductive reasoning.
• Tenacity and execution.
• Planning and managing people and process.
• Effective communication style.
• Stress tolerant.
• Team player.

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Job Responsibilities

• Estimating effort for testing tasks
• Defining the test approach for each sprint
• Extracting test requirements for user stories
• Designing and creating test cases
• Executing test cases manually / automated
• Collaborate closely with developers, identifying, logging, prioritizing and verifying defects in a defect tracking system
• Managing and maintaining the test environments and test data
• implementing automated tests
• First line support and root cause analysis of production issues and proactive, friendly, transparent and efficient support service
• Continuous improvement initiatives specifically with regards to quality
• Product risk mitigation thereby limiting defects in production
• Managing and maintaining the regression test suits (manual / automated)
• Carry out exploratory testing
• Final sign-off of new releases

Requirements

• You understand the systems you are testing.
• You know how to write SQL.
• C# or Java scripting experience would be advantageous.
• You know where it is most effective for an automated test to live.
• You can speak the same language as the developers.
• You understand the benefits of manual testing but also the costs.
• You are continually trying to improve your testing skills.
• You read widely about what is happening in the world of testing.
• You know that learning didn't end with the last course you did but rather its continuous for the rest of your life.
• You care about releasing great software.
• You enjoy complicated numerical calculations.
• You will need to help solve the complex testing issues we face.
• You will need to help solve the small testing issues we face.
• You will need to deal with a wide range of people often under severe stress.
• Must have hands on experience data testing within databases, reports, and applications.

Education

• Degree in computer science or business information systems ideal, but solid experience will be considered as well

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Job Summary
We are looking for a someone to

• Lead people.
• Manage the planning, preparation, and execution of testing activities within the each test level.
• Provide sound guidance and mentorship and contribute to the implementation of effective QA processes.

Job Responsibilities

• Contribute to the implementation of the test strategy, test processes and procedures
• Collaborate with teams to implement QA best practices across domains
• Advocate for quality conscious behaviour and ensure adherence across domains
• Actively drive implementation of test improvement initiatives across the floor
• Actively drive optimisation of manual and automated test coverage
• Actively drive resolutions for complex testing issues and challenges
• Manage the planning, preparation, and execution of test activities / initiatives
• Monitor test progress and take corrective action where required
• Escalate risks and issues to the Test Manager and/or other relevant parties
• Mentor, manage and coach Test Analysts
• Participate in recruitment and on-boarding of Test Analysts

Requirements

• Minimum of 7+ years software testing experience
• Mentorship and leadership of Test Teams
• Implementation and improvement of QA processes
• Extensive technical (manual and or automated) test experience

Key Competencies

• Lead by example and for others
• Strong influence across teams and disciplines
• Excellent communication and co-ordination skills
• Resilient and able to perform under pressure
• Able to share knowledge and leverage knowledge of others
• Able to build positive team morale and foster team engagement
• Able to nurture and develop team members
• Respond well to suggestions from others
• Self-motivated
• Learning mindset
• Independent thinker

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Job Responsibilities

• Estimating effort for testing tasks
• Defining the test approach for each sprint
• Extracting test requirements for user stories
• Designing and creating test cases
• Executing test cases manually / automated
• Manual front end functional testing of applications – which includes system, integration, regression and end to end testing as well as exploratory testing
• Collaborate closely with developers, identifying, logging, prioritizing and verifying defects in a defect tracking system
• Managing and maintaining the test environments and test data
• implementing automated tests
• Develop test tools, and extend test frameworks and test environments
• First line support and root cause analysis of production issues and proactive, friendly, transparent and efficient support service
• Playing a central role in establishing best practices for testing in an agile environment
• Continuous improvement initiatives specifically with regard to quality
• Product risk mitigation thereby limiting defects in production
• Project risk mitigation thereby ensuring a smooth deployment process
• Managing and maintaining the regression test suits (manual / automated)
• Carry out exploratory testing
• Final sign-off of new releases

Experience

• You understand the systems you are testing.
• You can program (we use Scala, JavaScript and UFT amongst others) or are interested in learning to program.
• You know how to write SQL.
• You know where it is most effective for an automated test to live. (Unit, Integration, E2E)
• You can speak the same language as the developers.
• You understand the benefits of manual testing but also the costs.
• You are continually trying to improve your testing skills.
• You read widely about what is happening in the world of testing.
• You know that learning didn't end with the last course you did but rather its continuous for the rest of your life.
• You care about releasing great software.
• You have experience testing financial applications.
• You enjoy complicated numerical calculations.
• You will need to help solve the complex testing issues we face.
• You will need to help solve the small testing issues we face.
• You will need to deal with a wide range of people often under severe stress.

Education

• Degree in computer science or business information systems ideal, but solid experience will be considered as well.