Project Portfolio Manager at Absa
Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
My Career Development Portal: Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading-edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility.
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Job Summary
The purpose for this role is to have a dedicated resource with
the appropriate skills and knowledge to manage projects as per
organization strategy. To ensure projects are delivered as per Product
Development Life Cycle (PDLC) framework which enables effective Change
delivery that focuses on methodology which is an adequate for both Agile
& Waterfall, adaptable controls, in-line with the product scope
definition and changes.
• Ensure adherence to the framework and its associated controls
• Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full
compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise Wide Risk Management
Framework and internal Absa Policies Policy Standards
• Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) relevant to the role.
• Responsible for coordination with business to ensure changes aligns with the business procedures and process manuals
• Responsible for production and maintenance of plans.
• Conduct assessment against projects governance framework & develop plan to close project risks and gaps
• Drive change initiatives
• Responsible for maintaining workflow, budget and planning standards.
• Accountable to work with business to define its requirements in
order to meet its strategic objectives, including the development or
assistance in the development of Stage 1 and Stage 2 business cases for
the related projects
Job Description
Main accountabilities and approximate time split
PROJECT CONTROL , GOVERNANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk and Issue tracking, Providing an overview of work stream interdependencies
Weighting 15%
- Ensures projects are managed and controlled according to Absa Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC) framework
- Ensure correct associated impact and probability scoring is given to each Risk and Issue within the project and a clearly articulated change risk culture is embedded
- Identify, manage and ensure remediation of all execution operational risks and issues. Report to appropriate oversight and governance committees. Ensure a defined and recommend change risk tolerances in place with the right approvals. monitor and report throughout the project life cycle
- Ensure that CRAIDs (Constraints, Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies) is clearly defined and discussed on the respective forums. Make sure that an associated mitigating actions are identified and tracked appropriately
- Responsible for project/programme Change Control.
- Responsible for monitoring activities and ensure compliance with laid down Programme standards and procedures.
- Drive projects 1st line assurance (compliance, health checks, quality reviews)
- Ensure proper alignment with Operational Risks, Compliance and Project policies
- Responsible for Board and Regulatory approvals
PROJECTS FINANCE APPRAISAL
Tracking and reporting overall project budget and associated cost.
Weighting 10%
- Ownership and accountability of overall budget for the project/programme
- Responsible for knowing what is in the actuals and who is processing costs to their project code
- Basic knowledge of SAP , WBS , IN numbers and finance cost related system/process in order to manage well project/programme financials
- Competent knowledge in project tools related to cost tracking and budget management. e.g Planex
- Management of purchase orders, offshore charges, FOO sign-off, timely goods receipting, statement of work and payments. With very minimal escalations from vendors and other stakeholders
- Ensure timely preparation of business cases and timely submission to Change Approval Meeting (CAM) for funds release
- Flag financial issues as soon as they are discovered rather than when budget is exhausted
- Forecasting of project spend to address any budget or accrual issues at year end
- Reach out to finance in the event when financial issues can’t be resolved at a project level
- Accrual information and associated invoices to be sourced and provided to finance team as per agreed standard
- Ensure that Benefits Realization is actively managed throughout the life cycle of the project and post-project until the completion of the benefits review process
- Report to the project/programme Executives on the financial status monthly
- Basic knowledge on Transfer Pricing guidelines
BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS (BRD) TRACKING,ANALYSIS AND REPORTING
Ensure requirements meet its strategic objectives
Weighting 10%
- Coordinate with business to define requirements in order to meet its strategic objectives, including the development or assistance in the development of Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the BRD
- Validate requirements by cross-referencing them with business stakeholders. Ensuring a consensus against the requirements before actual start of building or developing the solution.
- Ensure the BRD is analysed and clearly interprets requirements for tech viability against the business objectives in order to develop the expected solution with zero /minimal defects. Ensure it carter for the original business problem
- Recommend workarounds, value additions and remove solution bottlenecks for the stakeholders.
- Document requirements to support business in design of use cases, functional and requirement specifications documents. Categorize requirements as functional (contains the features required by the end-users), non-functional (requirements for the performance and usability of the project) operational (operations that are carried out in the background) and technical and accordingly segregate them in different types of documents
- Gain requirements sign-off from the key stakeholders by making sure all of them are on the same level of understanding against the requirements and the proposed solution.
PROJECT DEFINITION, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATIONS
Define, scope and plan project as per agreed budget & Time.
Agree project structure & deliverables according to the Absa Change framework.
Manage and track progress through Information Management by developing presentation, decks accurately and timely
Weighting: 50%
- Ensures that Projects/programme are aligned to overall company Strategic Objectives
- Participate on defining the Business problem and the identified solution in order to ensure an agreed scope , budget and Time is clearly defined and approved
- Produce reports to the Product Director, Account Executive, Sponsor, Steerco and Business Committee to highlight the status of the project in terms of milestones, key achievements and key risks
- Prepare project forums as per required standards including Working Groups (WG) Team meetings and Steerco. Ensure approved meeting Frame work and Terms of Reference are in place at the initiation stage
- Take and distribute minutes from the design authority forum on an agreed frequency
- Take and distribute minutes from the Steerco and Business Committees at the end of each stage
- Responsible for assessing the impacts of new change against the existing planning portfolio
- File Master Project documentation- project folders should be up to date and accessible at a project level. Ensure that documents saved have used the correct naming conventions and version control
- Maintain and update the project library regularly and ensure all documentation is accurately organised
- Prepare the quality project Plan in line with Prince 2 Methodology/PMP by using the Microsoft project
- Responsible for consolidation /coordination of all l in-country project activities and issuing reports to key stakeholders and all staff involved.
- Responsible for reporting deviance in cost and time against the established project baseline.
- Responsible for the adherence and definition where required of best practice change standards, tools and processes to optimize the delivery of governance of change. Responsible for production of Programme level plans run locally.
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PEOPLE CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Design Projects communicational and training plans effectively.
Identify knowledge and skills gap timely and proactively address them with clear mitigating plan
Weighting: 10%
- Establishing effective project communication plans and ensuring their execution.
- Plan for training and knowledge embedment’s of the projects deliverables
- Identification of knowledge gaps and missing skills of the implementation solution /product by proactively collaborating with the SMEs and Product Owners. Address and gap and arrange effective trainings
- Coordinating with cross discipline team members to make sure that all parties are on track with the projects milestones
- Assisting business with tracking people related benefits from beginning to end of the change
- Meeting with project team members to identify and resolve issues.
- Preparing status reports by gathering, analysing and summarizing relevant information.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE
Weighting: 5%
- Ensure Office equipment and facilities are available and in a good working order
- Ensure that the roll-on and –off procedures for staff are adhered to
- Communicate to the team on relevant topics
- General administration for the project
- Well managed project office with easily accessible information
- Joint responsibility for the smooth running of the Programme Office in terms of maintenance of office records, servicing of equipment and machines, snap checks and mandatory security checks
Risk and Controls Objectives
Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Absa Operational Risk Framework and internal Absa Policies and Standards
Manage risk and control effectively by applying applicable risk frameworks and embedding a positive risk culture
- Understanding of own role in the end to end processes in which you play a part, including applicable risks and controls.
- Adhere to Absa’s policies and procedures applicable to own role, demonstrating sound judgement and responsible risk management.
- Report all risk events / incidents / issues using the defined process for your business area and help to understand why these happened and how to prevent them in future.
- Proactively look for ways to improve the control environment by considering what could go wrong in the processes you operate and how errors could be prevented.
- Continuous and proactive engagement with regulatory bodies, unions where applicable
- All mandatory training completed to deadline
Technical skills / Competencies
- A learning mind-set to rapidly assimilate complex business issues and quickly solve problems in a structured manner or pre-empting issues that may arise where there is limited precedence.
- Effective negotiating skills to secure both internal and external resources and deal with external service providers.
- Able to adopt and/or coach the use of a variety of methods to keep projects on schedule and within budget
- PRINCE2/PMP Foundation level accreditation
- Quality, high standards and controls
- Drive for results
- Service Excellence
- Good understanding of project governance processes
- Understanding of project management principles
- Accuracy
- Problem Solving skill
- Technological understanding (tools – Microsoft Project Plan, Planex etc)
- Time Management
- Communication skill
- Stakeholders management
- Problem Solving
- Analytical
Knowledge, Expertise and Experience
Essential
- Expert knowledge of the Absa Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC) framework, governance and other change policies
- Projects management experience
- Some experience of managing activity across the whole of a project lifecycle, using current technology, structured methods and a quality process
- Exposure to governance, control and risk management
- Proven ability to effectively work across teams
Preferred
- Knowledge and application of project/programmes management and systems development techniques e.g.PRINCE2, MSP/PMP will be an added advantage,
- Practical experience of appropriate change/programme management software.
- Knowledge of the Bank’s policies, standards, procedures covering premises, equipment, security procedures/controls and snap checks.
- Ability to effectively work across teams
Absa Values
Absa’s Values and Behaviours represent the set of standards which governs the actions of all of us who work for the bank and against which the performance of every one of us in Absa are being assessed and rewarded:
- Trust
- Resourceful
- Inclusion
- Courage
- Stewardship
Education
National Diplomas and Advanced Certificates: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)
How to Apply:
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
Portfolio Manager at Absa
Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
My Career Development Portal: Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading-edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility.
Job Summary
Responsibility for the management of the portfolio(s) across
the Credit Life Cycle in aggregate, which comprises of the following
• Product Planning
• Credit Initiation
• Account Maintenance
• Fraud Management
• Collections & Recoveries
• Responsible for developing and adhering to business mandate and scale triggers for all products
• Setting of product risk appetite and strategies
• Policy formulation / circulars – owner of the portfolio Risk policies and Procedures and Manuals
• Provide input into developing and review of Portfolio modelling
• Analysis of management Information with appropriate recommendations to the Head of Credit
• Liaison with product/business managers and owners
Initiate, agree and monitor Collection and Recoveries strategies
• Accountability for all Credit scorecard design, implementation
and review Input into Junior Consumer Credit Risk staff Performance
development
• Agree and be responsible for all change initiatives in portfolio
Job Description
Main accountabilities and approximate time split
30-40% – Credit Risk Management Time Split
- Assess a customer’s business through the analysis of Business and Credit risks associated with the provision of the bank’s products and services to the customer.
- Develop high quality credit solutions with the view of obtaining fast credit approval from Credit teams.
- Act as the joint contact for credit management purposes for accountants, solicitors and other professionals.
30 – 40% – Portfolio Management Time Split
- Manage the portfolio within agreed risk appetite.
- Formulate strategies that drives growth while maintaining an acceptable level of risk to achieve agreed performance targets
- Develop a strong Risk/COO/Consumer Business partnerships
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10 – 20 % – Leadership Time Split
- Develop a highly motivated team of portfolio analysts maintaining excellent relationships within own team and wider business to ensure achievement of business goals.
- Consider the training and development needs of the team and support the development and implementation of solutions.
- Ensure effective performance development and succession planning for the team.
Technical Skills/Competencies
- Strong intellect balanced by practical and pragmatic approach
- Decisive
- Strong internal and external networking
- Analytical
- Risk Management
- Business Management
- People management and coaching
- Communications (written and oral) and presentations
- Effective negotiation and influencing
- Strong Lending skills
- Influencing
Essential
- Comprehensive technical credit skill
- General commercial/industry awareness
- Working knowledge of risk management policies, procedures & pricing
- Working knowledge of Group policies and strategies relative to the credit function
- Product knowledge
- Detailed understanding / fit of the vision for Risk
- Detailed understanding of the Bank’s policies on Employment/Redeployment, Equal
- Opportunities and Health & Safety
- Working knowledge of local country structure and strategy
- Leadership and performance development of a team
- Managing risk and reward Preferred
- Risk management background
Risk and Controls Objectives
Manage risk and control effectively by applying applicable risk frameworks and embedding a positive risk culture
- Understanding of own role in the end to end processes in which you play a part, including applicable risks and controls.
- Adhere to Barclay’s policies and procedures applicable to own role, demonstrating sound judgement and responsible risk management.
- Report all risk events / incidents / issues using the defined process for your business area and help to understand why these happened and how to prevent them in future. Proactively look for ways to improve the control environment by considering what could go wrong in the processes you operate and how errors could be prevented.
- All mandatory training completed to deadline
Technical skills / Competencies
Personal Attributes:
- Basic operations knowledge
- Strong product management, selling and negotiation skills
- Excellent communication skills enabling communication with people at all levels
- Ability to execute analytical and data driven decisions
- Ability to create and identify innovative solutions
Essential and preferred Experience
Experience, qualifications and other requirements specific to the role What does the role holder need to know/know about and/or be qualified in?
- Degree or equivalent business experience, desirable Preferred
Postgraduate degree (e.g. MBA)Mathematical or financial qualification
Skills & Competencies
- What does the role holder need to be able to do/be good at doing?
- Highly competent in analysis and numeracy
Others * Please give details.
Absa Values
Absa’s Values and Behaviours represent the set of standards which governs the actions of all of us who work for the bank and against which the performance of every one of us in Absa are being assessed and rewarded:
- Trust
- Resourceful
- Stewardship
- Inclusive
- Courage
Read Also:
Education
Higher Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)
How to Apply:
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
