Job Opportunities at Absa

Job Summary

To coordinate the data science and AI engineering tasks at the bank. To provide strategic guidance, technical design, and quality assurance over implementation of data science, machine learning and AI and the related infrastructure implementation.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

• Manage data science requirements by ensuring alignment of data science strategy with overall bank strategy.
• Support the Chief data officer in design and implementation of data strategy
• Oversee collection and analysis of requirements for data science and ML/AI centred automation.
• Provide tools to team members who collect requirements and perform analysis to ensure consistent approach to delivery of value and quality.
• Prioritize business requirements and provide feedback to unit heads on priority listings
• Set up measurement and performance standards of data science solutions by facilitating collection of metrics on all solutions developed for consolidation in the data science value tracker
• Facilitate learning and development of team members and bank staff on data and/or data science literacy and use of bank data science solutions.
• Review planned and anticipated projects on weekly basis to ensure consistency in solution development and alignment to overall bank objectives communicated by Unit heads
• Continuously review data science solutions in place to identify improvements and develop action plans
• Provide in put on design of business solutions by ensuring data science requirements are embedded into the project plans.
• Coach team members on how to interpret data science outputs and integrate subject matter expertise to derive relevant insights.
• Agree targets and take overall accountability for achievements of performance objectives for the data science function.
• Provide clear direction to team members on areas strategic plan and focus areas
• Embed high performance culture in team by creating effective structures for distributed leadership, open feedback and objective performance measurement
• Motivate staff and ensure efforts are recognized and provide first level of escalation for staff grievances
• Facilitate design of technical data and AutoML architecture to support democratization of data science.
• Design best in class standards for solution development to be implemented by Data scientists and data engineers
• Ensure that core data governance standards as defined by CDO are implemented and maintained including quality and privacy.

Education and experience required

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative/numerical discipline, or business analytics. Master’s Degree in related field an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years Technical experience in data science related practice
• Proven experience managing a Data Science or wider Analytics team

Knowledge and skills

• Lateral and strategic thinking
• Relationship management
• Leadership and people management
• Experience in project management software especially technology-oriented project tools

Competencies

• Excellent technical capability in Data Science/ML/AI techniques and algorithms, such as k-NN, Naive Bayes, SVM, Generalized linear models, Decision trees, Deep Neural Networks
• Ability to communicate complex scientific/engineering ideas to a non-technical audience.
• Data visualization skills in Tableau, PowerBI, QlickView, etc
• Experience in cloud data structures and platforms like AWS, GCP and Azure
• Knowledge of EDA techniques in both structured and unstructured data
• Strong object-oriented and functional programming skills in at least one of Python, R, Scala, Spark, SQL, etc.
• Proficiency in using query languages such as SQL, Hive, Pig
• Experience with NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB, Cassandra, HBase
• Evidence of innovative mindset in creating solutions and process improvement.
• Experience in risk management
• Experience with building significant pieces of an organization’s data platform and strategy is a plus
• Ability to communicate complex scientific/engineering ideas to a non-technical audience.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

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Job Summary

1. Delivering of exceptional business performance through working as part of a team, which undertakes a wide range of processing and servicing activities.
2. Working closely with the team manager to influence consistent achievement of agreed service level standards
3. Adhere to the standards set under Payments rules as per the current Procedures and Processes for documents examination.
4. Manage the document examination processes, ensuring that all documents are accurately and timely examined.
5. Ensure documents are handled as per bank procedures.
6. Provide leadership to the back office and customer facing team members championing a strong culture of performance development.
7. Sign off all document examined up to an equivalent of USD 100,000 or as may be allocated from time to time for all Payments transactions.
8. Team Leadership

Job Description

OPERATIONAL AND SERVICE:

DOCUMENT PREPARATION

• Receipt of work at Payments
• Verify signatures on Telegraphic Transfers-E17, salaries, transfers, and other instructions
• Ensure call back is done as per set limits.
• Authorize instructions per set limits
• Control and reconciliation of controlled stationery working stock at CSC.

INWARD, NOSTRO, OUTWARD/DATA CAPTURE AND CASH MANAGEMENT

• Monitor the receipt of documents from documents preparation department to ensure adherence to SLA.
• Obtain cross rates from Dealers/Treasury operations to a different foreign currency account.
• Monitor workflow in the team and ensure adherence to SLA.
• Verify signatures on all the instructions received.
• Ensure call back is done as per set limits.
• Authorize instructions per set limits
• Control and reconciliation of controlled stationery working stock at Payments.
• Check and authorizing both manually and electronically the following products:
• Telegraphic Transfers, Salaries, and other Cash Management (Absa Integrator, Bank Direct, Mpesa etc).
• Ensure all customer instructions are logged in the respective registers.
• Ensure all requests are properly authorized and signatures verified before processing.
• Ensure revenue is collected as per tariff.
• Ensure all errors are captured.
• Ensure daily reconciliation of liability and suspense accounts is done.
• Covering of deals with dealers and following up on outstanding deal tickets.
• Daily actioning of Payments reports.
• Actioning of Nostro outstanding report form PAIS
• Own and manage customer Queries and complaints ensuring a seamless world class customer service.
•  ensure all queries are captured.
•  provide a monthly summary of queries received to the team Manager.
•  Ensure prompt and quality filing.
•  Preparation and submission of accurate returns

PEOPLE ACTIVITIES-TEAM WORK

• Promote teamwork at Payments.
• Provide ways and means of challenging the way we have always done our things. Challenge the status quo. Support an empowering climate within the team. Share knowledge, experience, best practice, and provision of constructive feedback as required and when necessary.
• Support and adopt the implementation of change initiatives.
•  Participate in local events to support local needs, develop individual and team skills and raise Absa Kenya profile in the local community

OPERATIONAL RISK AND RIGOUR

• Ensure adherence to the Group IT security policy and controls in accessing the system
• Comply with Operational risk and rigor in respect to protecting our people, customers, assets, and the organization.
• Carry out snap-checks in a timely manner.

SELF DEVELOPMENT

• Agree your personal development (PD) objectives with the team Manager
• Pursue Self-Development to increase personal effectiveness, acknowledge strengths and areas for development.
• Obtain constant feedback on Personal Development from your team leader and other team leaders.
• Pursue self-Development to increase personal effectiveness, acknowledge strengths and areas for development

COMPLIANCE & CONTROLS

• Achieve operational rigour compliance in all aspects of the Corporate back office processing.
• Undertake snap checks and ensure operational weaknesses identified are addressed.
•  Actively participate in operational change management activities as required.
• Implement and monitor the operational risk management guidelines for the centre, working with other team managers to identify and resolve
• Manage the operational risk profile i.e. DRCA, Risk events and Health /safety standards compliance.
• Develop and maintain a fit for purpose Business Continuity Management Plans in conjunction with Team Managers
• Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise Wide Risk Management Framework and internal Absa Policies and Policy Standards.
• Understand and manage risks and risk events (incidents) relevant to the role.

Knowledge and skills

• Good knowledge of branch-based products and services frequently used by Retail, Business Banking and Corporate customers, including features and set-up arrangements.
• A good understanding and working knowledge of all computer systems and applications used at Payments.
• Good knowledge of all Payments and corporate products.
• An understanding of the team performance objectives.
• A working knowledge of relevant legislation e.g. KYC, Money Laundering, Service standards, Healthy and Safety Standards etc.
• Excellent Customer Service.

Competencies

• Proficient in internal computer Operating Systems and Applications.
• Numeric and Analytical skills.
• Team working skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Payments products knowledge.

Education

Higher Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)