Lead Client Data Strategy Enablement

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.

Job Summary

As the Lead for Client Data Strategy Enablement, you will play a pivotal role in driving the strategic execution and operational alignment of CIB’s Client Data Strategy. Your focus will be on ensuring that client data initiatives transition from foundational to advanced strategies, enabling innovative data-driven outcomes in line with the existing Client Data Strategy.



This role is designed for a strategic leader with a strong track record in formulating and driving plans that maximize business value, enhance client insights, and create monetization opportunities. You will help ensure alignment between ARO and PAN client data initiatives, providing visibility and fostering collaboration across teams.



Your expertise will be key in formulating strategic data roadmaps, prioritizing & socializing high-value initiatives, and guiding teams toward successful outcomes, all while ensuring that the client data strategy evolves into a source of meaningful insights and revenue generation.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

 

Strategic Enablement: 

• Play a central role in enabling the strategic execution of CIB’s Client Data Strategy by providing guidance and oversight to ensure alignment with the broader organizational vision. 

• Collaborate closely with senior leadership to ensure that data initiatives are integrated into the bank’s overarching business objectives and client engagement strategies. 

Tactical Execution: 

• Support the execution of key client data initiatives, ensuring that strategic plans are realized and business value is delivered. 

• Work with cross-functional teams (including data, technology, and business leaders) to drive the operational execution of client data programs, ensuring strategic alignment and successful implementation. 

Alignment with PAN and ARO: 

• Act as a strategic liaison to ensure that ARO’s client data initiatives are aligned with PAN’s overarching client data strategy and key themes. 

• Ensure visibility of PAN and group-level client data initiatives within ARO, fostering collaboration and coherence across all teams involved. 

Prioritization & Strategic Planning: 

• Maintain a strategic roadmap that identifies key client data initiatives, with a focus on business impact and alignment with broader strategic goals. 

• Prioritize data-related initiatives based on their value to the business, ensuring a clear focus on the most important opportunities that drive client insights and monetization. 

Client Data Insights & Monetization: 

• Drive the transformation from basic data management to advanced client data insights that inform business decisions, enhance customer experiences, and unlock monetization opportunities. 

• Work with business and product teams to identify and implement ways to monetize client data insights, ensuring these opportunities align with the organization’s strategic objectives. 

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: 

• Build and nurture strong relationships with key stakeholders across ARO, PAN, and the wider business, ensuring alignment and shared understanding of client data initiatives. 

• Influence senior leaders and key decision-makers, providing strategic advice and recommendations that drive the successful execution of the client data strategy. 

Continuous Strategic Improvement: 

• Regularly evaluate the performance and outcomes of client data initiatives to ensure that strategic objectives are being met. 

• Continuously refine and optimize the strategic approach to client data, identifying areas for improvement and fostering a culture of innovation and agility in data utilization. 

Change Leadership & Adoption: 

• Support the successful adoption of the client data strategy across the organization, providing guidance and support to ensure that teams are ready to embrace changes in data management and analytics. 

• Drive organizational change by advocating for a strategic approach to data, helping stakeholders understand the value of evolving data practices and insights. 

Education/Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Business Analytics, Information Technology, or a related field. 

• Relevant certifications in data management or business strategy are advantageous but not required. 

Experience Required: 

• Proven Leadership: A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in strategic data management or leadership within a large-scale organization, ideally within banking, financial services, or a related industry. 

• Knowledge of financial products and services within Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB). 

• Familiarity with modern data technologies, platforms, and tools (e.g., data lakes, cloud platforms, machine learning,AWS, SQL, PowerBI). 

• Experience in implementing data governance and regulatory frameworks within a financial services environment. 

Skills & Experience Required: 

• Strategic Vision: Strong background in developing and driving strategic data initiatives that deliver high business value, with a particular focus on client insights and monetization. 

• Prioritization & Decision-Making: Ability to prioritize and make strategic decisions based on business objectives, ensuring resources are allocated to the highest-value initiatives. 

• Client-Centric Approach: Experience in transforming basic data management systems into actionable insights that directly enhance client relationships and contribute to business growth. 

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across business units, aligning stakeholders from different teams to ensure strategic initiatives are executed successfully. 

• Monetization of Data: A strong understanding of how to leverage client data for both actionable insights and new revenue streams, ensuring that data strategies drive tangible business outcomes. 

• Influence & Communication: Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and guide both technical and business stakeholders at all levels. 

• Strategic Planning & Problem Solving: Ability to develop strategic plans, solve complex problems, and drive alignment across multiple teams and business units. 

• Data Strategy Experience: Deep understanding of data governance, privacy regulations, and the evolving landscape of client data usage within financial services. 

Education

Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised