Team Lead : Data Enablement & Insights

Absa Bank; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading South African bank is seeking a Team Leader to manage data insights for the Advise & Investments department. This role involves using advanced analytics to drive decision-making and innovation. Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 5-7 years of banking experience in data analytics. Strong skills in SQL, SAS, and Python are essential. The position offers a collaborative work environment focused on continuous improvement and strategic growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or related field required.
• Postgraduate qualification preferred.
• 5-7 years of experience in data analytics roles within a commercial bank.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop analytics teams to provide insights.
• Apply advanced analytics techniques to support business initiatives.
• Champion data quality and governance standards.

Skills

Data analytics

SQL

SAS

Python

BI platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Postgraduate qualification in Data Analytics

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Qlikview

Job description

Overview

Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together... one story at a time.

With over 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

We are seeking a Team Leader to lead the Advise & Investments data insights / MI / BI portfolios. This role is central to enabling strategic, data-driven decision-making and customer-centric innovation across the Advise & Investment Business Unit. This role falls within the Analytics & Modelling sub-job family, where the focus is on employing advanced analytics and modelling techniques to extract insights from data, inform decision-making, and support strategic initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Insight Leadership & Capability Building: Transition reporting-focused teams into insight-driven analytics hubs. Develop and embed advanced modelling and analytics capabilities to unlock deeper customer and product insights.
• Team Integration & Development: Lead two specialist teams, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture that values continuous learning, innovation, and delivery excellence.
• Advanced Analytics & Modelling: Apply sophisticated techniques using SQL, SAS, Python, and BI platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Qlikview) to uncover trends, predict behaviours, and support strategic initiatives.
• Data Quality & Governance: Champion high standards of data integrity, accuracy, and compliance. Implement robust governance frameworks aligned with regulatory and internal policies.
• Operational Efficiency & Automation: Lead initiatives to automate reporting and streamline data processes, freeing up capacity for strategic analysis and innovation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Enablement team to embed horizontal capabilities, standardised tooling, and best practices across the data value chain. Work closely with the Customer team to ensure insights are aligned with customer needs across products and channels. Collaborate with the Engineering team and the Chief Data & Analytics Office (CDAO) to define and structure data requirements, ensuring optimal data warehouse design and accessibility for analytics use cases.
• Strategic Enablement & Monetisation: Translate insights into business opportunities, supporting sustainable growth, product optimisation, and data monetisation initiatives.
• Functional Leadership: Influence and provide structure to key value elements within the data enablement function, aligning delivery with ABSA-wide strategic goals and benchmarking for optimal fit.
• Change Enablement: Lead the planning and execution of controlled changes to data practices and processes, fostering innovation and organisational agility.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, Economics, or a related field (required).
• Postgraduate qualification in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, or Applied Statistics (preferred).
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in data analytics, insights, or data enablement roles within a commercial bank, specifically in Personal and Private Banking.
• Basic understanding of advice-led, non-banking financial products such as investments (preferred).
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence data strategy across business and technical domains.
• Demonstrated experience in working with engineering and data architecture teams to define and deliver structured, scalable data solutions.

Preferred Certifications

• SAS Certified Advanced Analytics Professional
• Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
• Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
• Advanced SQL Certification

Education

• Bachelor’s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies

EEO Statement

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of, 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.