Head Process Architect – Accounting Control

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Job Summary

Highly accomplished senior leader to lead a portion of the Accounting Control function. This is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the integrity, completeness, and control of financial information across the organisation, while shaping the future direction of Accounting Control through strong strategic vision and people leadership.
The role oversees the process execution teams that enables sustainable, accurate and timeous Group financial information to be reported to all necessary recipients (both internal and external) for example South African Reserve Bank (SARB), external markets (JSE) and Analysts.
The role leads multiple specialist teams and act as a key interface between Accounting Control and Business Finance, ensuring consistent application of accounting standards, robust financial controls, and clear alignment to business strategy.

Job Description

Leadership & Strategy

• Support the Head of Accounting Control in the development of the strategic vision for the Accounting Control function, aligning it with broader finance and business objectives.

• Lead, inspire, and develop a diverse group of senior managers.

• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and high performance across all teams.

Process and Operational Oversight

• Oversee sub‑ledger control activities supporting the insurance business, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely close processes.

• Oversee the Accounting Functions team which includes Legal Entity Financial Statement preparation, ad hoc reporting requirements, process documentation assessment for improvement and analysis of process performance measures.

• Manage a team of accounting subject matter experts who serve as the link between Accounting Control and Business Finance.

• Ensure strong governance frameworks, controls, and reconciliations across all accounting control processes.

• Manage effective delivery of outputs to ensure high quality and efficient process.

• Enhance operating model for medium and long term requirements, in line with best practice.

• Allocate tasks and responsibilities appropriately to ensure the correct skills are assigned to the correct task in support of efficiency and productivity of the process and operating design.

• Play a leadership role in strategic projects as Accounting Control representation

Technical & Business Partnership

• Provide expert guidance on complex accounting matters, judgments, and treatments.

• Support business initiatives by ensuring accounting implications are well understood and appropriately managed from inception.

• Manage key relationships within Group Financial Control, Business Units and other parties within Group Finance to align outcomes and dependencies between units. Keep key stakeholders abreast with any relevant information deemed important.

• Support Financial Controllers and other areas of FC in managing and resolving issues in Accounting Control processes.

• IFRS, accounting and reporting

• Coaching

• SAP or similar ERP system

• Problem solving

• Interpersonal skills

• Management and leadership of big teams

• Honours/Masters-degree in (Accounting) (NQF level 7);

• CA SA (Preferable);

• Previous experience in leading a significant area within the Financial Industry;

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience management of a large team.

• Minimum 12 years post qualified

• Deciding and initiating action

• Learning and researching

• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking

• Relating and networking

• Adapting and responding to change

• Persuading and influencing

• Creating and innovating

• Problem solving and critical thinking

Education

Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Financial Sciences (Required)

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