Specialist Project Manager: Global Markets Technology (Trade Management and Market Risk Cluster)

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

Job Summary

Accountable for the end-to-end governance, coordination, financial management, and execution oversight of strategic and Strategic Investment funded initiatives across the Global Markets Technology estate, spanning Trade Management, Market Risk, Post Trade, and Data Distributions.

The role ensures that business demand, regulatory obligations, and technology change are translated into committed, predictable delivery outcomes, executed in alignment with the Global Markets Technology operating model, PI Planning cadence, and sprint-based execution framework.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Delivery Governance & Execution Oversight

• Establish and maintain formal project governance structures aligned to bank and cluster standards
• Own scope definition, delivery objectives, success criteria, and milestones in partnership with business and technology stakeholders
• Track and manage delivery progress against PI commitments and approved timelines
• Provide consolidated, transparent reporting to senior technology and business governance forums.

Planning, Coordination & Dependency Management

• Develop and maintain integrated, end-to-end delivery plans across multiple technology teams
• Actively manage cross-team dependencies spanning Product Engineering, Platform Engineering, Data Engineering, Scrum Master Enablement, and Business Application Support
• Ensure build, test, deployment, and operational readiness are coordinated and sequenced effectively.

Financial Management & Cost Control

• Own project budgets, financial forecasting, and cost tracking for funded initiatives
• Monitor budget vs actuals, proactively identifying and escalating variances
• Ensure accurate cost allocation and financial reporting in line with funding approvals

Risk, Issue & Dependency Management

• Identify, assess, and manage delivery risks, issues, and dependencies across the lifecycle
• Drive risk mitigation planning, ensuring clear ownership and accountability
• Escalate material delivery, financial, or regulatory risks to appropriate governance bodies

PI Planning & Delivery Cadence Alignment

• Partner with Scrum Master Enablement and Product Engineering to support PI Planning preparation, execution, and follow-through
• Ensure funded initiatives are properly represented, sequenced, and committed within PI cycles
• Track delivery performance across sprints, ensuring alignment to PI objectives and business priorities

Operational Handover & Closure

• Ensure documentation, support models, and operational processes are in place prior to go-live
• Drive clear accountability transition from project delivery to run-the-business teams
• Confirm formal project closure with benefits, financials, and delivery outcomes validated

Portfolio Scope (Typical Initiatives)

May lead initiatives including, but not limited to:

• Pan African Trade Management: Trading platform upgrades, exchange connectivity, new instrument onboarding, Front Arena enhancements
• Market Risk: Regulatory programmes (e.g. FRTB, SA-CCR), risk model implementations, risk platform modernisation
• ARO Post Trade: Settlement automation, CSD integrations, reconciliation enhancements, regulatory reporting
• Data Engineering & Distribution: Trade and risk data migration to enterprise data platforms, reporting enablement, downstream integrations

Key Stakeholder Engagement and Relationships:

• Engagement across Trading Desk and front‑office teams, executives and business leadership, Technology leadership, Engineering teams (Product, Platform, Data), and enabling/support functions including Scrum Master Enablement, Business Application Support, Finance, Risk, Audit, and Regulatory teams.

Required Experience & Capability

Essential

• 6+ years Project Management experience, managing complex technology programmes
• Financial Services Industry experience
• Strong understanding of agile delivery models, PI Planning, and sprint-based execution
• Demonstrated capability in financial management, risk management, and governance reporting
• Ability to operate effectively in highly regulated environments with audit and regulatory scrutiny
• Strong executive-level stakeholder engagement and effective communication skills

Desirable

• Managing complex technology change programmes within Investment Banking / Global Markets environments
• Proven delivery experience across trading, risk, post-trade, or data platforms
• Experience working across multi-country or Pan-African technology estates
• Exposure to Front Arena, risk engines, settlement platforms, or large-scale data platforms
• Having working experience of other disciplines such as Software Development or Engineering.

Behavioural competencies required

• Operates with end-to-end accountability and a one-team mindset
• Demonstrates decisive leadership in complex, cross-functional environments
• Maintains high standards of transparency, discipline, and delivery integrity
• Balances business urgency with production stability and risk control

Success Measures

• Predictable delivery against PI commitments
• Budget adherence and proactive financial control
• Reduced delivery risk through early identification and escalation
• Smooth transition from change to stable operations
• High confidence from business and technology stakeholders

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Information Systems (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