Head Finance Operations

Absa Bank is seeking an experienced Head Finance Operations to join its Finance Shared Services team in Johannesburg. This is a senior full-time hybrid leadership opportunity responsible for managing finance operations across Africa while supporting the development and execution of the Finance Shared Services Africa strategy.

The successful candidate will lead finance operations covering financial control, fixed assets, CRES finance and ETA functions. The role also carries significant responsibility for finance transformation, automation, operating-model development, stakeholder management, people leadership and the delivery of strategic projects designed to improve efficiency, controls and business value.

About the Role

The Head Finance Operations will partner with the Regional Head of FSSA to manage and grow finance operations across Africa. The position will help align Finance Shared Services with broader Functional and Operational strategies while developing a sustainable relationship model with senior Finance stakeholders.

This is a strategic leadership role requiring extensive experience in banking or financial services, finance transformation and people management. The successful candidate will also oversee a significant team budget and lead initiatives involving automation, robotics, process optimisation and finance operating-model transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, direct and manage finance operations covering:

  • Financial control

  • Fixed assets

  • CRES finance

  • ETA functions.

• Build a streamlined financial control operating model.

• Identify opportunities to simplify, consolidate and group finance processes.

• Define the vision and strategy for transitioning appropriate finance activities into Finance Shared Services.

• Secure sponsorship from senior stakeholders, including the Group CFO, Financial Controllers and Business CFOs.

• Develop the finance target operating model supporting Global Finance and Finance Shared Services.

• Manage the finance portfolio capability and oversee programme delivery.

• Ensure programmes deliver expected value, efficiencies and synergies.

• Support the Regional Head of FSSA with consolidation opportunities.

• Act as a role model for Absa's organisational culture.

• Manage transformation budgets and monitor return on investment.

• Support the development of business cases for Finance Shared Services Africa.

• Manage a team budget of approximately £10–20 million.

Finance Automation and Transformation

• Identify industry-leading solutions for finance transformation.

• Drive innovative approaches to cost management and financial controls.

• Identify solutions that can support the strategic finance agenda.

• Build relationships with key stakeholders to understand business needs.

• Identify and deliver finance automation programmes.

• Support robotics automation across processes such as:

  • Invoice processing

  • Journals

  • Reporting

  • Reconciliations.

• Lead and manage finance transformation programmes.

• Participate actively in the wider Absa Finance community.

• Develop strategies that improve operational performance, efficiency and business growth.

• Present regular transformation updates to senior leadership, including Finance Directors and senior Finance leaders.

• Develop the appropriate shoring strategy to optimise processes, people and capabilities.

• Work with wider Finance teams to develop a pipeline of activities for the shared-services model.

• Develop the operating model for migrating new work into Finance and Accounting operations.

• Establish standards and performance metrics for successful process transitions.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders.

• Work with stakeholders to achieve business and operational objectives.

• Ensure stakeholder needs are properly understood.

• Develop the Finance Shared Services communication and engagement model.

• Engage with management levels extending up to Managing Director level.

• Establish agreed agendas with business partners.

• Manage, track and deliver agreed goals and service-level agreements.

• Monitor regulatory changes and their impact on finance processes.

• Ensure projects and change initiatives remain aligned with regulatory requirements, policies and business processes.

People Leadership

• Lead teams responsible for finance operations, automation and transformation.

• Provide mentoring, coaching and guidance to team members.

• Develop the capabilities required for effective finance operations.

• Lead change-management practices covering project management and business analysis.

• Improve workforce capability through talent acquisition.

• Drive performance management and career development.

• Inspire, motivate, coach and develop employees.

• Build a high-performing culture focused on accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.

Risk and Compliance

• Ensure all finance activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements.

• Maintain compliance with the operational risk framework.

• Ensure adherence to internal policies, procedures and standards.

• Promote strong financial controls across Finance Shared Services.

• Identify and manage operational risks associated with finance processes and transformation programmes.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree.

• CA (SA) qualification is required.

• Professional or postgraduate qualifications in Financial Sciences are relevant to the role.

• The advertised education requirement is listed as Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications in Financial Sciences.

Experience Required

• At least 12 years' experience managing finance processes within banking or financial services.

• Proven experience implementing multiple finance transformation programmes.

• Minimum 7 years' people-management and management experience.

• Experience driving transformation programmes using methodologies and technologies such as:

  • Lean

  • Six Sigma

  • Robotics automation.

• Strong understanding of finance operations within a complex banking or financial-services environment.

Key Skills and Knowledge

• Finance operations management.

• Finance transformation.

• Shared-services operating models.

• Project management.

• Process optimisation.

• Automation and robotics.

• Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.

• Stakeholder and relationship management.

• Strong written and verbal communication.

• Influencing and negotiation.

• Commercial awareness.

• Understanding of finance processes and systems.

• PMBOK-based project-management knowledge.

• Strategic planning and execution.

• Financial controls and risk management.

Key Competencies

• Deciding and initiating action.

• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking.

• Relating and networking.

• Adapting and responding to change.

• Persuading and influencing.

• Creating and innovating.

• Applying expertise and technology.

• Analysing information and business performance.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a senior finance leader with extensive banking or financial-services experience and a proven record of transforming finance operations. They should be comfortable managing large teams, complex budgets and multiple transformation programmes while working with senior executives across the organisation.

Strong candidates will combine technical finance expertise with commercial awareness, strategic thinking, technology knowledge and the ability to lead large-scale change. Experience with Lean, Six Sigma and robotics automation will be particularly valuable.

Job Details

• Position: Head Finance Operations

• Employer: Absa Bank

• Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

• Work arrangement: Hybrid

• Job type: Full-time

• Job reference: R-15985902

• Application deadline: 21 August 2026

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official Absa careers platform.

Apply for Head Finance Operations

Applicants should ensure their CV clearly demonstrates senior finance-management experience, banking or financial-services exposure, finance transformation delivery, people leadership, automation experience and relevant professional qualifications.

Final Thought

The Head Finance Operations position represents a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced finance professional with a strong background in banking, shared services and transformation. The role combines strategic finance leadership with operational management, automation, stakeholder engagement and large-scale people leadership, making it particularly suitable for professionals with extensive experience driving finance efficiency and transformation.