Head: Finance Solutions

What will you do?

The BITS (Business Information & Technology Services) team has a permanent position available for a Head Finance Solutions. This senior manager position will report directly to the Chief Information Officer.

To formulate, implement and support the group wide Finance Business IT (Information Technology) Strategy. This includes finance systems used in Finance Operations, Data Governance, C&P business unit, Specialist, and Niche Business units, Investments and Corporate Finance, Group Internal Audit, Santam RE, Santam Namibia, Miway, Centriq and SSI (Santam Structured Insurance) SSI.

The role will require you to deliver innovative financial systems and finance project capabilities across the Santam Group. What will make you successful in this role?

**Portfolio Management**:
Manage Governance bodies various Steerco’s, Audit (Internal and External (PWC) across the portfolio.

Shape and manage the IT Finance & Business Change services capability in support of the demand and supply to implement and support Finance strategies across the group.

Budget forecasts, tracking and management of the overall Finance project portfolios.

Ensure portfolio alignment and prioritisation with strategy / business objectives across the BITS portfolio of demands

Facilitate development of future initiative roadmap in support of the business strategy/objectives

Facilitate and review concept brief & designs (Business and Systems)

**Business and System Solutions Delivery**:
Ensure appropriateness, quality & completeness of business & system solutions

Ensure project/scope alignment with business case / business objectives

Support appropriate project governance e.g., appropriate Steerco (governed by PMC (Portfolio Management Centre))

Support change management and give input to approach and strategy

Build strong partnerships with Business Owner, Project Manager, BCM’s & IT Development Manager across the group

Support benefits realisation & monitoring

**Dev Ops Leadership and Management**:
Lead the engagement with business and IT stakeholders to ensure visibility and joint prioritisation of open Finance solution issues and defects

Work with IT & Business to ensure relevant stable production environment(s) for the business

**Leadership and People Management**:
The overall leadership and management of management teams.

Administer performance evaluations for all direct reports

Assist with the growth on performance, capacity, and capability within the team through effective knowledge transfer

Review work of team members and ensure the adherence to governance through setting standards and methodologies.

Provide training, mentorship, and leadership to direct reports and inspire a high-performance team

**Budget Management**:
Manage an annual BAU budgets for BITS Finance Solutions, BT budget for SRS (Service Request System) changes (Enhancements)

Manage Strategic Programmes Budget

Manage recoveries of all billable staff for the above budgets

Tech Refresh budget (Upgrades Infrastructure and hardware)

**Stakeholder Management**:
Manages the business stakeholder’s relationships, expectations, and alignment at a senior and executive level across the Group for both SA and Namibia through various governance bodies i.e., Steerco, SIIC (Strategic Initiatives Investment Committee, PIC (Portfolio Investment Committee).

**Commercial Negotiations**:
Partner with Group Procurement and Corporate Legal to define the commercial agreement, negotiate pricing and draft the commercial agreement for executive signoff. Qualification and Experience

Relevant Tertiary education preferably a BCom degree, with accounts and information management

Minimum of 8 years’ experience in a similar role within a large corporate

Proven track record of operating at a senior level and leading and managing a team

Good and proven business acumen

Functional experience in IT Consulting and regulatory compliance

10+ years business experience managing technical teams, financial services experience would be advantageous

Comfort with complex process/practices

Capability to connect business demands and strategic growth

A result-driven individual, who is highly creative and analytical with an ability to work comfortably in a collaborative setting

Powerful sense of accountability, attention to detail, ownership of results and customer focus Knowledge and Skills

Insurance knowledge would be a strong recommendation

A broad understanding of IT infrastructure, systems, and products

Strong project management skills

Strong analytical-thinking and problem-solving abilities

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

A solid understanding of Finance

Stakeholder management and influencing skills

Great interpersonal, organisational, and planning skills

Ability to work in a complex and dynamic environment

Accuracy and attention to detail

Experienced at engaging at a senior and executive level

Results orientated, pro-active and dea