Business Analyst

About Core Group

Core Group represents some of the world's most valued and loved brands in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is our mission to empower individuals and organisations with the world's leading personal technology products and services.

We are the leading distributor of Apple in Sub-Saharan Africa, proudly representing the brand in South Africa since 1995. We also distribute other global brands such as DJI and Nintendo.

Our responsibilities span supply chain management, marketing management, channel management, enterprise sales, and media relations, with an operational footprint across Botswana, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

About the Role

We are looking for a Business Analyst to join our team, supporting the MobileinAfrica portfolio. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a data-driven environment and enjoys translating business needs into actionable insights. You will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders to support strategic decision-making, enhance reporting capabilities, improve product range performance, and optimise processes through analysis, forecasting, reporting, and automation.

The role plays a critical part in enabling successful product launches, maintaining reporting integrity, driving stock optimisation, and ensuring business performance targets are met.

Key Responsibilities:

Reporting

• Maintain and update the Master Sell-Out Report, collating internal and retailer data; distribute insights and presentations to the Product Manager.
• Distribute weekly retailer sales and stock-on-hand (SOH) files to the Channel Operations team.
• Share weekly sales and SOH performance data with suppliers.
• Provide monthly key sales data to Marketing for inclusion in the Nintendo Marketing Report.
• Prepare and compile data packs for quarterly key account meetings and respond to ad hoc reporting requests.

Data Management

• Maintain and update the Master SKU List as new products are introduced.
• Compile product data for Plytix and send to Supply Chain for system upload.

Stock Management

• Ensure the Online (Direct) Channel is optimally stocked and balanced between warehouse and online locations.
• Identify and resolve discrepancies between Online and Shopify inventory data.
• Conduct weekly stock analyses across Warehouse, Direct, and Retail inventories to highlight slow-moving lines and propose replenishment actions.

Product Launches

• Coordinate with the warehouse team regarding product launch timelines, stock status, and retailer allocations.
• Raise launch orders for Online stores and send to Order Management.
• Assist with retailer product listing submissions where required.

Compliance

• Assist in securing ICASA and NRCS compliance approvals ahead of product launches.

Forecasting & Planning

• Produce detailed forecasts for key brands and products.
• Compile weekly, monthly, and quarterly forecasts for priority lines of business (LOBs) and key SKUs.

Power BI

• Maintain and update relevant Power BI dashboards and reports.
• Collaborate with the BI team to ensure data integrity and accuracy.

Ad Hoc Projects

• Support business initiatives through channel or product-related analysis.
• Execute ad hoc tasks and projects aligned with BU requirements.

Events

• Provide support at occasional events, launches, and activations as required.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 4–5 years permanent working experience.
• Minimum 3 years in a Business Analyst role.
• Experience in Retail and/or Distribution environments advantageous.
• Experience in the Retail/Distribution environment is a strong plus.

Qualifications:

• Completed matric (Minimum requirement)
• Bachelor's degree in information technology, Data Science, Statistics, Business, or a related field (Honours preferred).
• Knowledge of Microsoft Fabric or similar data integration tools beneficial.

Key Competencies:

• Advanced Excel proficiency (pivot tables, lookups, modelling).
• Strong analytical ability with high attention to detail.
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrates absolute confidentiality and discretion.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.