Financial Services Business Partner

Job Description To track financial performance and provide financial information, forecasting and analysis to help guide decision making for specified business units

• Provide input into the budget and manage and report on budget usage that reflects delivery of planned work within agreed parameters
• Control expenditure and identify process improvements to contain and reduce costs.
• Build relationships that allow for the managing of expectations; the sharing of knowledge and diverse insights; and the creation of buy-in.
• Engage in cross-functional relationships to obtain and to provide work support.
• Creates solutions to meet customer demands to deliver internal and external customer service excellence through adherence to quality service standards.
• Improve business decisions by providing accurate and reliable business intelligence (information) together with analyzing trends and data.
• Provide regular reports on delivery of services against agreed service level agreements and in terms of overall customer targets.
• Ensure compliance with relevant statutory, legislative, policy and governance requirements in area of accountability.
• Ensure implementation of relevant policies, governance and practice standards across the business.
• Implement and provide input into the development of governance and compliance procedures and processes within area of specialization and identify risks.
• Review monthly cost results for each area within the portfolio and identify instances where there may be issues.
• Communicate issues identified and remediate.
• Review balance sheet analysis i.e., accounts payable/receivable etc. in line with an understanding of the business context.
• Review monthly payroll headcount lists and ensure accuracy is maintained by validating the information with business.
• Communicate any changes to the headcount data to the appropriate payroll function.
• Manage governance around payment processes and ensuring that the appropriate level of approvers is in place.
• Liaise with business on invoices not yet paid and gather supporting evidence to ensure that accruals are raised in the correct financial period.
• Test and review costing model allocations to stakeholders in line with agreed costing principles.
• Understand and communicate implemented changes or proposed changes to costing methodology.
• Analyse, monitor, and communicate monthly SLA charges and recoveries.
• Ensure completeness of strategic reports and timeous delivery thereof.
• Collaborate with cost model team regarding principles and ongoing changes including review of output.
• Monitor and analyse incoming FNB SLA charges (if applicable in your area) and provide details to stakeholders to be able to validate the charges.
• Gain an understanding around drivers or principles of cost allocations.
• Engage in discussions with business, finance areas and other impacted areas on correctness of what has been applied.
• Provide analysis, insights, control over targets, actual performance measures, information management, process simplification and automation to ensure accurate forecasting and delivery of result across full Profit and Loss.
• Be the contact point for business to help interface with local finance on reporting of results, ensuring timely and accurate submissions.
• Ensure monthly GL structure, maintenance and alignment to all stakeholders is adhered to.
• Ensure timelines with reporting team are met.
• Conduct ad hoc reporting and handle audit queries as required.
• Compile and submit monthly reports.
• Highlight strategic and material issues in report by early identification and engagement across finance and business teams.
• Review reports to streamline and propose report enhancements where possible.
• Monitor reporting and discuss strategic issues highlighted by relevant stakeholders.
• Assist in compiling and reviewing relevant management reports sent to relevant stakeholders for business insights.
• Track and analyze performance across the board (year on year and month on month).
• Compile presentations for relevant stakeholders to present.
• Deal with external auditors at year-end regarding any issues and group queries if required.
• Engage internal auditors on potential issues to resolve during audit process or escalate to central level for resolution.
• Ensure ongoing focus on reducing queries, comebacks, and demotions.
• Complete the interims and year end reports timeously and accurately if applicable in the portfolio.
• Engage with relevant stakeholders in the group and present at various Steercos if required.
• Reconcile reporting systems (Essbase) to FirstRand reporting platform (HFM) and promote/provide sign-off
• Compile and manage consolidated headcount.
• Prepare and interpret running monthly and annual forecasts.
• Conduct budget reallocations based on structural changes within business.
• Compile and ensure adherence to budget guideline documents.
• Hold discussions with stakeholders on proposed budget results for approval.
• Agree on budget deliverables with stakeholders.
• Adhere to budget timelines and ensure communication thereof.
• Communicate external cost changes i.e., SLA and interdivisional on an ongoing basis.
• Engage business on forecast to get input and sign off.
• Prepare and conduct budget presentations for various stakeholders.
• Provide input and ongoing amendments of budgets on Essbase.
• Understand and interpret final budget numbers.
• Prepare and maintain relevant Balance sheet schedules to track stakeholders spend over the year.
• Highlight issues and concerns for discussion and resolution throughout budget process and monthly forecast process.

Job Details Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below 20/06/25 All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.