Islamic Banking Operations Specialist

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

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

To support the effective execution and management of Islamic Banking operations by ensuring operational processes, controls, governance requirements, Shari'ah compliance obligations, management information, and change initiatives are implemented and maintained within the Islamic Banking operating environment.
The role provides specialist operational support across Islamic Banking products and services, while ensuring adherence to regulatory, risk, governance, and Shari'ah requirements.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Operational Management

  • Support the day-to-day execution of Islamic Banking operational activities.
  • Monitor operational processes to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery standards are maintained.
  • Investigate operational issues, incidents, and process failures and coordinate remediation actions.
  • Maintain operational procedures, process maps, and standard operating documents.
  • Support implementation of operational improvements and process automation initiatives.

Shari'ah Compliance and Governance

  • Support the implementation and monitoring of Shari'ah governance requirements across operational processes.
  • Monitor adherence to approved product structures and operational executions.
  • Assist with tracking Shari'ah Supervisory Committee actions and implementation requirements.
  • Support the identification, escalation, and remediation of potential Shari'ah non-compliance events.
  • Maintain evidence and documentation required for governance and assurance reviews.

Risk, Control and Compliance

  • Perform first-line operational control activities.
  • Monitor key operational risk indicators and control effectiveness.
  • Support Risk, Compliance, Internal Audit, and Assurance review engagements.
  • Track audit findings, management actions, and remediation activities until closure.
  • Maintain accurate risk and control documentation

Management Information and Reporting

  • Produce and analyse operational management reports.
  • Support preparation of monthly operational dashboards and governance packs.
  • Track service levels, volumes, incidents, customer complaints, and operational performance metrics.
  • Maintain data quality and accuracy of operational reporting.

Change and Project Support

  • Support operational readiness activities for new products, enhancements, and regulatory changes.
  • Participate in testing, implementation, and change management activities.
  • Assist with business requirements gathering and process impact assessments.
  • Coordinate operational sign-offs and readiness milestones.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Build effective working relationships with Product, Technology, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Finance, and Governance teams.
  • Coordinate operational activities with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Support engagements with auditors, service providers, and governance forums.

Education and Qualifications

Minimum

  • Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Finance, Banking, Accounting, Business Management, Risk Management, or related field.

Advantageous

  • Islamic Banking or Islamic Finance qualification.
  • Risk Management qualification.
  • Project Management certification

Experience

Required

  • 3-5 years banking operations experience.
  • Experience within a regulated banking or financial services environment.
  • Experience supporting governance, risk, audit, or compliance activities.
  • Experience producing management information and operational reporting.

Preferred

  • Islamic Banking experience.
  • Experience supporting operational change initiatives and project implementation.

Knowledge and Skills

Technical Skills

  • Banking operations knowledge.
  • Islamic banking and Shari'ah principles.
  • Operational risk and control management.
  • Governance and compliance monitoring.
  • Reporting and data analysis.
  • Process improvement methodologies.

Behavioural Competencies

  • Attention to detail.
  • Analytical thinking.
  • Problem solving.
  • Stakeholder management.
  • Planning and organising.
  • Accountability.
  • Continuous improvement mindset.

Key Relationships

Internal

  • Islamic Banking Executive
  • Islamic Banking Shari'ah and Product team
  • Product Teams
  • Operations Teams
  • Risk and Compliance
  • Internal Audit
  • Management Assurance
  • Finance
  • Technology and Digital

External

  • External Auditors
  • Service Providers
  • Regulatory Stakeholders (where required)

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (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

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