Description:
Are you determined to go further as a Difference Maker? SAICA has a perfect opportunity to take you further on your journey of being a Difference Maker.
SAICA has embarked on an exciting transformation to become an insights-driven, technology-enabled, and AI-powered organisation. As part of our journey, we are streamlining processes, enhancing our digital capabilities, and strengthening our focus on sustainability in the accounting profession. This transformation presents an opportunity for you to grow and contribute to SAICA’s vision in a redefined, future-fit role. We are looking for enthusiastic, skilled professionals who are eager to innovate, embrace data-driven decision-making, and help shape the future of the profession.
If you are ready to be part of this next chapter, make a meaningful impact, and you are a suitably qualified and experienced Difference Maker wanting to go further on this exciting journey, you are encouraged to apply.
Purpose of the job
The Lead: Insights-Driven Organisation (IDO) is responsible for establishing, leading, and maturing SAICA into an insights-driven organisation. This role ensures data-driven decision-making across the organisation by embedding data analytics, AI, and predictive insights into SAICA’s strategic and operational processes.
The IDO Lead works closely with IT, strategic functions, and business units, providing a business partnership model where Data Analysts are allocated to various departments. This ensures that real-time insights, automation, and AI-driven analytics drive SAICA’s sustainability, member engagement, and operational excellence.
Key/main outputs
Output 1: Establishing and Leading SAICA’s Insights-Driven Organisation
- Develop and implement a business-wide data strategy aligned with SAICA’s strategic imperatives
- Champion the transition to an insights-driven culture, embedding AI, machine learning, and data analytics into decision-making
- Establish governance frameworks to ensure data integrity, privacy, and ethical use.
Output 2: Business Partnership Model & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Lead the business partnership model, ensuring that Data Analysts support various SAICA departments with actionable insights
- Work closely with IT to implement data architecture, AI models, and business intelligence (BI) tools
- Engage stakeholders across the organisation in the various department to ensure data insights drive strategic priorities
Output 3: Data Analytics, AI, and Automation Integration
- Implement AI and predictive analytics models to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
- Drive the use of real-time dashboards, data visualisation, and workflow automation
- Support digital transformation efforts through data-driven innovation and AI-enhanced processes
Output 4: Performance Measurement, Reporting & Insights
- Develop and implement enterprise-wide data-driven performance metrics
- Oversee the creation of data dashboards and KPI tracking for executive decision-making
- Provide insights to measure the impact of SAICA’s strategic initiatives, sustainability efforts, and sector growth
Output 5: Leadership & Capability Development
- Manage, mentor, and develop the Data Analyst team, fostering a high-performance culture
- Drive training and upskilling programs to improve data literacy across SAICA
- Promote the adoption of AI, analytics, and business intelligence tools
Output 6: Embrace and drive organisational transformation
- Actively contribute to cost containment efforts by identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies, optimising resources, and ensuring value-driven decision-making in daily activities.
- Support SAICA’s transformation into an insights-driven organisation by leveraging data and analytics to enhance decision-making, improve processes, and drive continuous improvement in your area of work
- Effectively utilise digital tools and technology to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and improve service delivery. Stay informed about new and emerging technologies relevant to your role
- Adopt and embrace AI-driven tools and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness in job-related tasks, while continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes through innovative technology solutions
- Identify and support SAICA’s management of risks related to sustainability, including environmental risks, regulatory changes, and social risks, and integrating them into business continuity and risk management plans
Requirements:
- Develop and implement a business-wide data strategy aligned with SAICA’s strategic imperatives
- Champion the transition to an insights-driven culture, embedding AI, machine learning, and data analytics into decision-making
- Establish governance frameworks to ensure data integrity, privacy, and ethical use.
- Lead the business partnership model, ensuring that Data Analysts support various SAICA departments with actionable insights
- Work closely with IT to implement data architecture, AI models, and business intelligence (BI) tools
- Engage stakeholders across the organisation in the various department to ensure data insights drive strategic priorities
- Implement AI and predictive analytics models to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
- Drive the use of real-time dashboards, data visualisation, and workflow automation
- Support digital transformation efforts through data-driven innovation and AI-enhanced processes
- Develop and implement enterprise-wide data-driven performance metrics
- Oversee the creation of data dashboards and KPI tracking for executive decision-making
- Provide insights to measure the impact of SAICA’s strategic initiatives, sustainability efforts, and sector growth
- Manage, mentor, and develop the Data Analyst team, fostering a high-performance culture
- Drive training and upskilling programs to improve data literacy across SAICA
- Promote the adoption of AI, analytics, and business intelligence tools
- Actively contribute to cost containment efforts by identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies, optimising resources, and ensuring value-driven decision-making in daily activities.
- Support SAICA’s transformation into an insights-driven organisation by leveraging data and analytics to enhance decision-making, improve processes, and drive continuous improvement in your area of work
- Effectively utilise digital tools and technology to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and improve service delivery. Stay informed about new and emerging technologies relevant to your role
- Adopt and embrace AI-driven tools and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness in job-related tasks, while continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes through innovative technology solutions
- Identify and support SAICA’s management of risks related to sustainability, including environmental risks, regulatory changes, and social risks, and integrating them into business continuity and risk management plans
- Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Business Analytics, Statistics, Information Systems, or a related field.
- A postgraduate qualification (MBA, MSc in Data Science, or equivalent) is advantageous.
- Certification in AI, Data Analytics, BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, SQL, Python, or R) is preferred.
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience in data analytics, AI-driven insights, or digital transformation.
- Strong experience in embedding data analytics into strategic decision-making.
- Proven track record of leading data teams and working cross-functionally with IT and business.
- Familiarity with governance, risk, compliance, and sustainability reporting.
- Data Insights: Expertise in data strategy, AI models, predictive analytics, and automation.
- Business Intelligence: Strong understanding of business intelligence (BI), digital transformation, and change management.
- Reporting: Familiarity with financial, sustainability, and audit-related data reporting.
- Data Leadership: Strategic data leadership and enterprise-wide insights delivery
- Data Analytics Tools: Proficiency in data analytics tools (SQL, Power BI, Python, R, AI automation).
- Business Transformation: Ability to drive business transformation through AI, data, and digital tools.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing, and communication skills.
- Project Management: Strong project management, change management, and stakeholder engagement skills
Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Business Analytics, Statistics, Information Systems, or a related field.
- A postgraduate qualification (MBA, MSc in Data Science, or equivalent) is advantageous.
- Certification in AI, Data Analytics, BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, SQL, Python, or R) is preferred.
Experience
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience in data analytics, AI-driven insights, or digital transformation.
- Strong experience in embedding data analytics into strategic decision-making.
- Proven track record of leading data teams and working cross-functionally with IT and business.
- Familiarity with governance, risk, compliance, and sustainability reporting.
Knowledge and Skills
- Data Insights: Expertise in data strategy, AI models, predictive analytics, and automation.
- Business Intelligence: Strong understanding of business intelligence (BI), digital transformation, and change management.
- Reporting: Familiarity with financial, sustainability, and audit-related data reporting.
- Data Leadership: Strategic data leadership and enterprise-wide insights delivery
- Data Analytics Tools: Proficiency in data analytics tools (SQL, Power BI, Python, R, AI automation).
- Business Transformation: Ability to drive business transformation through AI, data, and digital tools.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing, and communication skills.
- Project Management: Strong project management, change management, and stakeholder engagement skills