At Monocle, we believe work is more than just a job. It is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the world of finance, realise your potential, and build lasting relationships with ambitious, positive, like-minded people.

Monocle is an independent, people-centric consulting firm specialising in banking and insurance. We recognise that our people are our greatest asset, and that is why we do things differently.

Monocle offers:

Unparalleled growth and exposure: Monocle is uniquely positioned in the market to undertake projects across a wide spectrum of critical and exciting areas of the financial services industry. Our consultants deliver mission critical projects at the most prestigious banks and insurers in Johannesburg, Cape Town, London and Amsterdam.

Unlimited training and development: Investment in our people's development is at the heart of Monocle's company ethos. That is why we prioritise the upskilling of every employee.

Unique and vibrant company culture: At Monocle, we believe friends work better together than colleagues. We love nothing more than partaking in a wide variety of activities through our company sponsored clubs.

Ultra-competitive compensation: At Monocle, we want the best talent to join our team, so we understand that those individuals need to be recognised and rewarded for their true value.

What is Monocle:

Monocle is an industry-leading management consulting firm specialising in banking and insurance. Through our bespoke consultancy service, we work with leading banks and large financial institutions, in South Africa, UK and Europe, to transform the way these institutions do business by implementing innovative and results-driven solutions. Monocle's services are highly sought after in the industry for the delivery of mission critical projects, as our versatile knowledge of banking, data systems, quantitative experience and strategic insight allows us to provide a unique service to our clients.

Overview of the Role

Monocle is looking for a Finance Business Analyst (Automation, AI & Systems) to join our internal finance team.

This role is focused on modernising and enhancing the finance function through automation, data-driven insights, and digital transformation, with a strong emphasis on the Microsoft ecosystem (including Dynamics and Power Platform).

The successful candidate will work closely with the Finance Partner, CFO and Finance team to drive process efficiency, reporting enhancements, and system optimisation across the group.

Key Responsibilities:

Finance Automation & AI:

• Identify opportunities to automate manual finance processes across reporting, reconciliations, data preparation, and month-end activities

• Design and implement automation solutions using tools such as Power Automate, Power Query, and related technologies

• Explore and implement practical AI use cases within finance (e.g. anomaly detection, predictive analytics, intelligent data extraction)

• Improve data accuracy, reduce manual intervention, and enhance efficiency within the finance function

Power Platform & Digital Enablement:

• Develop and maintain solutions using Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Apps

• Build automated workflows and approval processes to streamline finance operations

• Support the adoption and governance of Power Platform tools within the finance function

Finance Dashboards & Reporting:

• Design and develop interactive dashboards and management reporting packs using Power BI or equivalent tools

• Standardise reporting across entities to ensure consistency and comparability

• Automate the production of monthly and ad hoc reporting deliverables

• Translate financial data into meaningful insights for senior stakeholders

Business Performance Planning & Dynamics:

• Support and enhance business performance planning processes (budgeting, forecasting, and scenario analysis)

• Work closely with finance leadership to improve financial modelling and planning tools

• Act as a key finance stakeholder in Dynamics (Business Central) system optimisation and reporting

• Support system integrations and data flows between finance, payroll, and operational systems

Financial Systems & Data Management:

• Act as a bridge between finance and other internal departments for system improvements and implementations

• Ensure integrity, accuracy, and consistency of financial data across systems

• Support enhancements to the finance data model and reporting structure

• Assist with system troubleshooting, testing, and continuous improvement

Continuous Improvement & Process Optimisation:

• Identify inefficiencies in finance processes and proactively recommend improvements

• Drive standardisation and best practices across the finance function

• Document processes and develop scalable frameworks for future growth

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage with finance team members to understand requirements and pain points

• Present insights and solutions to partners and senior stakeholders

• Provide training and support on new tools, dashboards, and processes

Additional responsibilities include, but is not limited to the following:

• Driving consistency, accuracy, and timeliness in finance reporting and processes

• Supporting ad hoc analysis and finance transformation initiatives

• Staying up to date with emerging trends in finance technology, automation, and AI

• Supporting broader finance team objectives where required

The successful candidate must:

• Have a degree in Finance, Accounting, Data Analytics, Information Systems, or a related field

• 3-5 years relevant experience in a similar role

• Have strong Microsoft Excel skills (advanced level)

• Have experience with data and reporting tools (e.g. Power BI, Power Query, SQL or similar)

• Have exposure to Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps)

• Have a strong interest in automation, AI, and digital transformation within finance

• Be analytical, detail-oriented, and solutions-driven

• Have excellent communication skills

The ideal Candidate also:

• Has experience working with Dynamics 365 / Business Central or similar ERP systems

• Has hands-on experience with automation or scripting tools

• Can translate business requirements into technical solutions

• Is proactive and continuously seeks process improvement opportunities

• Works well independently and within a team

• Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

• Shares Monocle's values.