IT Infrastructure Windows Analyst at Absa Bank

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.



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Job Summary



This position is responsible for technical deployment, maintenance and support of all X86 Platforms used for bank operations. This includes capacity, patch, vulnerability and Data Centre management, Build, maintenance and support for servers, storage and backup systems, Virtual machines (VM) and Cloud Infrastructure-As-A Service (IaaS). The individual will be required to work closely with engineering and project delivery teams as well as other Absa regional/group windows server or platform specialists.



Job Description



Accountability: Deliver/Implement/Support X86 Platform services Time Split: 40%



Outputs:







Accountable for the delivery of assignments and tasks in the agreed timeframes, advice, design and implement technical solutions as per best practice to address customer requirements efficiently.

Analyse and evaluate existing Windows platform solutions in conjunction with other Infrastructure service technology teams to review costs and effectiveness of solutions. This may include the evaluation of packaged solutions and/ or interfaces to existing Bank systems or the evaluation of new and upgraded products or services.

Provide Support for live systems and resolve incidents and problems within the agreed SLA timelines. Support the implement of policies and strategies as defined by global Infrastructure service and Local CIO.

Responsible to managing all local windows servers, emails, DNS, DHCP, Active directory, Domain controllers, File and Print and other servers to ensure optimal operations at all times

Ensure an effective backup management in place for all systems hosted locally

Monitor the operability of all locally hosted services to ensure maximum uptime

Build and configure Servers in line with standard build and policies

In-depth knowledge and understanding of the system and service management processes for infrastructure and technologies that is currently in use.

Interface with other areas sharing technical knowledge and expertise and resolve issues as necessary

Perform timely Patch management as per the Schedule & deployment of Monthly MS Fixes

Understand our customers’ needs and pursue the success of our clients, enabling effortless delivery

Analyse effectiveness of processes, systems and technologies used in the department and make recommendations for improvements.

Manage technology changes impacting data Centre server environments minimizing risk and exposure.

Agree targets and take accountability for the overall achievement of performance objectives in the business area in terms of employee satisfaction, customer experience, cost performance, return on investments, risk, compliance, and governance requirements

Deliver service offerings to users within agreed SLAs (agree annually and measure monthly).

Ensure Absa Group IT standards are adhered to strictly

Patch and vulnerabilities management for Servers

Problem-solving and support for Servers and Storge

System Administration-Managing Users, Groups, Roles and Access Permissions.

Setting up and monitoring performance monitoring and capacity planning.

Managing Tasks, Events and Alarms

Carry out daily ‘health checks’ on relevant system

Produce reports providing management information and distribute to relevant audience



Accountability: Server Virtualization Time Split: 15%



VMware Infrastructure 3.x/vSphere Installation & Configuration

Support and maintain Network Attached Storage (NAS)

Configuration, maintenance, and support for Nutanix AFS storage

Planning and Designing VMware VI3/vSphere (ESXi 4.1 and VMware Virtual Center)

Design, Implementation, Testing and Deployment of VMware Infrastructure

Installation, Configuration and Administration of VMware VSphere.

VMware vSphere client, Virtual vCenter Server.

Virtual Networking (Virtual Switches, VM Kernel Ports)

And Virtual Storage (Access Control and VMFS Datastores)

Creation, Management and Configuration of Virtual Machines, Clone and Templates.

Customizing guest operating system on Virtual Machines.

Creation of DRS and Custom roles for users and Administrators

Configure high availability, Clustering, VMotion, and Storage Vmotion.

Setup Server Consolidation with VMware Converter (P2P and P2V Conversions)

Deployment of Snapshot manager and restoration of a snapshot.

System Administration-Managing Users, Groups, Roles and Access Permissions.

Setting up and monitoring performance monitoring and capacity planning.

Managing Tasks, Events and Alarms



Accountability: Build sustainable practices Time Split: 10%



Outputs:







Analyse effectiveness of processes and systems in use in the Distributed Technologies team and make recommendations for improvements.

Keep abreast of industry and business unit changes by attending regular training, conferences, forums, reading and engagement with subject matter experts and industry peers.

Stay abreast of industry and operational trends and ensure that Distributed Technologies is well positioned to provide competitive and industry leading services.

Take steps to capture practices, procedures, and knowledge into bank databases to ensure the sustainability of

Transformation and delivery practices

Challenge the established practices and recommend improvements to continuously enhance and improve delivery within the Bank.



Accountability: Manage Risk, Controls, and compliance Time Split: 15%



Outputs To Deliver This Accountability:







Participate in snap checks as assigned by the team manager

Ensure compliance with all procedures and controls in respect of the role

Report all Risk Event that occurs in respective area

Together with Risk and Compliance review the key risk and compliance challenges identified in the area and the key areas of concern/surveillance.

Together with the Risk and Compliance team implement measures to address notable risks and regulatory challenges.

Implement measures to review the risk and compliance performance of the unit/function on a regular basis and take corrective action.

Complete all relevant Management Assurance or Risk reports and attestations as required.

Ensure that processes, control requirements and risk management frameworks that impact the area are documented and understood by all members of the team.

Work with Absa Internal Audit and Management Assurance during the scoping of audits to ensure fair coverage.

Own and agree corrective action items with Internal Audit and Management Assurance for findings related to the functional area under management.

Arrange issue assurance for closed audit findings.

Understands all compliance requirements and call for the area's Compliance Officer to conduct briefing sessions if gaps are identified.

Working with managers/professionals in the team, develop Detailed Risk and Control Assessments (DRACA's) for the function and update at the required intervals (normally quarterly). Complete attestations to testify to the adequacy of controls on request.



Accountability: Drive Service Levels Time Split: 20%



Outputs To Deliver This Accountability:







Increase revenue potential for the business by effectively managing service levels of critical applications

Minimize time-to-resolution (TTR) of business service disruptions through fast real-time root cause analysis that spans complex multi-tiered application environments

Minimize cost of IT infrastructure through optimizing delivery and performance of business services

Implement actions resulting from formalised service reviews (including questionnaires, production reporting, loss event reporting, etc).

Continuously monitor service levels and implement tactical measures to improve customer satisfaction.

Build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships within the Bank to understand the business needs and changes in customer needs.

Participate in Bank wide forums and governance structures as required or directed.

Communicate and track the achievement of Service levels (documented in Service Level Agreements) on an ongoing basis and take corrective action as required.

Manage the operational teams to ensure they deliver reliable services.

Perform all other duties as reasonably assigned.



Education/Experience Required



Essential







University degree in the field of computer science and/or equivalent professional certification

Experienced working knowledge in windows server 2016/2019 OS

Experienced knowledge in Storage & data backup system

Minimum 2 years’ experience in IT exposure

Exposure to the Banking/ ICT Industry

A thorough understanding of technology strategic issues in the banking or financial services sector

ITIL Service Delivery experience

Communicate effectively with business analysts, project leadership, architects, developers, and others across the organization

Work collaboratively across the business and IT communities by working cooperatively with others to accomplish department and project objectives

Be a team player that exhibits critical thinking and confidence and has credibility across the project team



Preferred







Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification

ITIL v3 Certification

Knowledge in VMware Technology with 2 years minimum experience in VMware servers (physical/virtualized).

Data Centre support, management, and administration

Minimum of 2-year service management experience

Knowledge in cloud computing and Infrastructure-As-A-Service

Experience with AD and Exchange 2016/2019 server administration



Knowledge & Skills







Experienced in implementation, configuration, maintenance, and support for storage/server filers.

An understanding of the bank’s project management methodologies.

Translate Bus Requirements to Tech Solutions (Solid)

Negotiation Skills (Solid)

Strategic Thinking (Solid)

ITIL - Governance Framework (Solid)

Communication Skills (Written and Verbal) (Solid)

Understand the IT service delivery within a corporate environment (Advanced)

Conceptual thinking skills (Solid)

Ability to analyse, make decision and initiate act (Solid)

In depth knowledge of Absa Network Policies and other system governance frameworks, standards, and guidelines

Support basic IT infrastructure and networking (Solid)

Demonstrate baseline security skills for IT support professionals and patch management (Solid)



Competencies







Delivering results and meeting customer expectations

Adapting and responding to change

Working with people

Planning and organising

Deciding and initiating action

Applying expertise and technology

Leading and supervising

Deciding and initiating action



Physical Work Requirements



Must be able to handle pressures and setbacks and high levels of stress.



Travel to off-site for support technical assistance and meetings.



Own accountability for deadlines

Ability to take negative Criticism constructively

Must be Agile / flexible



Education



Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC): Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences (Required)