Head: Regulatory Reporting Obligations and Governance at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• This role will support the Head of Policy, Advocacy and Regulatory Relations, to manage and oversee regulatory reporting requirements of core legislation related to the activities of the bank which is aligned to the Absa Group strategy. The applicant will be required to collaborate and engage with both internal and external stakeholder such that relationships are strengthened and improve the functions ability to efficiently and effectively identify , monitor and provide an analysis of the regulatory reporting landscape.
• Proactively identify, maintain and manage regulatory reporting landscape across the Group, with oversight and governance of key processes, systems and procedures. Act as an SME and provide guidance to senior stakeholders. Support business initiatives and act in an advisory capacity, set and drive policy and framework where required.
• Drive and advise on the Absa regulatory engagement model with stakeholders and proactively keep the business units abreast of regulatory reporting Provide a check and challenge to management in terms of existing processes and required best practice and furthermore, provide recommendations to bridge the gaps between existing and required regulatory reporting obligations and within the regulatory reporting environment developments.

Job Description

• Identify gaps in all regulatory reporting processes, provide guidance and recommendations to enhance these reporting processes across all key regulatory reporting requirements.
• Provide oversight and identify regulatory reporting requirements across the Compliance Risk Universe for Absa Group Compliance.
• Provide guidance and direction in terms of key reporting processes, stakeholder management and engagement.
• Stakeholder Management both internal and external (Regulators).
• Management and guidance on the implementation of changes that have been identified that must be affected.
• Realignment and maintenance of the Bank’s regulatory reporting framework in respect of the Banks Acts and related legislation
• Strong knowledge of section 52, 54 and 55 of the Banks Act and related reporting obligations with the Regulator
• Providing steer and guidance on upcoming regulatory compliance obligations that the Bank will be required to meet.
• Establish a forum where all regulatory reporting obligations, policies, guidelines and related frameworks can be established to reinforce governance and oversight of implementation
• Support and engage with the Absa Regional Operations
• Establish, support and maintain systems to comply the Regulatory obligations requirements
• Participate at industry body or Regulator workshops and meetings (as advised)
• Create awareness of regulatory reporting developments to business and maintain and update a roadmap / timeline of key regulatory developments across the industry or changes to regulatory reporting requirements (impact of regulations on financial institutions)
• Identify, monitor and escalate to the Head Policy, Advocacy and Regulatory Relations on any or potential material risk to business with a regulatory impact
• Provide input and support into the New Regulatory Requirements process and Regulatory Relations team and participate at both the SA NRR; ARO NRR and Strategic Regulatory Forums (when required)
• Reporting, Policies and Procedures
• Compile reports to various governance committees on key regulatory reporting developments
• Liaise with key internal stakeholders in respect of updates to regulatory reporting developments for various governance committees
• Check and challenge information/input from internal stakeholders
• Ensure that information is accurate and consistent with various other governance reports
• Provide support and compile reports to various internal committees and Ad hoc requests (e.g. participate in the collation of the integrated reporting)
• Facilitate, review and update policies, terms of reference, guidelines and process/procedure documents
• Facilitate commentary from internal stakeholders (where required on policies, guidelines, processes etc.)
• Support the Supervisory team within Regulatory relations when required

Professional / Technical Experience

• Ideally experience of minimum of 10 years in financial services, banking regulatory experience
• Preferably worked closely with Regulators and Industry Bodies
• Sound understanding of core banking legislation (e.g. Banks Act, FAIS, FICA etc.)
• Very effective interpersonal skills. Excellent communicator, written and oral – clear and calm, gravitas.
• Understanding of GRC systems (Advantageous)
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders to their point of view and maintain credibility with a senior audience
• Willingness to embrace changes and work towards a common team objective; work outside of 'comfort zone'.

Academic and professional qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Masters equivalent or Advanced Diploma / Advanced Management Studies (Legal, Risk, Business, Commerce, Compliance)
• Member of the Compliance Institute of South Africa or equivalent (CPrac/CProf) advantageous

Personal attributes

• Ability to work as part of a team
• Very strong interpersonal skills, especially communication skills
• Well organised and efficient
• Excellent writing skills
• PowerPoint, Excel and Word skills
• Excellent negotiating and influencing skills
• Integrity and reliability
• Excellent attention to detail

Education

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