Senior Manager Operations Risk (Finance) - Johannesburg at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Risk Manager – COO team supporting Finance Management Functions
• The Finance Management (FM) COO team supports the Heads of FM Functions in managing the overall Finance business to enable strategic delivery of the functions and fulfilling of business responsibilities.

These responsibilities include:

• Drive the Strategy for FM and its sub-functions
• Support the Heads of FM sub-functions in Chief of Staff matters
• Drive the Colleague Agenda
• Cost and FTE management, including budget setting
• Operational support to Functions and sub-functions
• Co-ordinate the above deliverables through a well-orchestrated COO community within the Functions

Job Description

Establish and maintain a risk and control framework for non-Key risks, including monitoring and reporting

• Ensure optimal positioning of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF) within FM by creating awareness and understanding of operational risk among senior management;
• Ensure effective implementation representation and adoption of the ERMF, by all FM functions;
• Using the Absa risk appetite, develop and recommend the risk appetite for each of the non-key risks to senior management in FM;
• Monitor functional performance against risk appetite for non-key risks;
• Identify all Group related policies and standards and ensure that the processes align to minimum control guidance as set out in policies and standards;
• Oversee and facilitate the design of appropriate processes and procedures needed to implement the ERMF in FM for non-key risks;
• Develop, draft and communicate relevant guidance documents to ensure compliance with policies and standards for all non-key risks;
• Be the ‘Go To’ person and provide guidance to FM Functional Heads and managers on the interpretation of the ERMF and related non-key risk policies and standards
• Monitor and challenge the effectiveness and adherence to the ERMF
• Assess the level of compliance and risk in FM and report this to senior management;
• Assess the compliance to policies and standards and apply for dispensation and/ or waiver to the relevant KRO where material gaps in policies/standards or sections of policies/standards are identified, or considered irrelevant post the risk appetite setting for FM function;
• Ensure functions implement appropriate, standardised and adequate risk and compliance processes and monitoring capability for each non-key risk within FM;
• Design and implement a regular risk reporting processes which can be used for complete reporting requirements to FM management, forums and committees;
• Responsible to collate all relevant information to ensure accurate, timely, complete reporting of all non-key risks for FM;
• Report to senior management on the aggregate FM risk profile;
• Assist in the design and implementation of the minimum Key Indicators (KI) as required by the KRO for FM;
• Seek opportunities for continuous improvement in processes for efficiency and effectiveness in execution of risk management activities;
• Monitor overdue Internal Audit findings that pertain to FM and ensure these are addressed timeously through engagement with responsible persons;

Business Continuity Management (BCM)

• Accountability and management of BCM for FM;
• Maintenance of the FM BCM plans and oversight of the sub-functional plans, on relevant reporting tools and formats, to ensure compliance with BCM Policies and Standards;
• Exercise preparedness, recovery capability and competence by BCM test requirements as per the BCM policy;
• Where relevant follow up with management to ensure timely remediation of control and process failures;
• Ensure appointment of relevant functional representatives per BCM requirements;
• Ensure relevant training and guidance documents are available, attended and completed by functional representatives per BCM requirements;
• Report to FM management on BCM readiness;
• Attend all BCM related forums and ensure full alignment of FM BCM plans;
• Act as the central point of contact between FM and the BCM office;
• Act as central point of contact in the event of BCM invocation.

Staff Expense and Business Travel Policy Governance and Control:

• Documenting, review and maintenance of the Staff Expense and Business Travel Policy and related standards and forms;
• Review of escalated Staff expense breaches, exceptions and queries as well as Corporate Card Limit management;
• Central point of contact with Financial Services South Africa (FSSA) team on staff expenses, business travel and corporate card related matters;
• Design, analysis and review of Staff Expense and Corporate Card reports including ad hoc reporting to FM Management as required;
• Ensure Staff Expense and Business Travel Policy remains relevant and aligned to SAP Concur and Travel Booking systems;
• Assistance with Fraud investigations as it pertains to Corporate Card use;

Information Risk Management (IRM) and Data Privacy:

• Accountability and management of IRM and Data Privacy as per Group Policies and Standards for FM;
• Maintenance of relevant templates on relevant reporting tools and formats, to ensure compliance with IRM and Data Privacy Policies and Standards;
• Where relevant follow up with management to ensure timely resolution of areas of non-compliance;
• Assist with the remediation of control and process failures;
• Reporting to FM management on IRM and Data Privacy compliance;
• Attend all IRM and Data Privacy related forums and ensure full alignment of IRM and Data Privacy processes as required;
• Provide feedback to FM management on IRM  and Data Privacy related matters;
• Act as the central point of contact between FM, IRM and Data Privacy Office.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS):

• Accountability and management of OHS Policies and Standards for FM;
• Ensure appointment of relevant functional representatives per OHS requirements;
• Ensure relevant training and guidance documents are available, attended and completed by functional representatives per OHS requirements
• Reporting on OHS compliance;
• Where relevant follow up with management to ensure timely resolution of areas where non-complaint to OHS Policies and Standards;
• Attend all OHS related forums and ensure full alignment of OHS processes as required;
• Act as the central point of contact between FM and OHS.

Accountability: Stakeholder Management

• Establish and maintain relationships with all key stakeholders such as:
  • Relevant risk functions and offices;
  • FM management;
  • Functional heads;
  • COOs and Business Managers etc.
• Understand stakeholders' expectations and ensure that stakeholders' expectations are met and exceeded in certain instances;
• Foster a strategic relationship with Management Assurance, Group Compliance, Operational Risk and Absa Internal Audit to ensure alignment in terms of current risks and the impact thereof on the risk profile of the function;
• Ensure integration of the ERMF into related activities with an objective to ensure a strong control environment and continuous improvement within Functions;
• Interact with Functional Risk representatives to facilitate Risk assessments as well as providing guidance to mitigate risks outside the set risk appetite;
• Ensure Risk representatives are fully aware of their responsibilities and that they execute accordingly;
• Establish and maintain relevant governance forums to proactively manage risk management within FM.

Education and Experience Required:

• B degree or equivalent specialising in Audit / Business Management/ Risk Management or equivalent NQF level 6 qualification or higher.
• Honours Degree in Audit or Business Management or equivalent NQF level 7 qualification (preferred)
• Financial institutions risk management experience (preferred)
• Experience of working in a multinational, multi-segment, environment with matrix reporting (preferred)
• Eight (8) years’ experience in risk management and/or relevant business sector.
• Sound operational risk and compliance knowledge.
• Knowledge of the main operational processes procedures and control frameworks within the Absa businesses.
• Understanding of emerging technologies and the risk implications.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the internet.
• Awareness of cultural differences and varying legal/regulatory environments.
• Experience in implementing risk or compliance frameworks end to end.
• No criminal record

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of Risk Management, which includes risk identification, control design, monitoring and reporting
• Strong operational risk and general compliance knowledge
• Knowledge of compliance and regulatory policies and best practice
• Ability to operate independently of detailed line supervision
• Report writing skills
• Problem solving
• Analytical skills
• Ability to maintain and build relationships
• Conflict management
• Strong presentation skills
• Ability to facilitate workshops and or provide training
• Microsoft Office skills

Competencies:

• Deciding and initiating action
• Planning and organising
• Persuading and influencing
• Relating and networking
• Presenting and communicating information
• Writing and reporting
• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations

Education

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