Head Of Risk | Johannesburg
Join this Listed Financial Service Giant today as Head of Risk.
The core responsibility of the successful individual is to manage the Risk team and engage and partner with business around the complete Risk life-cycle.
Experience and Qualifications
•Degree in business / finance / law / Actuarial Science.
•Relevant post-graduate degree (e.g. MBA, Actuarial Science / Risk Management and/or Compliance).
•Registered with the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (RMSA) (preferred).
•Registered with the Institute of Compliance South Africa (ICSA) (preferred).
•8 - 10 years' relevant industry experience, with at least 3 - 5 years' in a managerial capacity within a Risk and/or Compliance function
Responsibilities and work outputs:
•Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels as well as senior executives and the wider Risk, Legal and Compliance community to remove hurdles and obstacles and co- create an empowered and risk-aware culture.
•Engage with departmental heads to help them to grow their areas by giving them risk support and
guidelines, ensuring they are operationally sound and managing compliance with regulations.
•Engage with relevant internal stakeholders to advise them on the risk profile and to keep them in the
loop of issues that need to be escalated.
•Engage with Risk, Legal and Compliance teams to co-create appropriate and effective controls across
the risk spectrum.
•Where relevant, build and maintain relationships with regulators and manage interactions on behalf of
the business.
•Contribute to sustaining a competitive edge through external networking and benchmarking and
representation on relevant internal and external forums.
•Lead by example in contributing to a culture that builds rewarding relationships, facilitates feedback
and provides exceptional client service.
•Identify changing client needs and incorporate client feedback into improved business processes and
systems.
•Identify and drive ongoing efficiencies, e.g. through automation.
•Continually liaise with individual risk owners to understand, manage and optimise end-to-end risk
identification, assessment, monitoring, quantification, treatment and reporting processes.
•Continuously monitor and evaluate the overall risk profile across the risk spectrum.
•Pull the risk picture together (financial risks, operational risks and legal and compliance views) to
provide a combined assurance view to the CAF (Combined Assurance Forum).
•Ensure the audit plan speaks to the risks identified in the risk plan.
•Influence and shape business decisions by integrating understanding of the risk-management life-
cycle into business planning.
•Apply analytical and connective thinking skills to question and interrogate issues from different
perspectives.
•Communicate clearly and concisely, showing courage in being willing to challenge, particularly up-the-
line.
•Research case studies and trends, displaying proactivity and future foresight in conducting futuristic
scenario planning.
•Review working risk strategy in the light of changing requirements and monitor the implementation
thereof.
•Enhance relationships between own function and key internal and external stakeholders to improve
reporting and wider understanding of the risk profile.
Competencies required:
•Thinks critically and connectively
•Questions and investigates
•Drives quality results
•Builds collaborative relationships
•Influences with impact
•Manages risk
•Applies judgement to give trusted advice
•Displays business and financial acumen
•Builds an effective team
•Plans, organises and monitors work
•Displays external awareness
•Displays future foresight
We're looking for someone with:
•Relevant industry and technical skills and experience, with an ability to provide strategic leadership
(local and cross border) where required.
•Understanding of the BU's risk framework and how function-specific risk elements are managed.
•Strong report-writing and review skills with excellent attention to detail.
•Strong quantitative, financial and accounting knowledge.
•Comprehensive risk management skills encompassing the regulatory, governance, risk and
compliance landscape.
•Understanding of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA)
and Solvency Assessment and Management (SAM) practices and philosophy and relevant local legislation
and regulations impacting risk management.
•Skilled at developing economic scenarios and collating market intelligence.
•Team leadership and management skills.
•Excellent written and verbal communication, influencing, facilitation and presentation skills.
•Assertive, resilient and able to work under pressure.
•Interpersonally agile and strong at building relationships at all levels.
•Critical and connective thinker with a curious, questioning and investigative orientation.
•Deadline and solution-driven, comfortable with change and able to navigate ambiguity and deal with
the unexpected.
•Being seen as a trusted advisor and valued partner rather than policeman or whistle-blower (not
consulted as a last resort).
•Getting the balance right between supporting, influencing and challenging, as well as balancing short
and long-term needs.
•Responding quickly to regulatory, market and industry developments and trends.
•Managing change with stakeholders who do not want to engage.
•Managing the balance between being firm, assertive and objective but at the same time responsive
and open-minded.
