Group Head: Risk and Compliance

SUMMARY:
Group Head: Risk and Compliance - equity preferred

POSITION INFO:
REPORTING TO; Group Chief Financial Officer GOVERNANCE FORUMS; Standing attendee & reporting line into the Risk & Audit Committee FUNCTION; Group Risk, Compliance, Governance & Internal Audit THE MANDATE The Group Head: Risk & Compliance is the Group's most senior risk and compliance executive - a person of unimpeachable integrity and independent judgement, and a trusted adviser to executive management, the Group CFO and the Board. The role is accountable for the design, implementation, monitoring and continuous enhancement of an integrated governance, risk, compliance and assurance framework across the Group. Reporting to the Group Chief Financial Officer and with direct access to executive management and the Risk & Audit Committee, the incumbent sets the tone for a proactive risk and compliance culture, protects the Group's licence to operate and reputation, and ensures that sound governance is embedded as a source of competitive and commercial value rather than a compliance overhead. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Corporate governance & compliance leadership • Champion sound corporate governance across the Group in line with King IV and the JSE Listings Requirements. • Develop, coordinate and maintain Group-wide policies, procedures and standards of conduct, enforced through clear and well-publicised guidelines. • Establish and convene the Group compliance committee, and report into the Risk & Audit Committee. • Ensure the Group continuously meets all statutory and regulatory reporting obligations. Regulatory compliance & universe management • Develop, maintain and monitor the regulatory universe applicable to the Group and its regulated entities, and establish and manage risk ratings for each piece of legislation. • Ensure adherence to applicable legislation - including the Companies Act, FICA, POPIA and the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS), as applicable to the Group's regulated entities. • Oversee licensing compliance across regulated entities where applicable. • Act as the principal point of contact for regulators and governing bodies, and respond to regulatory and customer queries. • Ensure that agents, service providers and independent contractors are aware of, and comply with, the requirements of the compliance programme. Enterprise risk management • Own and continuously enhance the enterprise-wide risk management framework, policies and procedures, aligned to leading practice. • Define and calibrate the Group's risk appetite, risk tolerance and total cost of risk. • Act as custodian of the Group risk registers - kept current, with risks owned, addressed and mitigated - and present these to the Risk & Audit Committee. • Conduct periodic risk assessments, scenario analysis and response planning, and develop robust risk-assurance mechanisms. Internal audit & assurance • Monitor the outsourced internal audit provider. • Coordinate internal compliance reviews and monitoring • Design and lead independent internal investigations and any resulting corrective action, across departments, providers, agents and contractors. Ethics, fraud & whistleblowing • Control and manage the Tip-Offs Anonymous hotline and develop programmes that encourage the reporting of suspected fraud or impropriety without fear of retaliation. • Reduce the Group's vulnerability to fraud, abuse and waste through effective policy, monitoring and corrective action. • Liaise with relevant industry crime- and corruption-prevention initiatives (e.g. PACI). Business continuity & operational resilience • Review, enhance, implement and test the Group's Business Continuity and Disaster Management \/ Recovery plans, and embed operational resilience across critical processes. Training, awareness & culture • Develop and roll out a multi-faceted risk and compliance education programme - including e-learning - focused on high-risk legislation, reaching all staff and management. • Deliver risk-awareness training, and communicate lessons learned, best practice, emerging trends and fraud-prevention insight across the Group. Executive & Board reporting • Report to executive management and the Group CFO on the status, effectiveness and continuous improvement of the risk and compliance programme. • Participate in and report to the Risk & Audit Committee, advising the executive on ways to improve efficiency, quality and control and to reduce exposure to fraud, abuse and waste. CANDIDATE PROFILE Qualifications - essential • CA(SA); or a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Commerce or Law. • A postgraduate qualification and\/or professional certification in risk, compliance or governance (advantageous). Experience - essential • A minimum of 10 years' experience in a risk and compliance role, including significant time at senior management \/ group level - ideally within a listed and\/or regulated environment. • A proven track record of building and leading an integrated risk, compliance and assurance function, and of delivering measurable results in compliance and enterprise risk management. • Demonstrated ability to make and stand behind critical business decisions and recommendations. Technical & regulatory knowledge • Strong working knowledge of King IV and corporate governance in a JSE-listed context. • Sound understanding of the applicable regulatory landscape, including the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS), FICA, POPIA and the Companies Act. • FAIS Regulatory Examinations (RE 1 and RE 5) - advantageous, and to be confirmed against the specific regulated capacity (if applicable). • Familiarity with enterprise risk management frameworks and risk-management software (off-the-shelf or bespoke). Leadership & personal attributes • Unimpeachable integrity, objectivity and independence of judgement. • Gravitas and credibility to engage and influence the executive, the Board and regulators. • Strategic and commercially aware - able to translate governance and risk into business value. • A capable leader who can build, lead, coach and develop a high-performing team. • Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including confident report-writing to Board level. • Highly organised and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple concurrent priorities without losing focus. • Self-motivated, resilient and delivery-focused, with a strong sense of urgency. CRITICAL COMPETENCIES Adhering to principles & values (integrity) Applying expertise & technology Deciding & initiating action Presenting & communicating information Leading & supervising Learning & researching Delivering results & meeting expectations Adapting & responding to change Analysing & critical judgement Coping with pressures & setbacks Writing & reporting to Board level Following instructions & procedures Planning & organising Working with & through people Relating, networking & influencing Entrepreneurial & commercial thinking Formulating strategies & concepts Salary - Market related Send cv to