Ethics Officer at Nedbank

Job Purpose

• The Group Ethics Office is an independent function established to manage the implementation of an effective and mature ethical culture across the organisation, including its subsidiaries and foreign offices. As part of its mandate, the Ethics Office conducts independent and objective investigations into allegations of unethical conduct relating to harassment, sexual harassment, physical assault, unfair discrimination, conflict of interest, human rights abuses, as well as other breaches of the Nedbank Employee Code of Ethics and Conduct.
• The Ethics Office seeks to appoint a candidate to primarily conduct end-to-end investigations in line with its mandate, as well as to provide support to the Ethics Office in the establishment of an ethical culture within the organisation. Note that this is not a forensics role as the Ethics Office does not conduct investigations into allegations of financial crime and dishonesty, but rather matters that relate to people behaviour and interactions in the socio-organisational context.
• The ideal candidate for this position should have a combination of analytical skills, attention to detail, critical thinking skills, and an evidence-based mindset. This will enable them to carefully review and analyse information, and draw logical conclusions based on evidence.
• In addition to analytical skills, the candidate should possess exceptional people skills, a high level of emotional intelligence, and the ability to understand and interpret the nuances of social interactions. This will allow them to effectively communicate with individuals involved in the investigation, build rapport with them, and determine the effects of behaviour on the organisational culture. They should also be able to handle high-pressure situations with ease and maintain composure under stress.
• Overall, the ideal candidate should be well-rounded, possessing a combination of technical and interpersonal skills that are essential for carrying out successful investigations that are not related to financial crime or dishonesty

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct end-to-end internal employee conduct investigations relating to harassment (including sexual harassment), unfair discrimination, assault, human rights abuses, nepotism/cronyism, conflict of interest, and other breaches of the Nedbank Code of Ethics and Conduct.
• Lead and conduct complex and sensitive interviews as part of the investigation process.
• Collect and analyse evidence gathered during an investigation to compile objective and factually correct findings and recommendations.
• Compile high quality investigation reports that can be delivered to Senior Management within the organisation.
• Conduct statistical analysis of investigation trends and outcomes and support the Group Ethics Officer in compiling high quality reports for relevant management and board committees.
• Develop and roll-out strategic interventions in response to these trends and observations.
• Regularly monitor the Gifts Registry to identify, investigate, and rectify potential and actual breaches.
• Conduct training and awareness sessions for employees and suppliers.
• Continuously monitor local and international trends and best practice initiatives to support the governance and management of ethics and human rights within the group’s operations and its supply chain.
• Build professional relationships with stakeholders and provide independent advice and guidance to employees and business functions on ethics and human rights-related queries.
• Identify opportunities and take steps to enhance collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure that ethics and human rights are managed holistically and effectively at an enterprise-wide level.

Essential Qualifications - NQF Level

• Advanced Diplomas/National 1st Degrees

Preferred Qualification

• Minimum qualifications: Relevant 3 year degree (Human Resources, Philosophy, Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Law, or Commerce).
• Preferred qualifications: advanced degree or certificates/accreditations in any of the following areas would be beneficial: Philosophy, Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Law, or Ethics.

Type of Exposure

• Critical thinking, deductive reasoning, social perceptiveness, and problem-solving
• Communication and conducting interviews
• Analysing situations or data that require an in-depth evaluation of multiple factors
• Developing ways to minimize risks
• Sharing information in different ways to increase internal stakeholders understanding
• Comparing two or more sets of information
• Communicating complex information
• Preparing and delivering presentations
• Analysing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data
• Working with a group to identify alternative solutions to a problem
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external clients

Minimum Experience Level

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in any of the following areas: human resources, organisational development, psychology, law, ethics, risk management, consulting, audit, or investigations.
• Overall, a successful candidate in the employee conduct investigation field should possess a combination of technical skills, interpersonal skills, and personal qualities that are essential for conducting effective investigations and promoting ethical behaviour within organizations.

Technical / Professional Knowledge

• Governance, Risk and Controls
• Codes of Good Governance
• Relevant regulatory knowledge
• Integrated sustainability and Global Reporting Index (GRI) reporting principles
• Industry specific knowledge
• Compliance reporting
• Business writing skills

Behavioural Competencies

• Decision Making
• Influencing
• Building Networks
• Earning Trust
• Managing Work
• Quality Orientation
• Stress Tolerance