Financial Control Assurance Specialist at Absa South Africa

Job Summary

• The Risk Management and Governance (Assurance) team is responsible for providing finance management with assurance on the implementation and adherence to the organisations governance and control frameworks with an emphasis on financial reporting risk.
• This role involves the development and execution of assurance plans, testing, monitoring and coordination of assurance processes within Financial Control and other areas. The role includes analysing key financial and risk information, identifying risk, assessing the control environment as required by internal policies, identification and escalation of significant findings and remediation plans.
• To prepare financial information for all stakeholders of the business for informed decision making and to support the business.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Provide independent and objective risk oversight/monitoring in line with the relevant Group Frameworks. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Develop an in depth knowledge of the financial reporting systems and processes as well as the Groups Financial Reporting policies and risk management frameworks in order to assess compliance.  
• Perform  assurance activities, including the review, challenge and tracking / escalation of findings.
• Critical process assessment assurance, asses design adequacy and operating effectiveness of control, including reporting.
• Analysing risk information and assessing the environment for potential areas where assurance activities would benefit management.
• Provide check and challenge to ensure that risks have been considered and sufficiently addressed.
• Challenge processes to ensure risk are appropriately identified, managed and mitigated.
• Communication and escalation of relevant findings to stakeholders.
• Review remediation plans for adequacy, completeness and progress.
• Enable management to monitor the effectiveness of the control environment and to take action to further mitigate risk where required.
• Provide risk guidance and support to management, including developing proposed solutions for areas where remediation is required.
• Keep abreast of best practice, operational requirements and technology changes related to financial reporting.

Role/Person Specification

Education and Experience

• B degree/similar qualification in a financial/related discipline
• Post graduate degree or CA(SA) preferable
• CA: Experience 0-3 years / SME as required by the specifics of the role.
• Business experience in a Banking environment gained from a Finance, Product preferable.

Knowledge and Skills

• Exceptional academic track record
• Understanding of financial reporting processes, risks and related controls
• Ability to identify control gaps and weaknesses
• Ability to use analytical review tools to analyse and interpret financial data
• Ability to write concise effective reports

Competencies

• Effective communication and collaboration
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Analysis skills & technical ability ;
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Financial Sciences (Required)