Governance Manager - Cape Town, Western Cape at Sanlam Group

What will you do?

Job Purpose

• The Governance Manager is responsible for supporting the development, implementation and oversight of the governance framework within Glacier. Operating within the first line of defense, the role will report to the Senior Governance Manager and assist in supporting the Glacier Board and Exco in fulfilling their first line governance and compliance obligations by ensuring regulatory and governance requirements are optimally understood, implemented, embedded and monitored across the business.
• The role provides governance advisory services to business stakeholders, facilitates regulatory reporting, monitors adherence to governance requirements and supports the implementation of regulatory changes. The Governance Manager plays an integral role in promoting a culture of good governance, ethical conduct and regulatory compliance across the organization, with particular emphasis on product governance and a deep understanding of the long-term insurance and the investment product landscape.

Key Outcomes

• Governance Framework - Assist in the development, implementation and maintenance of the governance framework, including policies, procedures, controls and standards. Support periodic reviews to ensure the framework remains current and fit for purpose considering regulatory developments.
• Product Governance - Support the oversight of product governance processes across Glacier's product range, including endowments, sinking funds, retirement annuity funds, discretionary investment products and other long-term insurance and investment products. Ensure that products are designed, distributed and reviewed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and sound governance principles, and that product-related compliance obligations are identified, monitored and reported.
• Regulatory Monitoring and Change Management - Monitor the regulatory landscape for applicable changes across all relevant legislation and assist in managing the implementation of new or amended regulatory requirements across the business. Ensure business stakeholders are timeously informed of regulatory changes and their implications for products, processes and governance structures.
• Advisory Services - Provide governance advisory support to business stakeholders, senior management and the Exco team, offering practical guidance on regulatory requirements, governance obligations and compliance expectations across the full spectrum of applicable legislation.
• Monitoring and Reporting - Monitor governance and compliance practices across the business and prepare accurate, timely governance reports which can be presented to Exco or relevant Governance or Risk Forums. Facilitate the compilation of regulatory and statutory reports from a first-line perspective.
• Regulatory Liaison - Support the Senior Governance Manager in engaging with regulatory bodies, auditors and external stakeholders on governance and compliance matters. Assist in preparing the organization for regulatory engagements and ensuring leadership is appropriately briefed.
• AML, FICA, FATCA and CRS Oversight - Support the oversight of Anti-Money Laundering, FICA, FATCA and Common Reporting Standard compliance, including monitoring the implementation of related policies, procedures and controls. A thorough understanding of FATCA and CRS obligations and their operational application is essential to this role given the cross-border nature of Glacier's product offering.
• Conduct Risk and TCF - Assist in the development and monitoring of conduct risk management programmes, including Treating Customers Fairly initiatives, ensuring that customer outcomes remain central to business practices and product governance decisions.
• Strategic Project Management - Support strategic projects within the business from a governance perspective, including regulatory change implementation projects, governance framework enhancement initiatives and cross-functional compliance programmes. Ensure projects are managed effectively, stakeholders are appropriately engaged and deliverables are completed within agreed timelines.
• Training and Awareness - Design and facilitate training sessions to promote awareness and understanding of governance requirements, regulatory obligations and compliance expectations across the organization.
• Collaboration with Assurance and First Line Functions - Work closely with second line assurance functions, including Risk and Compliance, to ensure alignment between governance practices and the broader risk and compliance framework. Collaborate with other first line functions, including the Legal team, to ensure governance obligations are appropriately embedded in business processes, legal documentation and product structures.
• Stakeholder Engagement - Maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, auditors, legal counsel and business units, to support sound governance and compliance outcomes.
• Board and CEO Support - Assist in preparing governance reports and briefing materials for the Board and CEO, ensuring that governance issues, regulatory developments and compliance matters are clearly and accurately communicated.

Qualifications and Experience

• B. Juris / BA Law / B. Proc / LLB / BCom or other relevant commercial degree
• Certificate or Diploma in Compliance Management or Financial Planning
• FAIS Fit and Proper requirements to be a FSCA registered Compliance Officer (Cat I, II or III) will be advantageous
• CPRAC, CRM Prac or equivalent qualification will be advantageous
• Minimum five years of experience in Compliance, Legal and Risk Management within the Financial Services industry, with a minimum of three years in a team leadership capacity
• Experience in the LISP industry preferred
• Thorough working knowledge of the Pension Funds Act, CISCA, Insurance Act, Long-term Insurance Act, FAIS, FICA, Financial Markets Act, Exchange Control Regulations, FATCA and CRS
• Sound understanding of long-term insurance and investment products, including endowments, sinking funds, retirement annuity funds, provident and pension fund products and discretionary investment products
• Exposure to international regulatory frameworks, including Bermuda insurance legislation, will be advantageous

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including presentations and stakeholder influence
• Strong understanding of financial services legislation and regulatory frameworks
• Proficient in drafting legal documents and interpreting legislation
• Skilled in stakeholder management and client engagement
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking
• Data analysis and digital literacy
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Experience in an IT or project environment is advantageous

Competencies

• Innovation and ability to exercise sound independent judgement
• Strategic mindset with the ability to support strategic initiatives with sound governance input
• Legal drafting and advisory
• Regulatory reporting, implementation, collaboration and governance
• Risk identification, analysis and management
• Management of people and processes
• Execution - strategic and operational delivery on risk and compliance matters
• Client focus - building strong stakeholder relationships and delivering client-centric governance solutions
• Drives results - consistently achieving outcomes and meeting deadlines, even under demanding circumstances
• Collaborates - building partnerships and working collaboratively across functions to meet shared objectives

Attributes

• Action oriented - takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with urgency, energy and enthusiasm
• Innovative - creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful
• Plans and aligns - plans and prioritizes work to meet commitments aligned to organizational goals
• Flexible and adaptable - ability to adjust to an evolving regulatory environment and changing requirements
• Courageous - steps up to address difficult issues and says what needs to be said
• Independent and accountable - holds self and others accountable to meet commitments
• Resilient - rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations

What will make you successful in this role?

Qualification and Experience

• Degree with 6 to 8 years related experience.

Knowledge and Skills

• Compliance advice, training and documentation reviews
• Compliance and legal projects management
• Risk Management
• Coaching and mentoring of less experienced compliance employees
• Regulatory compliance reporting and monitoring

Personal Attributes

• Business insight - Contributing through others
• Builds networks - Contributing through others
• Manages complexity - Contributing through others
• Persuades - Contributing through others

Build a successful career with us

• We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Core Competencies

• Cultivates innovation - Contributing through others
• Customer focus - Contributing through others
• Drives results - Contributing through others
• Collaborates - Contributing through others
• Being resilient - Contributing through others