Head of Audit: Business Banking - Johannesburg at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Absa Group Internal Audit (IA) is seeking an experienced and commercially minded audit leader to lead the Business Banking audit portfolio. This role provides unparalleled exposure to the strategy, operations, products, risks and transformation initiatives shaping one of the Group's leading business banking franchises.
• Business Banking serves a diverse client base through relationship-led banking, offering transactional banking, lending, cash management, payments (acquiring and issuing), digital solutions, trade and working capital finance. The successful candidate will play a critical role in providing independent assurance and strategic insight over the risks and opportunities impacting the business.
• Reporting to the Managing Principal for Business Banking Audit, the Head of Audit is responsible for defining and executing a risk-based audit strategy across the portfolio, ensuring high-quality assurance outcomes and contributing meaningfully to governance, risk management and control effectiveness. The role forms part of the Internal Audit Extended Leadership Team and requires extensive engagement with Executive Committees, Boards, Regulators and assurance partners across the Group.
• We are seeking a strategic and commercially minded leader with deep experience in banking, risk and assurance. The successful candidate will combine strong audit expertise with an understanding of how Business Banking creates value for clients and shareholders. They will possess the executive presence to engage and challenge senior stakeholders while acting as a trusted advisor on strategic objectives, transformation initiatives, governance effectiveness and emerging risks within a complex and dynamic banking environment.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Leadership and People Management:

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of audit professionals and subject matter experts across the Business Banking portfolio.
• Create an inclusive, collaborative and high-performance culture aligned to Absa Values and the Internal Audit strategy.
• Build future-fit audit capabilities through coaching, mentoring, succession planning and talent development.
• Drive continuous learning in Business Banking, risk management, analytics, emerging technologies and audit innovation.
• Lead teams through organisational and business transformation while maintaining engagement and delivery excellence.
• Foster a culture of accountability, curiosity, professional scepticism and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder Management and Influence

• Serve as a trusted advisor to Business Banking executives, governance committees, Boards and regulators.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Managing Executives, ExCo members, Risk, Compliance and other assurance functions.
• Provide independent insights on emerging risks, strategic initiatives and control effectiveness.
• Influence senior stakeholders through high-quality risk perspectives, clear communication and pragmatic recommendations.
• Support and strengthen the Group's Combined Assurance model across all lines of defence.
• Maintain deep knowledge of customer, market, regulatory and competitive developments across the banking industry.

Business Banking Portfolio Oversight:

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of Business Banking operations, products, customers and strategic priorities.
• Assess risks arising from evolving business models, regulatory requirements, market dynamics and transformation initiatives.
• Partner with business leadership, risk and assurance functions to ensure effective and coordinated assurance coverage.
• Provide an enterprise-wide view of key Business Banking risks, themes and emerging trends to inform audit planning and stakeholder reporting.

Audit Strategy, Delivery and Continuous Assurance:

• Develop and maintain a dynamic, risk-based audit plan aligned to Business Banking strategy and risk priorities.
• Deliver high-quality audit opinions, governance reporting and issue validations in accordance with Internal Audit standards.
• Apply a strategic, residual-risk lens when evaluating control weaknesses and emerging risks.
• Drive the adoption of data analytics, continuous auditing and technology-enabled assurance techniques.
• Provide concise, impactful and actionable reporting to senior management, Boards and regulators.
• Monitor emerging risks related to credit, lending, digital transformation, customer outcomes, operational resilience, financial crime and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure timely delivery of audit commitments while maintaining the highest quality standards.

Innovation and Strategic Initiatives:

• Champion the use of data, analytics, automation and AI to enhance audit effectiveness and efficiency.
• Contribute to Internal Audit’s digital transformation agenda and future operating model.
• Support assurance over major strategic, regulatory and transformation initiatives across Business Banking.
• Help position Internal Audit as a strategic partner that provides proactive insights and value beyond assurance

Knowledge and Risk Leadership:

• Remain current on banking industry developments, regulatory expectations, emerging risks and leading practices.
• Share expertise across Internal Audit and contribute to building organisational knowledge.
• Maintain strong awareness of macroeconomic, geopolitical and industry developments impacting Business Banking.
• Promote thought leadership on governance, risk management and control excellence.

Education and Experience:

Essential:

• Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Risk Management, Business or a related field.
• Professional qualification such as CA(SA), CIA, CISA, ACCA or equivalent.
• Minimum 15 years' experience within Internal Audit, External Audit, Risk Management or Financial Services.
• Significant leadership experience managing teams in complex, matrix organisations.
• Deep understanding of banking products, credit risk, operational risk, digital banking and conduct risk.

Highly Advantageous:

• Business Banking, Commercial Banking or Corporate Banking experience.
• Experience operating within large, complex banking or financial services organisations.
• Experience engaging with Boards, Regulators and Executive Committees.
• Exposure to data analytics, digital auditing and technology-enabled assurance.
• Experience leading assurance over large-scale transformation programmes.

Critical Skills and Competencies:

• Strategic and enterprise-wide thinking.
• Business Banking and commercial acumen.
• Deep understanding of Business Banking products, customers and risk drivers.
• Risk and control expertise.
• Executive presence and influencing skills.
• Board and regulator engagement.
• Leadership and talent development.
• Data-driven decision making.
• Digital and technology awareness.
• Change and transformation leadership.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management.
• Professional scepticism and sound judgement.
• Resilience and adaptability.
• Innovation and continuous improvement mindset.

Education

• Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Financial Sciences (Required), Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Statistics (Required)

End Date: September 4, 2026