Internal Audit Manager at Santam Insurance

What will you do?

A position of Senior Internal Audit Manager exists in Santam Corporate Services to be based in Sandton, Gauteng.

The purpose of the role of the Senior Audit Manager is to a play a significant role in delivering on the internal audit charter and improving the governance, risk management and control in the Santam Group. The senior manager is responsible to ensure that the Internal Audit activities are executed in accordance with the requirements of any specific acts and regulations applicable to the business or the function itself.

What will make you successful in this role?

• Ensure that the Internal Audit function and activities are executed in accordance with the Charter as well as the requirements of any specific acts and regulations applicable to the business or the function itself.

• Assisting in the establishment and implementation of the overall Santam Group Internal Audit strategy.

• Evaluates and improves overall audit operations by leveraging technology and other tools.

• Understands and applies external benchmarks for performance standards.

• Develop internal standards and frameworks for audit work execution to further supplement current Institute of Internal Audit (IIA) standards as well as regulatory requirements.

• Providing input into annual planning process to develop a risk-based audit plan

• Delivery of the annual internal audit annual plan as approved by the Santam

• Audit engagement management, co-ordination and optimisation of budgeted resources.

• Team leadership, which includes staff management, performance reviews, training, development and career planning.

• Stakeholder management (internal and external)

• Alignment with other assurance providers (e.g. external audit, risk management, compliance, etc.).

• Regular reporting to the various Audit and Finance and Risk Committees that includes not only significant weaknesses in governance, risk management and internal control, but also administrative matters relating to Internal Audit and its operations.

Qualification and Experience

• CA (SA) or CIA

• B.Com / B.Tech

• External audit articles

• Completed articles plus 8-10 years management experience in financial services (preferably General Insurance) or Internal Audit or Risk Management

• Experience in leading internal and or external audit teams in a dynamic insurance or financial services environment

• In-depth knowledge of audit methodologies

• Must be able to travel locally (maximum 40%), willing to travel internationally if required, and work overtime when necessary.

• Strong leadership capabilities key to optimising the performance of a team and building credibility across the organisation

• Knowledge of relevant corporate governance and risk management legislation, codes and regulatory requirements that impact the Insurance Industry

• Expert knowledge of internal audit principles and standards within South Africa and internationally

• Understanding and knowledge of the financial services industry

• Understanding and knowledge of Insurance business processes Knowledge of legislation, regulations applicable to the financial industry (FAIS, STIA, New Insurance Act as well a supporting prudential and conduct governance standards)

• Solid understanding of financial management / reporting processes and controls

• Understanding of principles, policies, frameworks, methodologies, procedures, etc

Knowledge and Skills

• Stakeholder management skills

• Influencing and negotiation skills

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills across all levels

• High stress tolerance

• Dealing with confidentiality

• Report writing skills

• Ability to ‘think-out-of-the-box’ and critical thinking

• High initiative/self-starter/proactive and anticipate requirements

• Professionalism, excellent judgement, use of discretion and problem solving abilities

• Ability to work and make decisions independently

• Computer literate (Excel, Word and PowerPoint)

Competencies

• Collaborates

• Client focus

• Drives results 

• Flexibility and adaptability

• Cultivates Innovation

• Strategic Decision Making

• Analytical Thinking

• Influencing/ Gaining Commitment

• Business acumen

About the company:

Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. We are a large, diversified, expanding and transforming company and whilst based in South Africa, we are rapidly moving into a number of emerging markets, both in Africa and Asia.

Our success is rooted in our passion for our clients and everything we do is centered on our delivery of Insurance Good and Proper. We’re about people. People drive our business so it follows that we want to recruit the best people possible whether they work for us permanently or for a short time as temporary employees.

At Santam, we are committed to transformation and embracing diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse workplace with employment equity as a key goal to create an inclusive workforce, representative of the demographics of our society. In achieving our employment equity goals, we give preference to applicants from the designated groups in alignment with the Divisions Employment Equity targets.