Internal Auditor - Data Assurance at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• We are looking to recruit a suitably experienced/qualified Internal Auditor to join our Data Assurance Audit team.
• The core responsibility of an auditor within Absa is to execute audit assignments in accordance with the Absa Group Internal Audit Charter and Group Audit Plan, and relevant policies, procedures and quality standards across the continent.

Job Description

The core responsibilities of the Data Assurance Auditor are to:

• Execution of scoped work
• Act and deliver in accordance with Internal Audit plans, methodologies, policies and procedures
• Able to adapt to change with an agile working environment
• Adopt and fit into the Absa culture and ways of work

Key Accountabilities:

• Advise Line Managers of any Policy and Procedures to be implemented.
• Monitor the implementation of Mandates in all Business Areas as per the need for that specific area.
• Ensure optimal positioning of Operational Risk within the business by creating awareness and understanding of operational risk among senior management.
• Develop an in-depth knowledge of the methodology, by attending training sessions and using knowledge gained during audits, use this proactively in executing audit activities.
• Deliver assigned by the Audit Manager / Head of Audit work to a high quality and in accordance with the requirements of the Quality Assurance scorecard.
• Assist the Audit Manager with planning and execution of Design Effectiveness and Operating Effectives Testing, uniformly applying the methodology and quality standards, focusing the work on key risks, with minimum supervision from the audit manager
• Develop and maintain relationships with key audit contacts on each audit by attending continuous stakeholder meetings. In addition, engage closely with stakeholders during assignments and encourage open discussion and interaction with business on the risks associated in their environment
• Engage proactively with Internal Audit colleagues Absa Internal Audit (AIA) / Absa Internal Audit (BIA) during assignments and request technical assistance where required. Technical assistance may be requested for the review of the risks and controls to be tested, audit working papers and audit report.
• Based on knowledge of business areas, provide guidance to other auditors and peers by sharing best practice so that their work meets and sometimes exceeds quality standards.
• Support the Audit manager in the identification of risks to be tested by participating in planning sessions.
• Develop an in-depth knowledge of Absa and the various business areas and use this knowledge to assess risks and controls through identifying, assessing and documenting risks and controls within these processes.
• Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls and document all working papers in Synergy for review by the audit manager.
• Ensure all audit observations and planned actions are factually agreed with management as soon as they arise and increase the speed of report issuance. Provide suggestions to stakeholder management on how they can address the control issues identified.
• Document all working papers in line with methodology requirements. The working papers must be accurate, reflective of work performed and support conclusions drawn.
• Display professional scepticism, raising and discussing contentious observations with management and provide evidence to support all issues identified.
• On an ongoing basis throughout the audit, discuss and agree the factual accuracy of audit observations with the Audit Manager and Head of Audit.
• Provide feedback to the Audit Manager and audit team with progress and observations raised during the audit by communicating honestly, frequently and effectively. Build and maintain good working relationships with fellow auditors.
• Participate fully and be supportive in all audits by providing assistance to the team where required. Be quick to learn and seek opportunities to share this knowledge with colleagues
• Continue to update awareness of risk issues and changes across selected business units from interaction with management and provide feedback to the Audit Manager.
• Assist in the induction of new joiners, mentoring less experienced team members.
• Proactively take on additional tasks as requested by the Head of Audit – which may include managing Issue Assurance and production of team Management Information.
• Perform Issue Assurance testing and documenting of the working papers in accordance with the requirements of the Methodology.
• Improve technical knowledge through self-learning or training including mandatory Continuous Professional Education requirements.
• Share knowledge with AIA colleagues and peers in the business.
• Develop and enhance learning through seeking coaching, training and continual feedback
• Coach new joiners and trainees on how to apply the methodology. In addition, to proactively share knowledge of within the team, leading a session at a team meeting.
• Build knowledge of business and culture in business units for the Retail portfolio as assigned by the Audit Manager
• Knowledge of key regulations, including FIC, KYC and AML, Sanctions, for business areas /locations within remit.
• Acquisition of knowledge of the bank’s governance policies and standards, and data management requirements in execution of the collection, preparation, input, processing, output and storage of data across all business units
• Prepare audit observations and make sure that they are concise, factually accurate and cover all significant issues. The observations must be insightful, address the root causes, and have agreed actions that fully mitigate the risk.
• Assist the Audit Manager where required, in the drafting of the audit report in line with methodology requirements and as per the requirements of the Balanced Scorecard.
• Develop and maintain relationships with accountable management on each audit
• Present effectively at stakeholder meetings and forums (e.g., Risk and Governance forums) to share knowledge and information including methodology, standards, changes and new developments with business stakeholders on an ongoing basis.
• Support other audit teams in identifying data management risk and/or assessing business unit adherence to the bank’s data management policies & standards.
• Provide oversight over the implementation of data governance policies, standards and processes, data quality and metadata concepts for all the data management disciplines in scope for Absa Africa Group.
• Provide assurance over the application of sound / best practice principles of data governance, and in accordance with data management policies, processes and regulatory requirements.

Education and Experience Required

• B Degree (Auditing, Information Systems/Technology, Commercial, Informatics, Statistics, Computer Science, or Law)
• 3 years technical experience in Data Management or IT Auditing
• Higher Diploma/Certification in Data Management
• Certified Information Systems Auditor
• Certified Internal Auditor
• DAMA DMBOK awareness and experience
  Data Steward Certification
• Knowledge about new and emerging data management techniques or regulations
• Practical financial services industry knowledge
• Experience in risk-based auditing or risk/control activities 

Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience in defining, implementation and/or conformance testing of Data Governance Standards, Policies & Procedures
• Audit or other compliance testing experience
• Good database knowledge and understanding
• Practical understanding of relevant regulatory environment
• Proven track record of high performance in previous roles
• Practical experience with - Data Management and Governance

Competencies:

• Deciding and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating
• Data Stewardship experience

Experience with at least 1 principal skill and 1 secondary skill from the following:

• Data Governance Drivers (Primary)
• Data Integration (Primary)
• Data Warehousing (Primary)
• Big data and non-relational systems (Secondary)
• Data Migration Tools (Secondary)
• Data Modelling (Secondary)
• Data Analysis (Secondary)

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)