JSE Compliance Officer at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To ensure the stockbroking business complies with the JSE Rules, Financial Markets Act (FMA), FSCA directives, FAIS requirements, and all other relevant legislation, while embedding a culture of compliance and risk awareness across the Stock-Broking business. The Compliance Officer will act as the designated liaison with the JSE and regulators, ensuring adherence to exchange membership obligations and proactive identification and mitigation of compliance risks.

Job Description

Regulatory Oversight & Monitoring

• Serve as the approved JSE Compliance Officer for the stockbroking business.
• Monitor changes in legislation, JSE Rules, and FSCA directives; assess impact and implement changes.
• Develop, maintain, and execute a compliance monitoring plan covering stockbroking operations, trading, and settlement.
• Conduct ongoing monitoring of transactions, systems, and processes to detect potential breaches or misconduct.
• Investigate compliance breaches and oversee corrective action plans.
• Monitor and interpret JSE Rules, Directives, and circulars relevant to stockbroking.
• Ensure compliance with the Financial Markets Act, FAIS, FICA, and related legislation.
• Act as the official JSE-registered Compliance Officer for the business
• Prepare and submit compliance returns and regulatory reports to the JSE and FSCA.
• Liaise with the JSE, FSCA, SARB, and other regulators as needed.
• Report compliance breaches, incidents, and remediation actions to senior management and the Board.
• Develop compliance risk management plans (CRMPs), maintain regulatory inventories, and process JSE,

Governance, Policy & Assurance

• Draft, implement, and update compliance policies and procedures aligned with JSE membership obligations and Group frameworks.
• Ensure compliance risks are identified and reported to the Board, Audit & Risk Committee, and management.
• Support internal and external audits, addressing findings promptly.
• Maintain accurate compliance records and registers as required by JSE.
• Provide compliance guidance to business units, brokers, and management.
• Conduct compliance risk assessments and thematic reviews.
• Develop and maintain compliance monitoring programmes aligned to regulatory requirements.
• Develop, implement, and review compliance policies and procedures.
• Conduct ongoing compliance monitoring activities, participate in special projects, and conduct investigations on suspicious activity and/or market abuse.
• Ensure alignment with Group Compliance frameworks (if applicable).
• Support internal and external audit processes and address findings.
• Conduct analysis to identify major issues and actionable opportunities, design solutions, and quantify financial impact.

Advisory & Business Partnering

• Provide expert compliance advice to senior management, traders, brokers, and support teams.
• Partner with business leaders to embed Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) and market conduct standards.
• Guide the design of new products, processes, and trading initiatives to ensure compliance is built in upfront.
• Advise on conflict of interest, insider trading, AML, and market abuse risks.
• Provide real-time regulatory advice and decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Prepare advice and guidance on regulatory and firm policy issues, and alert management on any risk.
• Participate in industry forums, report regulatory developments to relevant committees, and support strong regulatory relationships.

Training & Culture Building

• Design and deliver compliance training for brokers, support staff, and executives.
• Run workshops on JSE Rules, FICA/AML, FAIS, and ethical conduct.
• Champion a compliance culture where colleagues understand accountability and customer-first conduct.
• Deliver compliance training to staff, with emphasis on JSE Rules, market conduct, AML/CTF, and Treating Customers Fairly (TCF).
• Drive a culture of ethical trading, market integrity, and responsible conduct.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting
• Act as the primary point of contact with the JSE, FSCA, SARB, and other regulators.
• Prepare and submit accurate compliance returns, reports, and notifications.
• Engage with regulators on inspections, reviews, and queries.
• Present compliance updates, risk assessments, and metrics to senior leadership and the Board
• Develop presentations for management, stakeholders, and regulators to communicate issues, recommendations, and initiative status.
• Identify potential concerns and control issues, determine root causes, and ensure stakeholders implement corrective actions.

Preferred Education 

• Relevant bachelor’s degree (Law, Finance, Commerce, Risk Management, or related).
• JSE-registered Compliance Officer designation
• JSE Equities Compliance Officer exams
• FAIS recognised Regulatory Examination (RE1/RE5) advantageous.
• Postgraduate qualification in compliance, governance, or risk (advantage).

Preferred Experience

• Minimum 7–10 years’ compliance experience in financial services, with at least 6 years in a stockbroking / trading / capital markets environment.

Proven working knowledge of:

• JSE Rules and Directives
• Financial Markets Act and FSCA regulatory framework
• FAIS, FICA, and AML/CTF regulations
• Experience in stakeholder engagement with regulators (JSE, FSCA).
• Track record in building monitoring frameworks and embedding compliance culture

Knowledge and Skills

• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of stockbroking operations, trading systems, settlement processes, and exchange rules.
• Regulatory Acumen: Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements to practical business situations.
• Analytical Skills: Risk identification, problem-solving, and root cause analysis.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal skills; ability to influence senior management and engage regulators confidently.
• Integrity & Independence: Upholds ethical standards; able to challenge constructively.
• Attention to Detail: Accuracy and thoroughness in monitoring and reporting.
• Leadership & Influence: Ability to embed compliance culture and mentor junior staff.
• Resilience: Capable of working under pressure and managing multiple priorities

Competencies:

Problem Solving:

• Analytical thinker with ability to identify compliance risks, assess root causes, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Stakeholder Management: Builds trusted relationships with regulators, internal leadership, and cross-functional teams.
• Business Acumen: Understands stockbroking operations, trading models, and commercial drivers; balances compliance with business growth.
• Customer Obsessed: Champions Treating Customers Fairly and ensuring compliance enhances client experience.
• Collaborating & Influencing: Works effectively across teams and geographies; influences decision-making and drives behaviors change without direct authority.
• Regulatory Acumen: Deep knowledge of JSE, FSCA, and FMA requirements with ability to translate regulations into practical business application.
• Integrity & Independence: Upholds has the highest ethical standards and demonstrates professional courage in challenging non-compliance.
• Attention to Detail: Strong accuracy in monitoring, reporting, and regulatory submissions

Education

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