Lead: Governance Assurance at Sanlam Group

Purpose of the role

1st Line Operational oversight, guidance, management and coordination of corporate & regulatory governance assurance across the business; as well as operational design, direction and oversight of governance assurance implementation, monitoring & remediation processes and tools within business

Key Responsibilities

• Alleviate the complexity & burden of compliance to the business​, through effective 1st Line oversight and management of:
• Regulatory & Operating Governance management & review, incl: Centralized Governance controls; Monitoring, Reporting & Analytics; and driving Sustainable Compliance Culture [within the aspects of Data Privacy; Anti-Money Laundering; Business Continuity Management; Treating Customers Fairly; FAIS; FIC; Medical schemes; etc.], including but not limited to:
• Provide governance support relating to various compliance and risk functions to first line business units within the Sanlam Corporate division
• Co-ordinate data privacy office processes (e.g. breaches), end-to-end; etc. 
• Guide development & implementation of controls, incl: Governance findings Mitigation; Continuous Improvements; Regulatory changes implementation; Play a governance subject matter expert role on Business Projects at a cluster and group level, including but not limited to:
• Analyse compliance and risk requirements and ensure clarity regarding deliverables are obtained and agreed upon between 1st and 2nd & 3rd line
• Lead tactical and business improvement projects relating to compliance and governance matters (e.g. POPIA, Party Due Diligence, AML)
• Provide input into policy creation and implementation
• Stakeholder Liaison & Advisory, including but not limited to; Internal & External Assurance Provider Business Representation; Business Commentary & Advisory on Regulatory changes; continuous guidance & advisory to business on governance matters, including but not limited to:
• Engage with operational areas on risk & compliance incidents and provide guidance, including risk assessments, topical issue discussions and findings/reviews;
• Engage with risk, compliance, internal audit and external audit teams to understand and influence the governance environment, including presenting combined assurance plans to business units;
• Provide guidance to diverse business areas w.r.t. compliance, risk, internal audit operational processes and control effectiveness; 
• Key Client presentations on Governance related matters
• Recognised 1st Line Governance Lead and source of truth feedback loop into 2nd and 3rd Line risk management functions  
• Operational direction, lead, implementation and embedding of the Cluster’s governance strategy vision within the business
• Manage sustainable relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external

Experience and qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Commerce degree, preferably majoring in Finance, Accounting or Auditing 
• Minimum 5 years management experience in Corporate Governance related roles
• Demonstrable business analyst/project management experience
• Governance / Internal audit experience highly advantageous
• Completed 3-year Auditing articles is advantageous 
• Accounting fraternity qualification is advantageous [CA(SA); CIMA; ACCA; IIA-CIA; etc.]

Knowledge and skills

• Excellent Financial, Audit & Risk management skills
• Excellent Stakeholder management skills, both internal & external
• Change management skills
• Conflict management skills
• Presentation, Analytical & critical thinking skills
• Regulatory environment understanding and exposure is advantageous
• Employee-benefits related product exposure is advantageous
• Financial services industry exposure is advantageous