Principal Officer (Halfday Position N000919) at North West University

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

To assume the following two roles:

Role 1: Principal Officer of the North-West University Fund (the “Fund”) in terms of the provisions of the Pension Funds Act, 1956, as amended (the Act)

Role 2: Information Officer of the Fund in terms of the provision of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).

JOB DESCRIPTION

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

 Management of the business of the fund

•  Assist the Board to ensure that the affairs of the Fund are conducted in accordance with the Rules and all applicable legislation and regulations and that fund policies are adhered to.
• Ensuring the execution of all decisions and instructions of the Board and where necessary, ensuring proper and appropriate communication between the Fund and those parties affected by the decisions and instructions of the Board.
• Carrying out all the duties necessary for the proper execution of the business of the Fund and where possible, attending all meetings of the Board and any other duly appointed subcommittee(s) where the attendance of the Principal Officer may be required.
• Review of meeting minutes and managing action items and deliverables.
• Effective engagement with the Chairperson and the Board of the Fund, the participating employer of the Fund and the Fund’s service providers.
• Manage relationship between the Fund, the Employer and all stakeholders.

Legal compliance of the Fund

• Ensuring that the Board is advised of new and proposed legislation and regulations that may affect the Fund as well as advancements in general governance as it relates to the Fund.
• Keeping the Board sufficiently informed in a timely manner of the affairs of the Fund, which relate to the objects and duties of the Board as stated in section 7C and 7D of the Act.
• Ensure that agreements and contracts with service providers are in place, complete, up to date and reviewed, as well as the associated management thereof.
• Ensuring the timeous submission of all statutory returns and complying with all statutory requirements as set out in the relevant legislation.
• Acting as the Information Officer of the Fund in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of POPIA and associated regulations.
• Manage the Fund’s complaints management process including the review and approval of responses to complaints.
• Assume signing responsibilities as delegated, which includes the review of information for correctness.
• Liaising with service providers and ensuring adherence to service level agreements.
• Providing advice to the Board on policies and procedures together with the fund’s consultant.
• Fund Communication 
• Ensure that appropriate information is communicated to members.
• Ensure that member queries are handled.
• Ensure that employer queries are handled.

Administration 

• Monitor the employer’s monthly payment schedules.
• Monitor the payment of member claims.
• Monitor the Fund’s administrator administration report.
• Monitor the Fund’ benefit counsellor activity reports.

Training and Seminars

• Self-development to comply with the Act. This is done by attending accredited courses and seminars.
• Need to be a member of Batseta, a non-profit organisation focused on the interests of principal officers and fund fiduciaries within the retirement industry.

Occupational Health

• Comply with the Occupational Health requirements as set out by the North-West University.

Ad-hoc  

• Complying with any specific duties and responsibilities mutually agreed upon and reduced to writing.

Minimum requirements

• An appropriate tertiary qualification, e.g., a Bachelor's degree, Advanced Diploma(s), Post Graduate Certificate and/or BTech degree (NQF 7).
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in Governance/Legal/Compliance Administration. 

ADDED ADVANTAGES:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience with retirement funds and the retirement fund industry.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience as Principal Offi

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Experience in dealing with people in formal and informal work environments, with the ability to engage collaboratively with the fund’s administrator, to execute tasks and actions assigned to them by the Board and Sub-committees.
• Computer literate in MS Office and related packages with a high level of competence in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email, Microsoft Teams and the Internet.
• Understanding, knowledge and experience of international data privacy best practices and privacy/ information protection legislation.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and adapt messages to be suitable for a variety of audiences across the university, whilst still ensuring consistency in messages
• Strong analytical skills and keen intellect
• Exemplary attention to detail
• Excellent judgment and discretion
• Good human relations as well as the ability to function effectively in a multilingual and multicultural environment
• The ability to work irregular hours and travel long distances in the course of work
• Good organisational and leadership skills
• The ability to function independently, as part of a team and to direct and motivate staff
• Proactive and innovative technical problem solver
• Customer centric
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• The ability to work in a multilingual and multi campus environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ethical and trustworthy
• Understanding, knowledge, and experience of the retirement fund industry