Regulatory Specialist at Absa

Job Summary

• To provide specialist advice and support in area of specialisation enabling the effective implementation of risk frameworks, including all New Regulatory Requirements across Resilience Risk and the wider Group.
• To develop risk and compliance tactical strategy plans, integrate practice formulation and ensure operational implementation and adoption across multiple practices for methodology, governance and delivery objectives.
• Programme Manager to support the implementation of the POPI Programme across the enterprise (AGL), to the extent that the organisation’s risk exposure is understood by all the necessary stakeholders and adequately managed in accordance with agreed prioritised book of work, scope, time and budget. Facilitate the execution of necessary programmes to the satisfaction of the Group Steerco through each stakeholder, i.e. RBB, CIB, WIMI, ROA, HR, Legal and Enterprise Functions. Ensure that all the necessary stakeholders are aligned to the strategic imperatives of the programme (information officer, et al) to the extent that the target operating model (TOM) is influenced to yield the most cost effective, sustainable result (risk managed and compliance with the POPI legislation, while understanding the implication of compliance to other legislation, etc.).

Job Description

Accountability:  Programme Management

• Ensure all programmes objectives are clearly defined and planned with adequate programme structure, governance, ownership and oversight at both Group and Business Unit level.
• Ensure the programme is set up to successfully deliver e2e technical, functional and operational solution that will meet both the regulatory and internal quality / governance standards.
• Proactively consider the impacts of changes in draft Regulations on the programme delivery and scope by working closely with the all the necessary stakeholders, including the Information Officer 2nd Line Support functions.
• Proactively drive the progress of various teams (Business, Risk and Compliance, etc.) by ensuring appropriate inputs are considered by the teams and also driving the outputs by ensuring there is clarity over the actions, ownerships, next steps and delivery dates.
• Consolidate and maintain a group level project plan and ensure the various business and technology project plans are aligned with the Group (central) plan.
• Ensure the programme is delivered to time with detailed tracking of actual costs and budget for the Group programme and also track and challenge the business budgets and actual costs.
• Ensure the portfolio is optimised in terms of approach and use of resources at all stages during the project lifecycle.

Accountability:  Group Reporting and Stakeholder Management

• Prepare appropriate meeting papers for the recurring programme meetings (e.g. Steerco, Exco, etc.) to track progress against plan for the Group programme as well as the Business programmes.
• Proactively drive the prioritization and clearing of items on RAID and issue logs on a timely basis and escalate any material item.
• Implement a process to consider the impacts of other changes external to the programme to ensure delivery of the programme is not compromised
• Develop and implement a set of KPI’s and dashboards to measure and manage the progress on the various programmes as well as the overall Group programme.
• Provide weekly updates to the Senior Portfolio Manager and Accountable Executive, setting out achievements of week, update on clearing risks and issues and priorities for the coming week.
• Ensure timely preparation of Steering Committee papers with appropriate KPIs and dashboards to report current programme status as well as a forward looking picture.

Accountability:  Stakeholder Management

• Engage with all the relevant stakeholders to manage conflict, obtain buy-in and develop the POPI operating framework/TOM.
• Establish relationships across the Business Units, organisation and suppliers in order to ensure clarity of business impacts, ownership of them and visibility to the senior stakeholders.
• Prepare the relevant detailed update papers for Group Portfolio Accountable Executive to prepare for the monthly Steer Co and run the meeting.

Accountability:  Risk Management

• Act as key sponsor for the area’s Risk Management Control Framework.
• Review audit scopes defined by managers in the team and Absa Internal Audit or Management Assurance prior to audits commencing.
• Review audit issue/finding logs to ensure adequate attention is given to closure within the agreed timelines.
• Complete required compliance attestations and ensure that impacted team members complete their attestations.
• Review and approve Detailed Risk and Control Assessments (DRACA's) prepared in the function. Complete attestations to testify to the adequacy of controls on request.
• Oversee the development of Key Risk Scenarios. Actively work to minimise the amount of economic capital that has to be set aside for operational risk.
• Drive a culture of proactive compliance in the function.

Education

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

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised