Senior Manager: Forensics - Mbombela / Nelspruit at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

People Management

• Determine and analyse development needs for the team and ensure that identified training requirements are budgeted for and executed.
• Manage a team to ensure effective delivery of services to Stakeholders.
• Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members.
• Review and maintain succession plans for one level below.
• Ensure that performance development (PD) is appropriately undertaken as per policy.
• Ensure PD plans are in place and regularly reviewed as per PD cycle.
• Obtain approval for any additional headcount for the team.
• Approve leave requests, training requests and staff claims for team members.
• Address poor performance of any team member through the formal Performance Accelerator Programme and ensure that continued poor performance is appropriately addressed.
• Motivate team members and ensure that their efforts are recognized.
• Participate in regular meetings with team members to share information and best practices.

Business Management

• Translate set strategy into operational business plans, ensure communication to the team and obtain their buy-in into deliverables set.
• Review reports of new cases allocated on a weekly basis and determine whether there is a fair distribution.
• Constantly review the number of cases reported to improve the investigation methodologies, criteria and adjust accordingly to a risk- bases approach.
• Review and provide input into quarterly/monthly SBU reports.
• Ensure adequate input and timeously response to media queries received from Group.
• Provide input in training and awareness material when requested to do so by the training manager.
• Ensure compliance to group policies and procedures.
• Access and update the investigative policies and procedures and ensure implementation and adherence.
• Conduct monthly oversight reviews with direct reports to understand the business performance and support them to develop corrective actions where required.
• Escalate major issues to management.

Stakeholder Management

• Engage and communicate the department’s philosophy to direct reports/stakeholders and ensure they understand the responsibility of the department vs. Business Unity responsibility.
• For material or significant issues identified, recommend corrective action to business unit senior management / Fraud Risk Strategy to alter their processes to prevent future recurring issues.
• Attend risk forums and oversight committees.
• Provide fraud awareness presentations to stakeholders and draft fraud alerts for distribution to the Physical Channels business segment.
• Interact with counterparts in the industry to share information, engender co-operation to gain a common understanding of the threats and risks.
• Build and maintain relationships with other external parties (e.g. SA Police Services, SA Revenue Services, National Prosecuting Authority Asset Forfeiture Unit) to ensure that co-operation can be obtained when required for key investigations.
• Ensure that there are adequate support and evidence collection activities for cases dealt with by Group Legal Services or Absa Debt Recovery Services and call on those areas to execute actions identified by the department.

Operational Oversight and Guidance

• Assess and update the investigative policies/procedures and ensure implementation and adherence. Ensure that minimum investigation standards are set and adhered to
• For sensitive or high-risk cases (on an ad hoc basis or when tasked by management) execute the investigation activities end-to-end or, if appropriate, delegate to one of the direct reports
• Ensure that feedback is provided to management/stakeholder in so far as high level/sensitive cases are concerned
• Continuously evaluate cases allocated to direct reports for investigation in line with set Guidelines and Standards
• Approve case status changes for direct reports in line with the department’s guidelines / policies

Investigation

• Provide investigation capability and lead, into significant and sensitive fraud, theft and corruption cases
• Ensure that any control failures identified during the course of an investigation are immediately brought to the attention of Fraud Strategy / responsible business units
• Provide investigative support to other investigative areas where/when appropriate
• Ensure that matters where there is a significant fraud loss to the Bank, that a Steerco is established, comprising of all relevant stakeholders, to ensure that there is proper management over such cases and that recovery efforts are maximised
• Continuously evaluate cases allocated to direct reports for investigation in line with set guidelines and standards
• Interact with high profile clients impacted by fraud to escalate issues, monitoring the progress of the investigation and providing updates to the client on progress and actions taken
• Act as a point of contact and advice for fraud investigators
• Get involved in investigations being undertaken within other Centres of Excellence areas of responsibility as directed by the Manager: Specialised Investigations

Education and Experience Required

• B-degree or Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Justice (NQF 6)
• 8 years’ experience in Forensics Investigation environment preferably in the financial
• 5 years’ experience in managing a team