Senior Manager: Internal Control and Assurance - D4 (Pretoria) at South African Maritime Safety Authority

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Governance and Internal-Controls Management

• Establish, maintain and continuously improve an effective governance framework aligned with SAMSA’s strategic priorities, applicable legislation, regulations, policies and delegations.
• Promote sound governance, accountability, transparency and ethical conduct across SAMSA.
• Coordinate governance, audit and oversight information and submissions.
• Monitor the implementation of approved objectives, plans, policies and programmes.
• Coordinate the annual training plan based on identified governance, control and compliance requirements.
• Communicate approved governance frameworks, policies and requirements to relevant stakeholders, process owners and Internal Control Champions.
• Promote clear accountability for governance ownership, implementation, monitoring and reporting.
• Coordinate executive-level engagement with relevant business units and stakeholders on governance-related matters.

Internal Controls and Audit Management

• Establish, maintain and continuously improve an effective internal-control framework aligned with SAMSA’s strategic priorities, applicable legislation, regulations, policies and delegations.
• Develop, maintain and monitor a multi-year internal-audit plan aligned with SAMSA’s strategic priorities, material control requirements and available resources.
• Develop, maintain and evaluate internal controls for critical financial-reporting and business processes, and support operational departments in embedding approved control policies, procedures and requirements into daily operations.
• Coordinate the relationship between Internal Audit, external assurance providers and SAMSA, ensuring effective communication, accurate reporting, complete audit evidence, appropriate management responses and timely resolution of audit matters.
• Provide strategic oversight of internal- and external-audit findings, including matters relating to PFMA compliance, supply chain management, irregular expenditure, loss control and governance.
• Direct the completion of regular Control Self-Assessments by business process owners, and review and analyse the results to identify control gaps, recurring weaknesses and systemic deficiencies.
• Review Issue Tracking Management records, Control Self-Assessment results, PFMA reports, audit reports and other relevant assurance information to evaluate the effectiveness of SAMSA’s internal-control environment.
• Ensure that control deficiencies and audit findings are accurately recorded, assessed, assigned to accountable process owners and addressed through sustainable, risk-based and time-bound corrective-action plans.
• Monitor corrective actions through the Issue Tracking Management system, dashboards and governance-reporting structures, and escalate overdue, inadequate or ineffective responses.
• Review and challenge the adequacy, sustainability, completeness, traceability and evidentiary support of management responses and corrective actions before closure.
• Ensure that significant, recurring, overdue and systemic findings are accurately reported, escalated and addressed, and identify root causes and recommend strategic interventions to strengthen control effectiveness.
• Provide accurate and timely reports to the Executive Management  and relevant governance forums on audit trends, outstanding matters, remediation progress and the overall status of SAMSA’s internal-control environment.

Forensic Investigations and Fraud Prevention Management 

• Provide oversight of forensic investigations and fraud-prevention measures, ensuring confidentiality, regulatory compliance, operational effectiveness and the protection of SAMSA’s assets and reputation.
• Direct the effective and compliant operation of SAMSA’s forensic function in accordance with approved procedures, applicable legislation and professional standards.
• Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of SAMSA’s forensic model, Fraud Prevention Plan and Fraud Risk Management Plan.
• Identify forensic hotspots and direct appropriate measures to prevent, detect and mitigate fraud and related misconduct risks.
• Ensure that whistle-blowing channels are confidential, accessible, effectively monitored and supported by appropriate follow-up.
• Oversee the management of allegations and investigations relating to fraud, misconduct and breaches of legislation, policies and procedures
• Ensure that investigations are conducted objectively, efficiently and within approved standards, timelines and budgets, including the effective management of external forensic service providers.
• Ensure that disciplinary and other remedial processes arising from investigations are appropriately managed, monitored and concluded.
• Promote fraud awareness through targeted training and workshops on fraud prevention, identification, reporting, investigation and allegation management.
• Monitor forensic expenditure, resource utilisation and service-provider performance against approved budgets and deliverables.
• Report significant investigation matters, progress, outcomes, unresolved corrective actions and emerging fraud risks to relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure that investigation information, records and evidence are securely maintained, strictly confidential and managed in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Monitor the implementation of investigation-related corrective actions, escalate overdue or unresolved matters and ensure that forensic-related breaches are addressed.

Compliance Management

• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of organisation-wide compliance programmes that promote adherence to applicable requirements, strengthen governance and protect SAMSA’s operations, resources and reputation.
• Develop, implement and continuously improve integrated compliance programmes across SAMSA.
• Establish clear compliance requirements, responsibilities, monitoring arrangements, reporting processes and corrective-action mechanisms.
• Monitor compliance with applicable legislation, regulatory requirements, SAMSA policies, procedures and approved Group standards across all functions and operational areas including the SCM submissions for recommendation to the CFO and CEO for approval.
• Monitor compliance to the irregular expenditure and fruitless and wasteful expenditure framework and review of application for recommendations for the condonement or write off to the CFO, CEO and the Board.
• Provide guidance to management and process owners on compliance obligations, control requirements and appropriate remedial measures.
• Promote a consistent culture of compliance through awareness, communication, training and advisory support.
• Coordinate organisation-wide compliance monitoring and reporting, ensuring that material breaches and control weaknesses are identified and escalated.
• Monitor the implementation of corrective actions and follow up on overdue or unresolved compliance matters.
• Integrate relevant compliance information into organisational planning, project planning, financial-management processes and management reporting.
• Maintain accurate records of compliance obligations, assessments, breaches, corrective actions and management responses.
• Report on SAMSA’s compliance status, significant control weaknesses, emerging trends and progress against corrective actions.
  Recommend improvements to compliance programmes and processes to strengthen governance, accountability and organisational performance

Special Projects Management

• Provide oversight of special projects, with a focus on governance processes, financial control, service-provider payments and the effective achievement of approved project outcomes.
• Provide governance oversight of approved special projects and their alignment with SAMSA’s strategic and operational priorities.
• Review the adequacy and effectiveness of project governance frameworks, decision-making structures, delegations, controls and reporting arrangements.
• Monitor compliance with approved project policies, procedures, procurement requirements, delegations and governance standards.
• Review project business cases, budgets, funding requirements, timelines, deliverables, risks and expected benefits.
• Monitor project expenditure, commitments, forecasts, budget variances and overall financial performance.
• Oversee the governance of service-provider payments, ensuring that payments are supported by approved contracts, verified deliverables, valid invoices, appropriate approvals and available budgets.
• Monitor payment delays, disputed invoices, contractual obligations and financial irregularities, and ensure that material matters are escalated.
• Assess the effectiveness of project governance processes in supporting accountability, transparency, compliance and timely decision-making.
• Monitor project progress, key milestones, dependencies, significant issues, corrective actions and achievement of intended outcomes.
• Review project reports and provide executive updates on governance effectiveness, financial performance, payment matters and delivery progress.
• Ensure that project approvals, decisions, contracts, payment records, reports and supporting documentation are complete, accurate and properly maintained.
• Conduct governance-focused project close-out reviews, including assessment of final expenditure, outstanding payments, benefits realisation, control effectiveness and lessons learned.
• Recommend improvements to project governance, financial controls, service-provider payment processes and reporting arrangements to strengthen accountability and value for money.

Strategic and Operational Support

• Provide coordinated executive support and authoritative advice to management and the Chief Executive Officer on governance, controls, compliance, financial reporting, assurance matters and strategic initiatives, thereby strengthening accountability, operational effectiveness and sustainable organisational performance.
• Provide strategic advice to the Chief Executive Officer and management on governance, internal controls, financial reporting, forensic matters, compliance, financial risk, external audit and special projects, while providing guidance to process owners on related requirements.
• Coordinate cross-functional support and collaboration between Finance, operational and support functions to strengthen governance, control effectiveness, compliance and operational performance, and contribute to the implementation of SAMSA’s strategic and operational plans.
• Support the translation of strategic objectives into practical and sustainable initiatives, identify opportunities to improve processes and controls, and promote ethical conduct, accountability, transparency, sound decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Monitor strategic and operational initiatives and corrective actions arising from audits, assessments, investigations, compliance reviews and project monitoring, ensuring that weaknesses are sustainably addressed and material delays, unresolved matters, resource constraints and emerging concerns are escalated.
• Prepare and coordinate accurate, timely, confidential and complete submissions, briefing notes, weekly, monthly, annual and ad hoc reports, management information and supporting records for the Chief Executive Officer and authorized governance forums – e.g. Loss Control Committee

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Matric Certificate (NQF 4)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Internal Auditing, or any related field.
• Postgraduate in Accounting, Finance, Internal Auditing, or any related field would be an added advantage.
• Master’s or MBA would be an added advantage.

Required Certification/ Professional Registration: 

• CIA or CA(SA) or ACCA with substantial governance and assurance experience is required.
• CIA and/or CISA is preferred.
• Professional credentials such as CIA (Certified Internal) is preferred. 
• CA(SA), CIA and CISA combination would be an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE

• Seven (7) years' relevant experience in Governance, Internal Controls, Assurance, Auditing, or Compliance. 
• Three (3) years in supervisory or management role.

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Sound knowledge of corporate governance frameworks (e.g., King IV) and public sector legislation (e.g., PFMA, Treasury Regulations)
• Knowledge of enterprise risk management (ERM) and Combined Assurance principles
• Understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks, including policy development and legislative processes
• Knowledge of compliance, ethics, and audit practices within regulated environments
• Understanding of ISO and SHEQ management systems (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001)
• Knowledge of organisational security, resilience, and risk integration practices
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex risks and governance issues.
• Ability to interpret legislation and translate it into practical policies and frameworks.
• Effective strategic thinking and decision-making capability at an enterprise level
• Strong reporting and presentation skills, including engagement with EXCO
• Advanced stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across internal and external environments.
• Ability to integrate multiple governance functions (legal, risk, compliance, security, ISO) into a cohesive framework