Senior Manager: Risk Event Management - JHB at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

Operational Risk Policies and Standards Development

• Formulate and manage a selection of operational and resilience risk management policies and standards taking into consideration relevant research and trends.
• Improve the efficiency and compliance levels of policies and standards to new / amended market, business or regulatory requirements.

Implementation management

• Assess, within own mandate, requests for dispensations and waivers and provide Head: ORRM with a recommendation for those above own mandate.
• Monitor and report on policy & standard implementation status, concerns and challenges. escalating material issues identified indicating the level of severity and associated risks.
• Drive policy and standard governance committees and forums and provide challenge, thought-leadership and direction. 
• Contribute to combined assurance planning across the 3LOD in relation to own policy & standard conformance.
• Undertake assessments of BA conformance to policy & standard requirements once implemented. and embedded in line with combined assurance plans.

Training and awareness

• Prepare training material, for those policies & standards under remit, and provide for consumption into the digitized training platform.
• Act as advisor, for the policies & standards under remit, to business units providing information on matters related to interpretation or implementation.
• Establish and maintain a coherent operating rhythm across the value chain (i.e. intra-risk, across Absa Group Limited and 3rd parties) in support of the functional objectives.

Reporting and analysis

• Request, review, consolidate and analyse Business Area reporting relating to outputs from framework element implementation and assist the Head: ORRM to provide concise executive level reporting.
• Compile the portfolio reports, and execute related processes, in conformance to the applicable principles of Risk Data Aggregation and Risk Reporting. Challenge BU reports with the observed material data quality issues.

Operational Risk Management System

• From a methodology perspective, participate in the development of system requirements.
• Support the adoption and embedment of the system.

Enterprise Functions OR oversight Enablement

• Provide clear direction to the functions on the Operational Risk role, strategic plan and key focus areas.
• Provide relevant coaching, guidance and training to the function on the implementation and embedment of the Operational and Resilience Risk Management Framework component requirements and toolsets.

Review, challenge and monitor

• Review, challenge and monitor management’s Operational Risk and Specialist Risk Type assessments including emerging risks.
• Act in an advisory capacity to support the scoping and definition of related Operational Risk deliverables and plans, ensuring that these are aligned to the central Operational Risk calendar.
• Assess the relevance and performance of the Operational Risk indicators and thresholds.
• Partner with the first line of defence to provide guidance on issue/action documentation, tracking, escalation and remediation.
• Perform conformance reviews on agreed aspects of the framework.
• Oversee deep dive and lessons learnt exercises for material risks, including the review, challenge and tracking/escalation of findings. Review major remediation plans for adequacy, completeness and progress.
• Oversee monthly loss event reconciliations and related attestations to ensure that all (above threshold) risk events and losses have been captured on the Operational Risk system. 
• Leverage internal central engagement channels/resources, as appropriate.
• Risk Reporting
• Validate data and information in relevant reports provided by the Business Areas, as appropriate.
• Provide independent challenge on, and insight, interpretation and analytics from relevant reports to senior management.
• Prepare appropriate current and forecast Operational Risk profile reporting for the business unit/product under review, as agreed.

Stakeholder Communication and Liaison

• Establish and maintain a coherent operating rhythm across the value chain (i.e. intra-risk, across AGL and 3rd parties) in support of the functional objectives.
• Enable delivery of the update to the Risk Leadership with operational performance metrics, project implementation statuses and key matters arising; escalating material issues identified indicating the level of severity and associated risks.
• Where applicable engage vendors to address current and future needs in addition to delivery/performance metrics.
• Participate in key risk management committees, in conjunction with the Principal Risk Officers across the Group representing the portfolio.

People and Organisation

Direct resources in the most effective and efficient manner to execute the Function’s Plan, including:

• Enabling delivery of a supporting Risk Culture to deliver  performance consistent  with the Group’s Purpose and Values.
• Direct  involvement  in  all  appointments  and  setting competencies for the roles.
• Defining personal scorecard objectives and measures for employees that align to the Function’s Plan and Absa Scorecard. 
• Input to enable the design of remuneration structures that are appropriately aligned with Group’s Purpose, Culture and Policies.
• Directing performance objectives and remuneration structures for senior management designed to achieve a balance between risk, individual reward and the long term objectives of the Group.
• Input to, coordination and support of the performance management process of employees.
• Participation in the talent development and succession plans. 
• Management of an Operational Budget that supports delivery of the appropriate capabilities in pursuit of the Function’s Plan.
• Assistance with the coordination and management of change programs geared towards Operational Risk or, on behalf of the Group Risk Exco towards the Group efforts of their staff members.

Education

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