Head: Group Combined Assurance

Job Summary

• Design and implement a comprehensive and risk-based combined assurance (CA) strategy that aligns with the Absa’s overall risk appetite and objectives and ensures that all assurance activities are integrated and coordinated.
• Develops the combined Assurance Policy in support of the groups Enterprise Risk Management Framework.
• Leads in the agenda setting for Group Combined Assurance Oversight Committee.
• Develops and implements the assurance methodology and provides quality assurance embedment for Risk.
• Provide oversight on the activities of the assurance providers (internal audit, compliance, and risk management functions as well as business unit first line risk and control teams), to ensures alignment with the combined assurance strategy, and that the results are effectively communicated to the Head of Governance, Risk and Control, the Group Chief Risk Officer, the AGL Exco and the Board.
• Liaise with external audit and regulatory supervisory teams to ensure that their activities are effectively integrated into the combined assurance planning cycle, and that their recommendations are adequately addressed.
• Ensures that the combined assurance program is sufficiently robust to identify emerging risks and respond to changes in the internal and external environment.
• Foster a culture of risk awareness and assurance excellence within the organization by promoting the importance of combined assurance and the value it adds to the business.
• Ensures sustained CA planning and reporting processes.
• Monitors and reports on the effectiveness of the combined assurance program to the Head of Governance, Risk and Control, Chief Risk Officer, senior management, and the Board, and make recommendations for improvements as necessary.
• Builds a combined assurance reporting capability that clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of controls that have undergone assurance testing.
• Act as point of escalation on matters relating to interpretation of CA policies and risk assurance standards including clarity on group combined assurance strategy embedment across the group.
• Continually assesses the combined assurance community of practice to ensure the organization has the necessary skills, resources, and support to effectively carry out its assurance objectives.
• Leads the design, sustainability, and enterprise-wide embedment of a Group Combined Assurance methodology, enabling structured cross-functional reliance and integrated assurance outcomes across the Group.

• Establishes and Leads a Risk Function community of practice for assurance providers and provide Assurance subject matter expert guidance.
• Lead the reporting process of the Risk Functions assurance activities.
• Establish the governance practice for deviations from the function’s assurance plans.
• Set a minimum standard of assurance quality and methodology for the Risk Function assurance providers.
• Development of Combined Assurance standards and implementation of the Combined Assurance standard that applies to Group Risk.
• Embedment of Combined Assurance standard applicable to Group Risk

• Be the main point of contact in the organization for enquiries related to Combined Assurance policy and risk assurance standards.
• Provide thought leadership, to support key events, communities of practice and in line with other stakeholder interests.
• Build and maintain relationships with CA stakeholders, across the lines of defense and industry.
• Build and maintain relationships with CA Work Group members and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure that Absa is represented at industry events on CA and related topics.
• Embed the performance culture and role model Group values and behaviors.
• Actively contributes to the wider talent development of the function through coaching, mentoring, and providing constructive feedback.
• Attract, develop and retain talented individuals who can contribute to the Risk Function of the future, building a strong pipeline of skills and capabilities.

• Leads the compilation and submission of all CA reporting in the Group.
• Reports on insights/thematic root causes of findings to the Group Combined Assurance Oversight Committee.
• Lead the compilation of reporting on all combined assurance testing results and material findings to the Executive Risk Committee and to the appropriate Board sub-committee (Group Audit and Compliance Committee).
• Ensures all submission of all quarterly reporting papers to the AGL exco and the board sub-committee are approved and submitted on time.

• B Degree
• Professional certification in auditing, risk management, internal audit or related fields (e.g. CA(SA), CIA)

• Minimum of 15 years’ assurance experience with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Combined assurance experience essential
• Management/ leadership experience required
• A minimum of five years’ financial services experience
• Strong Understanding of Banking regulations and Industry best practices related to risk management and internal control
  
  

Education

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