Senior Manager: Risk Assurance, Governance and Reporting

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

To develop and deliver the Business Banking Risk Assurance strategy, practices, and plans, ensuring effective implementation of risk methodologies, governance standards, and assurance objectives. Reporting to the Head of Operational Risk Enablement, Governance and Reporting, the role leads the Risk Assurance capability, provides independent assurance and second-line oversight over operational and resilience risk, drives Combined Assurance across the three lines of defence, and uses data, automation, and continuous improvement to strengthen risk management and organisational resilience.

Job Description

The incumbent will be a member of the Business Banking (BB) Operational and Resilience Risk (ORR) team and will work closely with Group Operational Risk, Group Combined Assurance, Assurance partners servicing BB and the BB First Line of defence teams, to strengthen risk management, governance, and assurance outcomes.

This role is primarily responsible for leading the BB Risk Assurance capability, providing independent assurance over the effectiveness of risk management practices, control environment, and governance processes. This role also provides second-line oversight of Operational and Resilience Risk across BB in line with the Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF) and Operational and Resilience Risk Management Framework (ORRMF).

Reporting to the Head of Operational Risk Enablement, Governance and Reporting, the incumbent will play a key role in shaping and executing the BB Risk Assurance strategy, driving Combined Assurance across the three lines of defence, and strengthening risk insights through data analytics, automation, and continuous improvement practices. The incumbent will possess a growth mindset and demonstrate a passion for modernising assurance through agile methodologies, innovation, and technology-enabled risk management.

Key Responsibility:

 

• Lead the annual risk-based Risk assurance planning process, including the identification of auditable entities, and assessment of assurance needs aligned to BB strategic priorities and risk profile.
• Drive, oversee and monitor the execution and effectiveness of the BB Combined Assurance Plan across the three lines of defence.
• Provide independent assurance and challenge over key risk management, governance, and control processes.
• Oversee the implementation and monitoring of core operational risk and assurance activities across BB.
• Promote a strong risk and assurance culture through proactive engagement, oversight, and challenge.

• Deliver meaningful risk and assurance insights to support decision-making, governance, and regulatory reporting.

Accountability: Risk Assurance, Governance and Reporting

 

• Lead the BB Risk Assurance capability and oversee the delivery of risk-based assurance reviews, conformance assessments, and control testing.
• Serve as the Combined Assurance Lead for BB, including governance, methodology, execution, and reporting.
• Provide independent challenge and insights on assurance outcomes, risk exposures, and control effectiveness.
• Review, validate, and analyse assurance information to support informed management decision-making.
• Ensure appropriate escalation and reporting of significant risks, control weaknesses, and assurance themes through governance forums.
• Monitor and challenge the effectiveness of first-line risk governance practices.
• Manage second-line governance activities and reporting obligations where applicable.
• Maintain effective risk communication and awareness across Business Banking.

 

Accountability: Operational Risk Framework Oversight

•  Provide guidance and oversight on the implementation of Operational and Resilience Risk frameworks, policies, and standards.
• Support business units through coaching, training, and advisory services on key Operational Risk disciplines.
• Monitor compliance with applicable risk frameworks, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive the use of analytics and data-led insights across Operational Risk and Assurance activities.
• Ensure effective adoption and utilisation of risk management systems, tools, and reporting capabilities.
• Drive emerging risk identification and horizon-scanning activities through internal and external intelligence sources, including ORX, Gartner,  IRMSA etc.

Accountability: Strategy Development & Governance 

• Support the development and execution of the BB Operational and Resilience Risk Strategy.
• Provide thought leadership on risk assurance, governance, and operational risk management practices.
• Promote consistent application of ORRMF across BB.
• Influence the development and implementation of risk standards, methodologies, and governance practices.
• Support the integration of risk considerations into strategic and business decision-making.
• Represent Operational Risk and Assurance at relevant governance forums and committees.

Accountability: Risk Oversight and Assurance Execution

• Lead the delivery of the annual Risk Assurance Plan.
• Execute and oversee end-to-end risk assurance reviews across BB.
• Manage the Combined Assurance Programme and associated reporting.
• Lead root cause analyses, deep-dive reviews, and lessons-learned exercises were required.
• Review and challenge remediation plans and monitor delivery of corrective actions.
• Provide oversight of issue management, risk events, key risk indicators, and associated framework components.
• Challenge and assess current and emerging operational risk exposures across BB.
• Support major business initiatives, change programmes, and new product approvals from a risk perspective.
• Ensure the completeness and integrity of operational risk event reporting, including loss event reconciliations. 

Accountability: People and Organisation 

• Lead and develop a high-performing Risk Assurance team, ensuring delivery of strategic objectives and assurance outcomes.
• Foster a strong risk and assurance culture by embedding proactive risk management, independent challenge and continuous improvement practices across BB.
• Define and manage team objectives, performance standards, and development plans.
• Build assurance and risk management capability through coaching, mentoring, and succession planning.
• Drive a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement, leveraging data, insights, and automation to enhance assurance effectiveness and efficiency.
• Support the execution and continuous improvement of the BB Enablement, Governance and Reporting operating model, ensuring alignment with the ORRMF.
• Act as the Head of Operational Risk Enablement, Governance and Reporting, providing leadership, oversight, and decision-making support when required. 

Key Behavioural Competencies 

• Strong integrity, personal accountability, and professional judgment.
• Confident independent thinker who provides objective challenges and influences sound decision-making.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to balance big-picture thinking and attention to detail.
• Strong stakeholder management, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proactive, curious, and solutions-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to navigate complexity and change.
• Collaborative leader who promotes a strong risk and assurance culture across the organisation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, leveraging data and insights to drive decisions.
• Innovative and agile, with a passion for enhancing assurance through automation and technology. 

Education and Experience (Required)

•  Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Risk Management, Auditing, or a related field.
• Minimum 6 years' experience in Risk Assurance, Operational Risk Management, Internal Audit, or a related assurance function.
• Proven experience leading assurance activities, governance initiatives, and stakeholder engagement at a senior level.
• Business Banking or Financial Services experience.
• Experience working with Operational Risk Frameworks, Combined Assurance, and Risk Governance structures.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Advantageous

• Postgraduate qualification.Conformance Review, or IT Audit experience.
• Professional certifications and/or membership of recognised risk or assurance professional bodies.

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