Head: Risk and Control (Business Banking) position at Absa.| South Africa

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Absa Head: Risk and Control (Business Banking)

Experience: Highly Experienced

Pattern: full-time

Country:

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Associate

Sandton....South Africa

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 The Head of Risk and Control (Business Banking) is a value-defending role reporting into the Executive: Control Officer. This role is responsible for leading non-financial risk strategy and execution across Business Banking, ensuring alignment with Group Risk frameworks and regulatory expectations. It drives proactive risk identification, incident management, and resilience planning. The role plays a critical part in embedding a culture of risk ownership, ensuring regulatory readiness, and enabling operational resilience through structured oversight and engagement with second and third lines of defence. As a Senior Manager in the Absa Business Banking Chief Operations Office, you will excel in commercializing and monetizing strategies with a strong financial acumen. Your ability to leverage digital tools and technology to automate processes and generate commercial value will be paramount. With a focus on efficiency driven by automation, digitization, and cost optimization, you will consistently create demonstrated value for our clients. Job Description KEY FOCUS AREAS Define and lead the Operational Risk framework for Business Banking in alignment with Group frameworks, policies, and standards. Drive proactive risk event management, including monitoring, detection, prevention, recoveries, root cause analyses, lessons learnt, and adherence to risk event processes. Oversee execution of Control Process Assessments (CPA) and Risk and Control Self-Assessments (RCSA) per relevant policies and standards. Ensure all Operational Risk Management and Resilience Risk framework elements are implemented and embedded according to standards. Ensure Compliance Risk framework elements are implemented and reported within the business. Oversee remediation of issues in line with the issue management process and standards. Report on the Business Bank Risk Profile of the business and provide insights on control environment and monitoring control assessments. Review and contribute to risk tolerance statements and risk appetite relevant to the business, and support rollout. Drive adoption and effective use of operational risk tools such as ORMS as required by Group Operational Risk. Collaborate with stakeholders to implement operational risk responsibilities across the business. Assess forward-looking risks, including those related to new products, major change initiatives, and emerging operational risks. Execute all requirements of the Operational Risk Management Framework (ORMF), Compliance Risk Framework (CRF), and Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF). Engage with second and third lines of defence on technical operational risk matters. Set and monitor adherence to Non-Financial Risk Appetite for the business area. Lead the development and execution of a combined assurance plan aligned to business priorities. Implement and maintain effective governance structures across operational risk domains. Manage rollout and compliance of policies and standards within the business. Oversee engagement with key risk functions including Governance and Control, Conformance, Resilience, Audit, and Compliance. Drive a culture of continuous improvement in risk management through awareness, learning, development, and communication. Act as the primary liaison for control-related matters with key business stakeholders. ACCOUNTABILITIES Strategy Formulation and Execution Translate operational risk strategy into execution plans and embed risk appetite across business units Align operational risk practices with enterprise and regulatory priorities Provide input into operating model design and operational risk frameworks Translate long-term strategic objectives into aligned business plans, execution roadmaps and key milestone measurements for the business area. Cascade strategic goals and ensure alignment between business unit vision and functional implementation priorities, setting clear short, medium and long-term milestones. Develop effective partnerships to enable business performance and contribute to sector-wide influence aligned with strategic initiatives. Respond to emerging policy and regulatory trends by adapting operational strategy and ensuring compliance alignment. Coordinate business enablement efforts for Business Banking, ensuring delivery capability across systems, processes, and teams. Track execution progress against key strategic initiatives and intervene to correct course where needed. Support transformation initiatives through structured programme delivery and change management practices. Provide expert advice and support in operating model, strategy, and value chain formulation and delivery alignment. Identify practices and technologies that provide competitive advantage and enable knowledge sharing and integration of practice areas. Undertake analysis of management and specialist information and guide reporting tool implementation to improve decision-making quality. Customer Primacy Ensure operational risk practices protect customer interests and support service reliability Use customer impact insights to inform risk mitigation strategies Support customer-centric decision-making through proactive risk identification Interpret market and customer insights to inform operational plans and prioritise capability investments. Utilise customer data to improve processes and propositions, ensuring measurable customer value delivery. Instil customer-centric decision-making in teams, balancing experience and efficiency targets. Implement initiatives that improve customer engagement and retention through operational enhancements. Coordinate cross-functional initiatives to deliver consistent customer journeys and service quality. Represent the voice of the customer within leadership forums to influence service delivery priorities. Plan and deliver services that create a culture which aims to exceed customer expectations in all aspects of the business. Provide expertise in designing integrated frameworks to embed service excellence. Sustainable Growth Enable responsible growth by embedding operational risk standards across business units Monitor risk-adjusted performance and ensure operational risk controls support sustainable business outcomes Support transformation initiatives while maintaining operational integrity and regulatory alignment Align the risk profile of the business area through continuous interaction with internal and external stakeholders, balancing operational efficiency with accepted risk appetite. Develop business area growth plans aligned to segment and enterprise priorities. Work with business partners to define and execute on growth strategies and operational initiatives. Mobilise functional teams to deliver growth targets and embed performance accountability. Monitor growth delivery, resolving barriers and reinforcing strategic objectives at operational levels. Evaluate financial and customer returns on initiatives to ensure alignment with business viability. Formulate and develop multi-function operating frameworks that contribute to sustainable growth. Client-Driven Innovation and Change Ensure operational risk requirements are embedded in change initiatives from inception Support the rollout of new products and services by assessing associated operational risks Drive continuous improvement in operational risk practices to support innovation Institutionalize a culture of continuous improvement in risk management through awareness, learning, development, and communication. Monitor competitive landscape and identify opportunities to improve products, services, or operations. Drive continuous improvement and innovation within the team to enhance customer outcomes. Shape client experience initiatives through project ownership and delivery responsibility. Lead operational change, ensuring readiness, engagement, and measured impact across delivery teams. Influence and communicate across all levels of the business to minimise resistance to change and ensure onboarding of target audiences. Scan the external environment to investigate alternative delivery models and offer innovative advice for competitive advantage. Drive change management activities across a single value chain for optimal adoption of change. Leading Talent Build and lead a high-performing operational risk team with strong technical expertise Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in operational risk ownership Develop internal capability through coaching, training, and structured development plans Establish and maintain a succession plan for key roles in the area and review/approve succession plans. Embed people processes and values into business routines, reinforcing a strong leadership culture. Develop workforce capabilities to meet business plan execution requirements and future readiness. Create inclusive team environments that support performance, wellbeing, and growth. Address escalated people issues and ensure application of performance and development processes. Develop future leaders through mentorship, stretch assignments, and tailored development experiences. Provide expertise and advice in the development and implementation of human capability and accountability frameworks across functions. Direct the development and implementation of human capability strategies to support people management priorities. Operational Effectiveness Oversee execution of operational risk testing, issue remediation, and audit readiness activities Ensure operational risk forums and reporting structures are maintained and effective Use data insights to improve operational resilience and risk performance Set up and manage Governance & Control for the area to achieve excellence through scalable and replicable risk management processes. Ensure a control approach that is fully aligned to business priorities both structurally and functionally. Operationalise strategic goals into functional plans with clear deliverables, timelines, scorecards with team and individual KPIs to enable effective tracking of business and individual performance. Set appropriate financial and other resourcing plans to enable business performance, tracking against budgets and investments for both current and long-term strategic goals. Ensure integration across business units by resolving operational friction and dependencies. Represent the business area in operational forums and with delivery partners. Leverage data insights to improve operational effectiveness and customer outcomes. Continuously improve processes for agility, quality, and alignment with customer needs and digital tools. Identify problems and formulate alternate solutions to resolve value chain conflicts. Provide expert advice on operating model, strategy, value chain formulation, and business controls/governance frameworks. Digital Adoption Promote adoption of operational risk tools and digital platforms (e.g., ORMS) to enhance risk management effectiveness Support digitisation of operational risk processes for improved efficiency and transparency Monitor digital risk indicators and ensure integration with business operations Execute digital initiatives and promote adoption of technologies that improve efficiency and user experience. Monitor digital platform performance and ensure integration with business processes and outcomes. Deliberately identify opportunities to digitise, automate, and implement solutions for customer primacy, innovation, and operational effectiveness. Good Governance, Risk and Compliance Ensure adherence to operational risk frameworks and regulatory standards Promote risk awareness and lead the response to regulatory changes and emerging operational risk issues Define and consolidate the operational risk profile for the business unit and manage critical risks Set Non-Financial Risk Appetite for the area and monitor adherence. Assist the business to proactively manage issues and emerging risks. Responsible for optimal combined assurance plan and governance delivery. Implement and maintain effective governance structure within Personal & Private Bank (PPB) and product areas. Manage policy and standard rollout and compliance for the area. Accountable for oversight and engagement with Governance & Control, Conformance, Resilience, Audit, and Compliance functions. Accountable for monitoring, implementation, and reporting of Anti-Money Laundering policies across the portfolio. Implement governance, risk, and compliance frameworks in business processes and team routines. Promote risk awareness and lead the response to regulatory changes and emerging issues. Support audit readiness and ensure operational teams adhere to compliance requirements. Define and consolidate the risk profile for the business unit, manage critical risks, and ensure resolution feedback to stakeholders. Enable the development and implementation of integrated corporate governance frameworks in areas of specialisation. Influence the implementation of effective internal controls systems and corporate governance practices. Data Monetisation Use operational risk data to inform decision-making and identify systemic exposures Develop dashboards and reporting tools to track operational risk performance Leverage data insights to support strategic planning and continuous improvement in risk management Implementation of innovative reporting and tracking mechanisms for assurance issues. Apply data insights to support business planning and decision-making in the business area. Develop mechanisms to ensure data is collected, validated, and used to drive performance improvement. Oversee the explicit use of data and its inherent value to explore opportunities and guide decisions. Stakeholder Management Engage with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment on operational risk priorities Represent the operational risk function in executive forums and regulatory engagements Ensure consistent communication and reporting across business and risk functions Be the point of entry for interactions with key business stakeholders on control management. Position and communicate standards, requirements, and initiatives with relevant stakeholders. Actively drive a plan for all control matters affecting the business. Liaise with senior executive stakeholders and stakeholder groups. Manage relationships with key stakeholders to support aligned delivery and issue resolution. Ensure stakeholder expectations are managed and engagement is consistent with transformation priorities. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Education/ Qualification: Post Graduate Degree: Honours Degree, Post Graduate Diploma and Professional Qualifications [NQF8] Field of Study: Risk Management, Law, Finance, Business Management, Audit or related fields Relevant certifications (e.g. CRMA, CISA, CIA, Operational Risk, Audit) preferred Work Experience: 12 - 15 years experience in a specific capability of importance to the bank, including a track record of 5 years in a people management position in a large enterprise. Experience must include developing integrated customer-centric product or service solutions or corporate practice development while working with and managing stakeholders across business and/or functional areas and budget management. Exposure to digital transformation and data-driven decision-making is preferred. Proven experience in setting and managing Non-Financial Risk Appetite across complex environments. Demonstrated success in leading combined assurance planning and governance execution aligned to business priorities. Experience in AML policy implementation and reporting, including oversight of compliance across portfolios. Proven experience in implementing operational risk frameworks and incident management processes in complex environments. Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and operational risk management principles. Experience in stakeholder engagement, issue remediation, and audit coordination. Ability to engage executive stakeholders in strategic governance and control discussions. Exposure to digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. Ability to lead teams and drive cultural change in risk ownership and accountability COMPETENCIES Leadership Competencies: Strategic Thinking Business Acumen Communication Influence Leadership Creativity and Innovation Delivering Results Adaptability Collaboration Knowledge and Skills: Strong commercialization and monetization skills with an affinity for finance Digital affinity and dexterity that leverages technology to automate and create commercial value Mindset of efficiency driven by automation, digitization and cost optimization, to create client value) Strong expertise in operational risk frameworks and incident management Proficiency in risk data analytics, performance monitoring, and reporting Experience with regulatory reporting and audit readiness in an operational risk context Skilled in stakeholder engagement and influencing risk culture across business units Ability to lead issue remediation and drive operational resilience Familiarity with digital risk tools and platforms (e.g., ORMS) to enhance risk execution Commercial acumen with the ability to align risk strategy to business value Digital dexterity to leverage technology for risk automation and efficiency Mindset focused on continuous improvement, cost optimisation, and risk-informed decision-making Deep understanding of scalable governance structures and assurance frameworks. Strong stakeholder engagement and executive-level communication skills. Expertise in AML controls and policy compliance. Ability to align control structures with business priorities and strategic direction 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

Head: Risk and Control (Business Banking) job opportunity at Absa.

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