Senior Risk Manager: Third-Party and Compliance Risk - Sandton, Gauteng

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 rese ...

Job description

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 Senior Risk Manager: Third Party and Compliance Risk embeds effective first line risk governance across Business Banking. Reporting to the Head: Governance, Resilience and Risk Enablement, the role implements risk frameworks and standards, ensuring exposures remain within appetite. Partnering closely with business and second line stakeholders, the role strengthens risk ownership, compliance, and resilience while leveraging digital tools to deliver meaningful insight and value.

Job Description

Job Description Summary

The Senior Risk Manager: Third‑Party and Compliance Risk is responsible for embedding effective first‑line risk governance and oversight across Business Banking (BB). Reporting to the Head: Governance, Resilience and Risk Enablement, the role drives the implementation of Third‑Party and Compliance Risk policies, standards, and frameworks, and ensures risk exposures are managed within approved appetite.

The role partners closely with business and second‑line stakeholders to strengthen risk awareness, accountability, and ownership, while leveraging digital tools and automation to improve efficiency and generate measurable business value. The successful candidate will play a key role in enhancing resilience, regulatory compliance, and sustainable outcomes for Business Banking and its clients.

Job Description

• Translate Third Party and Compliance Risk strategy into a clear first‑line operational plan and coordinate delivery with Business Banking stakeholders and second‑line risk partners.
• Perform monthly Third Party and Compliance Risk assessments, identifying, assessing, and escalating material risks in line with risk appetite.
• Roll out Third Party and Compliance Risk policies and standards, conduct gap analysis and track remediation when new or updated requirements are issued.
• Conduct and maintain Risk and Control Assessments (RCAs) for the risk types, ensuring risks and controls are accurately identified and assessed.
• Validate that all risk events and incidents are correctly logged, complete, and aligned to Third Party and Compliance Risk classifications.
• Define, implement, and monitor Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), ensuring breaches and exceptions are investigated and addressed timeously.
• Coordinate and manage audit and assurance activities, including preparation of audit evidence, responses, and tracking of remediation actions.
• Execute all risk governance and administration activities required to support the first line risk mandate, including reporting and data quality.
• Provide risk insight, reporting, and trend analysis to support informed decision‑making by Business Banking management.
• Act as the Subject Matter Expert and thought leader for Third Party and Compliance Risk in Business Banking, leveraging Group and second‑line expertise.

KEY FOCUS AREAS

Governance and Risk Policy and Standard Translation

• Localize and operationalize the Group Policies and Standards on Change Risk and Third-Party Risk Management.
• Ensure monthly reporting and assessment in all relevant risk forums.

Integrated Risk Reporting and Assurance

• Deliver timely, accurate, and insightful risk reporting to cluster and Group-level forums.
• Develop dashboards, thematic risk reports, and early warning indicators to support data-driven decision-making.
• Monitor and ensure closure of audit and regulatory findings, addressing control gaps and enhancing assurance.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy Execution

• Translate strategic objectives into operational plans and execution roadmaps for the business area.
• Align functional priorities with business unit goals, setting clear short- and medium-term milestones.
• Monitor execution progress and adjust plans to ensure alignment with business outcomes.

Customer Primacy

• Ensure governance and resilience practices support uninterrupted delivery of critical customer services.
• Embed customer-centric risk management approaches that protect client trust and experience during disruptions
• Use customer insights to inform operational plans and prioritise improvements.

Sustainable Growth

• Strengthen the cluster's ability to withstand and recover from operational shocks, enabling consistent performance.
• Contribute to growth planning aligned with segment and enterprise priorities.
• Support execution of growth strategies and operational initiatives.
• Track performance against growth targets and resolve delivery barriers.

Client-Driven Innovation

• Promote innovative approaches to resilience and governance that respond to evolving client needs.
• Enable agile governance structures that support transformation, third party management and compliance to policies standards, regulation and industry best practices.
• Identify opportunities for innovation in products, services, or operations.

Digital Adoption

• Leverage digital tools and platforms to enhance risk reporting, resilience dashboards, and early warning systems.
• Promote automation and data-driven insights in governance and BCM processes.

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Oversee governance forums and secretariat services to ensure regulatory alignment and ethical conduct.
• Monitor and close audit and regulatory findings, ensuring robust control environments.
• Act as governance advisor to the COO and Exco, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment
• Implement governance and compliance frameworks in team routines.
• Promote risk awareness and respond to regulatory changes.
• Support audit readiness and ensure compliance adherence.
• Manage risk profile and ensure resolution feedback to stakeholders.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, auditors, and Group functions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the COO and Business Banking Exco on governance, risk, and resilience matters pertaining to Compliance and Third Party Risk management .
• Champion a network of Compliance and Third Party Risk stakeholders.
• Track performance against growth targets and resolve delivery barriers.
• Partner with BB Compliance, Third and Supplier Management, second line and Group counterparts in delivering solutions for BB.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education/Qualification:

• Post Graduate Degree: Honours Degree, Post Graduate Diploma and Professional Qualifications [NQF8]

Field of Study:

• Risk Management, Governance, Business Administration, Finance, Law, Public Administration, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• 6 – 10 years experience in a specific capability of importance to the bank,
• Experience must include developing customer-centric solutions or corporate practice development while managing stakeholders across business and/or functional areas.
• Exposure to digital transformation and data-driven decision-making is preferred.

COMPETENCIES

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Communication
• Influence
• 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)
• Deep understanding of enterprise risk management, governance frameworks, and regulatory requirements.
• Expertise in business continuity planning, crisis management, and operational resilience.
• Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate frameworks into actionable business practices.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and influencing skills.
• Skilled in risk reporting, data analysis, and development of dashboards and early warning systems.

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