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Job Title:  Operational Risk Assurance Manager

Organisation: ABSA Bank

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About the Company:

Absa Group Limited (formerly Barclays Bank UK) is a diversified standalone African financial services group, delivering an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth, investment management and insurance. Absa Group Limited is listed on the JSE and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups with a presence in 12 countries across the continent and around 41 000 employees.

Job Summary:   The Operational Risk Assurance Manager is a professional who is responsible for driving and leading the day-to-day execution of the assurance plan through managing the planning, fieldwork, and wrap-up stages of conformance reviews, risk assessments, including activities such as design and development of risk assessments tools, annual review plans, working papers, operational risk reports, and other deliverables based on the specific engagement requirements.

They assist the Head of Operational & Resilience Risk in integrating operational risk management in the management processes to contribute to an acceptable operational risk/reward profile for business. This includes ensuring that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework, Operational Risk Framework, Internal Policies and Standards.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Operational Risk Framework (20%)

• Operational Risk Assurance Manager’s role is to provide independent oversight and assessment on compliance to all the policies and standards as well as ensure implementation of the ERMF through;
• Performing conformance reviews to test compliance in accordance with the annual plan.
• Ensuring that conformance engagements meet quality control standards, supported by adequate, timely, and appropriate documentation.
• Leading and participate in Thematic Reviews including risk assessment, scoping, execution and reporting.
• Leading activities including the development of workflows, policies and procedures to support on any audit readiness.
• Evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of controls.
• Assessing the impact of financial, compliance, operational, strategic, customer and other significant risks.
• Contributing to the evaluation of management controls established to mitigate identified risks by performing comprehensive control testing.
• Prepare draft and final reports for all reviews and conformances.
• Support business functions and departments to identify and ensure possible risks are identified and mitigated as appropriate.
• Address unanticipated issues that arise during audits and make recommendations for action.
• Embed operational risk management ownership across defined business units through providing expert advice, sharing best-practice and risk mitigation techniques with management to enable them to pro-actively manage the operational risks within their areas/sections.
• Maintain a diary of all open issues from the various sources and evidence clear management till closure and ensure timely escalations to the relevant committees to report any lapses.

Business support, Advice and Guidance (55%)

• Provide Operational Risk Advisory services to the Governance Managers with the main objective to educate business line-management in the use of the various Operational Risk tools
• Assist in analysis of information and reports to establish trends and consider initiatives to reduce risk.
• Identify major risks affecting the business and take necessary steps to measure, monitor and control the exposure accordingly.
• Review and evaluate internal controls and submit appropriate recommendations for any changes and or enhancements.
• Identify major risks affecting the business units and branches and take necessary steps to measure, monitor and control these risks.
• Provide the necessary guidance and training to ensure compliance with the operational risk framework and methodologies.
• To ensure compliance to any applicable regulatory operational risk requirements.
• Ensure an effective internal control environment.
• Ensure effective management of external risks, through proactive identification, assessment and mitigation of risks beyond the Bank’s scope.
• Timely escalation or notification to appropriate stakeholders of operational risk issues.
• Independently assess’ risks and drive actions to address the root causes that persistently lead to operational risk losses by challenging both historical and proposed practices.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for Issues Management (KPI/KRI/Corrective Action Plans)
• Review changes to policy, procedures and regulations for appropriate changes to monitoring processes and implement appropriate amendments.

Internal Client Liaison and Relationship Management / Stakeholder Management (20%)

• Act as a point of contact for enquiries from the Business regarding all aspects of risk, assurance and governance.
• Provide review and challenge to the stakeholders in respect of control weaknesses and risk exposures.
• Develop & maintain an effective relationship at the appropriate level with the Business with a view to embedding effective risk management processes.
• Drive the programme of corrective actions to address gaps / risks and work with key stakeholders to help deliver these.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the business operating model to support management in the identification of weaknesses and areas where processes need to be strengthened or amended.

Operational Risk Reporting (5%)

• Timely preparation of draft and final reports for all reviews and conformances.
• Participate in producing timely and accurate monthly, quarterly and ad hoc reports; provide MI including trends and analyses for monthly and quarterly forums such as the Country Executive Risk Committee, Combined Assurance Forum, Monthly Risk Review etc. whenever required.
• Ensure prompt and accurate reporting and escalation or notification to appropriate stakeholders of operational risk issues.
• Support business in the identification, design and implementation of Key Indicators (KIs) and other metrics to assist in risk monitoring and remediation.
• Monitor and report control environment elements, gaps and initiatives such as Control Issues), Risk and Control Self Assessments (RCSAs), Critical Process Assessments (CPAs), Key Indicators (KIs), Management Control Approach (MCA), audit / Management Assurance findings, Road to Satisfactory/Green and Dispensations, Waivers and Breaches (DWBs).
• Validate results of control testing performed by 1LOD as required.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s / University degree.
• CPA, ACCA, CIMA, CMA, CIA is an added advantage
• 5+ years or more of experience in data analytics
• 5+ years of assurance and audit or equivalent experience preferred.
• 2+ years experience in IT audits

Preferred Experience

• Significant experience leading, planning, execution and reporting on conformances and reviews.
• Excellent grasp of risk management procedures.
• Compliance with and understanding of regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrable experience in an assurance function.
• Performed management roles across assurance functions is an added advantage.
• Developed communication material and reporting suitable for senior leadership.
• Managed Governance, Risk and Compliance tools and methods.

Education

• Higher Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates who wish to join ABSA Group in the aforementioned capacity should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 10th February 2025

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