Description

We are seeking a highly skilled Combined Assurance Specialist to lead and implement our combined assurance framework within the bank. The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of risk management, internal control, compliance, and audit processes. This role involves collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure the effective integration and alignment of assurance activities.

Key Responsibilities

 Combined Assurance Framework:

• Develop and implement a combined assurance framework and strategy that aligns with the organisation's strategic goals
• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and industry standards
• Oversee and maintain the risk taxonomy, ensuring it is regularly reviewed and updated
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for lines of defence across the organisation
• Establish and uphold standards for risk documentation (e.g. frameworks, policies), while maintaining the Governance register
• Establish key standards and principles for risk awareness and training initiatives
• Define governance requirements for combined assurance
• Establish criteria for managing risk deviations, including dispensations, exceptions and breaches
• Coordinate regulator principal risk assessments and emerging risk assessment to identify and evaluate risks across all business units

 Combined Assurance model:

• Oversee the combined assurance model, ensuring effective collaboration among internal audit, compliance, and risk management functions
• Facilitate the integration of assurance activities to provide a comprehensive view of risk and control effectiveness

 Reporting and Governance:

• Prepare and present combined assurance reports to senior management and the board
• Facilitate the regulation 39 & 40 reports submitted to the Prudential Authority on an annual basis

 Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with various stakeholders, including business leaders, to promote a risk-aware culture and ensure risk considerations are integrated into decision-making processes
• Serve as the primary point of contact for risk-related inquiries and provide guidance on best practices in risk management

Training and Development:

• Lead training sessions and workshops to enhance understanding of integrated risk management and combined assurance across the organisation

 Continuous Improvement:

• Identify opportunities to enhance the risk management framework and combined assurance processes
• Stay informed about emerging risks and industry trends to proactively address potential challenges

Experience, skills and capability

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Risk Management, or a related field; a Master's degree or professional qualification (e.g., IRM, FRM) is preferred
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in risk management, with a focus on integrated risk or combined assurance
• Strong understanding of risk management frameworks, methodologies, and regulatory requirements
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to communicate complex risk concepts effectively to diverse audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the organisation

Investec Culture 

At Investec we look for intelligent, energetic people filled with passion, integrity and curiosity. We value individuals who in turn value our culture that is, a flexible attitude comfortable to live with ambiguity and willing to challenge the status quo. Diversity, talent and leadership are respected in pursuit of the growth of our business. People who can manage themselves and build strong relationships in order to get things done, will perform in out of the ordinary ways in our environment. 

We are committed to diversity and inclusion when recruiting internally and externally.