Assistant Assurance Manager

Job description

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Job Summary

To provide second line overall assurance to the Risk function on the Personal and Private Banking (PPB) Credit Risk, Model Risk and Data Risk in line with the group, country, and regulatory policies.

Job Description

Assurance

· Underwriting, Account Management, Employer Management, Credit Mandate, Mobile Lending and Collections and Recoveries monthly Assurance covering all sections of the PPB Credit Standards, Policies and any other areas that impact PPB Credit.

· Review exceptions from the PPB Credit Models and include in monthly Assurance assessments.

· Ensure that the RDARR Embedment tracker is monitored and any issues picked are highlighted and tracked.

· Ensure that the overall Data and Records Management Risk is tracked and actions for deviations or issues picked are highlighted and tracked until closure.

· Ensure that all Credit Assurance, Models and Data Risk folders on Shared Drive are updated with current information. For Scheme Folder under Assurance ensure that current Memorandum of Understanding are being tracked and in place, current audited accounts must be reviewed by Corporate Credit, sanction screening and latest signatures and files must be updated. Scheme tracker must be updated, and chasers sent out to PPB Credit and Absa Workplace for customers with documents that are due to expire and the ones that have expired.

· Execute the PPB Credit Risk Assurance sampling process monthly and ensure that a tracker is held for all exceptions picked and evidence of closure must be obtained.

· Document all monthly assurance findings in the PPB Credit Assurance Deck. Use approved sampling templates and Control Assessment Tool to conduct the monthly assurance.

· Maintain a folder with the PPB Lending CPA Test Reports from Personal and Private Banking, Operations and PPB Credit CPA Testing.

· Track the PPB Lending CPA ineffective controls actions and ensure that they are closed within agreed timelines.

• Keep abreast of control issues related to PPB Credit and advise the PPB, Operations and PPB Credit Governance teams of such issues. Tracking and monitoring of all risk events which have a PPB Credit impact.

· Submit all issues and risk events submission to the in – country PPB Credit/Lending Committees.

· Ensure that the Retail Risk SharePoint is maintained with latest and accurate information documentation, forms and signatures.

· Prepare documents of testing and control weaknesses identified, participate in assurance reviews across a specified PPB, Operations and PPB Credit Units, either alone or through team (if applicable) ensuring the adherence to policies, procedures, and standards.

· To ensure that agreed Credit policies, procedures and standards are implemented through the operation and monitoring of a robust work programme identifying areas of priority to the Head of Credit Assurance, Models and Data Risk.

· To assist in the development and maintenance of a robust control framework and ensure recommendations for effectiveness and efficiency improvements are reported to the Head of Credit Assurance, Models and Data Risk and Chief Risk Officer.

· To ensure recommendations for corrective action arising from specific work undertaken in PPB, PPB Credit and Credit Operations as accepted by business stakeholders and action is taken to drive and implement within an agreed timescale.

· To establish and maintain robust management information for circulation to a range of stakeholders throughout the business to report the quality adherence to procedures and standards.

· Review all IA, Conformance, and business review closure packs and reports.

· Monthly validation of CRB users, various Credit System users in PPB Credit, PPB, and Collections and Recoveries etc.

· Compilation of governance meeting packs on PPB Credit Assurance reviews, results, risk events, issues and DWBs – PQR committees, Risk and Control forms, Employer Management Committee, Executive Risk committee

· Presentation of monthly PPB Credit control failures in PPB Lending Committees and Assurance Forums.

· Review and track closure of monthly exceptions reports. Root causes must be identified and addressed, must be shared by the respective functions.

· Perform and complete gap analysis and localisation on PPB Credit Frameworks, Policies and Standards.

Stakeholder Management

• Managing relationships with PPB Credit, PPB, Operations, Compliance, Technology, AR Credit and IA
• Cross functional coordination of activities
• Check and challenge the PPB Credit control environment
• Schedule best practice engagements and knowledge sharing sessions

Conformance of PPB, Operations and PPB Credit

• Conducted Conformance Reviews as per the approved Combined Assurance Plan and produce a report with identified findings rated according to the approved Risk and Issue Classification Matrix Standard and Calculator.
• Scope conformance review assignments including preparation of the scoping document
• Manage conformance review work to ensure that relevant risks and controls have been identified and appropriately assessed.
• Provide guidance to team during conformance review assignments

• Monitor and review frameworks, policies and standards conformance.

• Ensure that breaches and/or non-compliance issues are identified and escalated appropriately and on a timely basis and that appropriate actions are taken to address and resolve them.
• Track, monitor and assess the status and closure of the PPB Credit, Models and Data related Dispensations, Waivers and Breaches (DWB) actions on Open Pages.

• Discuss findings with teams and negotiate findings of the final report. Ensure that all issues that are identified from all conformance reviews and CPA testing are logged on Open Pages timely.
• Recommend changes, enhancements or amendments to existing governance or best practice where existing policies or procedures are unclear, inconsistent or require review, whether for regulatory or business reasons
• Highlight weaknesses within the control frameworks and deployment which may result in risk issues for the PPB, Operations and PPB Credit.
• Raise observations that are insightful, accurate, address the root cause and add value to the business, ensuring that conformance review scopes reflect wider implications.

Team

• Delegate effectively, empowering others to make decisions commensurate with their expertise
• Additional support to the Head of Credit Assurance, Models and Data Risk.
• Provide support to the Business Assurance Manager and wider team with a range of activities and ad hoc projects. This may include involvement in recruitment, managing issue Assurance and continuous business monitoring dependent on business need.

Education

National Diplomas and Advanced Certificates: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)