Head of Compliance: Enterprise Corporate Functions

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 role aims to lead strategic compliance risk management and advisory initiatives across the Group’s Enterprise Corporate Functions, ensuring alignment and compliance with South African, Pan African and international regulatory frameworks and relevant legislation. This role combines deep technical legislative and regulatory knowledge, risk management and control expertise, with leadership responsibilities, supporting both business enablement and regulatory integrity. In addition, the role includes performing the role of subject matter expert (SME) for relevant allocated legislation(s).

Job Description

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

Technical Advisory

• Provide expert interpretation and management of compliance risks relevant to legislative and regulatory requirements, including those relevant to Pan African Enterprise Corporate functions (e.g., Banks Act, Financial Markets Act, Insurance Act, FICA, FSRA, Companies Act, POPIA, etc).

• Provide Compliance Risk Management support and advise Enterprise Corporate Functions on compliance risks and implications of new products, services, and strategic initiatives.

• Lead regulatory change impact assessments and implementation planning.

• Serve as a subject matter expert in engagements with regulators (e.g., SARB, FSCA, etc).

Managerial and Strategic Oversight

• Lead a team of compliance advisors, setting objectives, mentoring, and managing performance, as well as on-the-job training, guidance and direction.

• Actively contribute to the maintenance and continuous enhancement of the bank’s compliance advisory framework and governance structures.

• Represent the Compliance function in relevant executive forums and cross-functional committees.

• Drive and implement effective stakeholder engagement strategies to embed a culture of compliance across the bank.

Technical Regulatory Interpretation and Advisory

• Provide expert guidance on complex regulatory frameworks, including South African and other international regulatory frameworks (e.g., FICA, POPIA, FSCA, COFI, Basel IV).

• Interpret new and evolving legislation and regulatory updates, assessing their impact on the business, and translating them into actionable business requirements.

• Advise on compliance implications of new products, services, and strategic initiatives.

• Draft technical compliance opinions and support regulatory submissions.

Compliance Risk Management

• Lead compliance risk assessments across Enterprise Corporate Functions.

• Identify emerging regulatory risks and recommend mitigation strategies.

• Support the integration, monitoring and reporting of Compliance risks into the Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF).

Policy and Framework Development

• Contribute to the development and review of compliance policies, standards, and procedures.

• Ensure documentation reflects regulatory expectations and internal governance standards, aligning to internal risk appetite.

Stakeholder Engagement and Advisory Support

• Act as a trusted Compliance Advisor to internal stakeholders, including senior business leaders and cross-functional teams.

• Facilitate collaboration and interlock with the Compliance, Risk, and Audit functions, as part of Combined Assurance.

• Provide strategic Compliance-related input into product development and operational changes.

• Maintain detailed documentation of advisory activities, interpretations, and risk decisions.

People management

• Lead a highly motivated Compliance advisory team supporting the Enterprise Corporate Functions

• Recruit the right people. Develop, motivate and manage people. Recognise performance, provide appropriate interventions and opportunities, and address poor performance.

• Set clear objectives and responsibilities for each individual. Measure performance against objectives.

• Encourage direct reports to set challenging objectives as part of the career development process and to ensure effective performance management, development and succession planning.

• Inspire and promote high performance in individuals and in the team.

• Act as a mentor and role model and drive proactive application of the Values throughout the team including establishment of common goals and objectives.

• Equip team to deliver based on a high performance culture.

• Provide strategic direction to the team in line with the strategic direction of the Compliance function.

Compliance Risk Assessments

• Conduct compliance risk assessments and thematic reviews.

• Identify emerging compliance risks and recommend technical control enhancements.

Monitoring and Control Oversight

• Support the design and execution of compliance monitoring plans and thematic reviews.

• Monitor control testing and ensure timely remediation of findings.

• Track and report on control effectiveness and compliance performance metrics.

Governance and Reporting

• Prepare and present high quality compliance reports and briefings to governance committees, senior management and regulators.

• Escalate significant compliance risks and breaches in line with internal protocols.

• Ensure transparency and accountability in compliance-related decision-making.

Leadership and Capability Building

• Mentor junior compliance staff and contribute towards team effectiveness and development.

• Lead or support compliance-related projects and initiatives.

• Promote a culture of compliance and ethical conduct across the organisation.

Skills and Competencies:

• Expert-level analytical and legal interpretation skills to manage regulatory risks.

• Strong technical writing and documentation abilities.

• High attention to detail and regulatory precision.

• Ability to work independently and influence without direct authority.

• Familiarity with compliance tools, regulatory databases, and risk systems.

Education and experience requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Finance, Risk Management (Masters or LLB preferred).

• 8-10 years in banking regulatory compliance, with at least 3 years in a senior compliance leadership role within financial services.

• Deep knowledge of South African financial legislation and global compliance standards.

• Proven experience in regulatory interpretation, compliance risk management and advisory.

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