Operational Risk Officer

A payment solutions provider is looking for a suitably qualified and experienced Operational Risk Officer to support achievement of the organisation’s strategy by assisting the business in the development and implementation of “fit for purpose” enterprise risk management frameworks which are aligned to business processes and the Agile methodology.  

The successful candidate must ensure a risk-based approach to risk management. They must also ensure that potential risks in new or existing processes, products/services and channels are identified and considered, the appropriate mitigating actions and controls are implemented, and tracked accordingly.  

This role is located in Cape Town. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES, NOT LIMITED TO: 

• Play a 2nd Line of defence role in identifying and managing operational risk across the 
  business and build a risk culture/risk-aware mindset within the business 
• Derive, obtain buy-in and drive the execution of the strategy for Operational Risk within 
  the Merchant segment 
• Own and drive the process to draft, maintain and review the Operational & Strategic Risk 
• Registers for the business units and functions and ensure that there is appropriate, 
  constructive challenge from a risk perspective during this process 
• Take the lead on and undertake business assurance activities as and where necessary to 
  provide assurance on business processes/products/services etc 
• Serve as the risk subject matter expert and provide the necessary guidance as part of new 
  product/process/service/channel development in line with the Agile methodology 
• Ensure the completion and management of risks in the agreed internal operational risk 
  tool to assist with management and reporting of risks 
• Perform root cause analysis on risk events and document lessons learnt related to the 
  same 
• Develop and provide the necessary Operational Risk training to business as is required 
• Produce the necessary risk reporting on a monthly and quarterly basis respectively for 
  both internal stakeholders and the Board Audit Committee 
• Proactively escalate any areas of concerns and ensure remedial steps are identified and 
  implemented 

REQUIREMENTS  

• BCom/BSC Degree in Risk Management, Economics, or related disciplines; LLB or 
  alternatively a relevant Risk Qualification 
• 3-5 Years + experience in managing and monitoring operational risk (incl. IT risks or be in 
  a position to challenge IT risks) and/or enterprise risk preferably in the financial services, 
  payments or fintech sector. Experience in risk governance and a strong understanding of 
  bank and payment regulation would be advantageous 
• A business mindset and broad understanding of various risks that the business could be 
  exposed to 
• The ability to identify risks in business processes, products, services and/or systems 
• Detail oriented but also have the ability to see the bigger strategic picture, have a 
  professional attitude, excellent interpersonal skills as well as verbal and written 
  communication skills 
• Having worked with risk tools such as Exclaim, or equivalents will be advantageous 

Personal Competencies: 

• The ability to operate both at a strategic and operational level 
• Be a proactive individual who is a self-starter and gets things done 
• The ability to work well with people and collaborate to develop practical and simple 
  solutions to mitigate risks in the business 
• Good stakeholder management ability and the ability to develop relationships across 
  senior and junior levels 
• Good written and verbal communication skills 
• An innate drive to succeed and a passion for operational risk 
• A business orientated, practical and pragmatic mindset to risk management