Senior Manager: Forensics - Mbombela / Nelspruit

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

You will provide group-wide investigation capability that will investigate fraud matters relating to matters as directed by the Head: Forensics and Violent Crime Investigations. To perform oversight on investigations conducted within the Forensics Northern Region team to ensure that they are conducted according to required standards and meet the organizations needs in terms of addressing the risk appropriately. Set and maintain the minimum standards of investigation.

Job Description

People Management

1. Determine and analyse development needs for the team and ensure that identified training requirements are budgeted for and executed.
2. Manage a team to ensure effective delivery of services to Stakeholders.
3. Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members.
4. Review and maintain succession plans for one level below.
5. Ensure that performance development (PD) is appropriately undertaken as per policy.
6. Ensure PD plans are in place and regularly reviewed as per PD cycle.
7. Obtain approval for any additional headcount for the team.
8. Approve leave requests, training requests and staff claims for team members.
9. Address poor performance of any team member through the formal Performance Accelerator Programme and ensure that continued poor performance is appropriately addressed.
10. Motivate team members and ensure that their efforts are recognized.
11. Participate in regular meetings with team members to share information and best practices.

Business Management

1. Translate set strategy into operational business plans, ensure communication to the team and obtain their buy-in into deliverables set.
2. Review reports of new cases allocated on a weekly basis and determine whether there is a fair distribution.
3. Constantly review the number of cases reported to improve the investigation methodologies, criteria and adjust accordingly to a risk-based approach.
4. Review and provide input into quarterly/monthly SBU reports.
5. Ensure adequate input and timeously response to media queries received from Group.
6. Provide input in training and awareness material when requested to do so by the training manager.
7. Ensure compliance to group policies and procedures.
8. Access and update the investigative policies and procedures and ensure implementation and adherence.
9. Conduct monthly oversight reviews with direct reports to understand the business performance and support them to develop corrective actions where required.
10. Escalate major issues to management.

Stakeholder Management

1. Engage and communicate the department’s philosophy to direct reports/stakeholders and ensure they understand the responsibility of the department vs. Business Unity responsibility.
2. For material or significant issues identified, recommend corrective action to business unit senior management / Fraud Risk Strategy to alter their processes to prevent future recurring issues.
3. Attend risk forums and oversight committees.
4. Provide fraud awareness presentations to stakeholders and draft fraud alerts for distribution to the Physical Channels business segment.
5. Interact with counterparts in the industry to share information, engender co-operation to gain a common understanding of the threats and risks.
6. Build and maintain relationships with other external parties (e.g. SA Police Services, SA Revenue Services, National Prosecuting Authority Asset Forfeiture Unit) to ensure that co-operation can be obtained when required for key investigations.
7. Ensure that there are adequate support and evidence collection activities for cases dealt with by Group Legal Services or Absa Debt Recovery Services and call on those areas to execute actions identified by the department.

Operational Oversight and Guidance

1. Assess and update the investigative policies/procedures and ensure implementation and adherence. Ensure that minimum investigation standards are set and adhered to.
2. For sensitive or high-risk cases (on an ad hoc basis or when tasked by management) execute the investigation activities end-to-end or, if appropriate, delegate to one of the direct reports.
3. Ensure that feedback is provided to management/stakeholder in so far as high level/sensitive cases are concerned.
4. Continuously evaluate cases allocated to direct reports for investigation in line with set Guidelines and Standards.
5. Approve case status changes for direct reports in line with the department’s guidelines / policies.

Investigation

1. Provide investigation capability and lead, into significant and sensitive fraud, theft and corruption cases.
2. Ensure that any control failures identified during the course of an investigation are immediately brought to the attention of Fraud Strategy / responsible business units.
3. Provide investigative support to other investigative areas where/when appropriate.
4. Ensure that matters where there is a significant fraud loss to the Bank, that a Steerco is established, comprising of all relevant stakeholders, to ensure that there is proper management over such cases and that recovery efforts are maximised.
5. Continuously evaluate cases allocated to direct reports for investigation in line with set guidelines and standards.
6. Interact with high profile clients impacted by fraud to escalate issues, monitoring the progress of the investigation and providing updates to the client on progress and actions taken.
7. Act as a point of contact and advice for fraud investigators.
8. Get involved in investigations being undertaken within other Centres of Excellence areas of responsibility as directed by the Manager: Specialised Investigations.

Education and Experience Required

1. B-degree or Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Justice (NQF 6).
2. 8 years’ experience in Forensics Investigation environment preferably in the financial sector.
3. 5 years’ experience in managing a team.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Law, Military Science and Security (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.