OM Bank - Head: Risk Projects

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Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description

The Head: Risk Projects will be part of the Risk function, reporting to the Chief Risk officer (CRO) and will work closely with the Heads of Risk functions.

The Head: Risk Projects will drive end-to-end delivery of risk management initiatives across the bank. This role requires a good understanding of enterprise-wide risk management (ERM), banking regulation, and cross-functional coordination. The individual will support the Risk Management function in building, enhancing, and embedding risk frameworks, delivering regulatory and audit commitments, implementing new risk tools, managing internal and external engagements, and ensuring the bank meets supervisory expectations.

The role requires strong technical risk knowledge, someone who can operate in a fast-changing startup environment together with project management experience in a Risk function.

KEY RESULT AREAS

Project and Programme Management

• Lead and manage the full lifecycle of risk-related projects—from scoping, planning, and budgeting to execution, monitoring, and closure.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, milestone trackers, and status reporting dashboards to present in meetings.
• Ensure alignment of risk projects with the bank’s strategy, regulatory roadmap, and ERM enhancement plan.
• Manage dependencies across Technology, Product, Operations, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and Data teams.
• Identify and escalate delivery risks, issues, bottlenecks, and resource needs to the CRO.

Risk Framework and Policy Implementation

• Manage the rollout and embedding of key risk frameworks and policies, such as:
  • Enterprise Risk Management
  • Operational Risk
  • IT & Cyber Risk
  • Credit Risk
  • Market & Liquidity Risk
  • Third-Party Risk
  • Risk Appetite Framework
  • Combined Assurance plan
• Coordinate drafting, updating, approval, and implementation of risk policies and standards.
• Track framework adoption, monitor policy compliance, and support closure of gaps and findings.

Enterprise Risk Processes

• Coordinate the risk appetite setting and review processes of the Bank for the risk function as part of the annual strategic planning process conducted.

Regulatory & Supervisory Deliverables

• Manage regulatory submissions and interactions relating to risk management (e.g., PA directives, BA returns related to risk, governance submissions, model documentation).
• Coordinate responses to the Prudential Authority (PA) and Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) where required from risk function
• Ensure project and framework implementations align with Basel standards, Joint Standards (e.g., JS1/2021), and governance requirements.

Systems & Data Enablement

• Lead risk-related system implementation or enhancement projects such as:
  • GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) platforms
  • Risk event management tools
  • BCBS 239 data governance and reporting initiatives
• Work closely with Data teams to ensure data quality, lineage, and reporting for risk metrics.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Facilitate engagement across Product, Tech, Operations, Finance and Compliance, etc. to embed risk in business processes.
• Support delivery of Risk in Change processes, project risk assessments, and product risk reviews.
• Coordinate risk training, change management, and communication plans.

Risk Governance Support

• Support the CRO with governance committees:
  • Risk Committee
  • Operational Risk Committee
  • Credit Committee
  • IT Risk & Cybersecurity Governance Forum
  • Ad-hoc submissions
• Prepare governance packs, track actions, monitor KRIs, and ensure decisions are implemented.
• Maintain a master risk project register and dashboard.

Assurance, Audit & Issue Remediation

• Coordinate internal audit, external audit, regulatory findings, and management action plans.
• Track remediation of policy breaches, risk events, and audit findings.
• Support combined assurance planning and execution.

Key Projects / Deliverables Expected

• Implementation of ERMF and all complementary frameworks.
• Risk Appetite enhancement and metrics automation.
• New Banks Act regulation readiness.
• BCBS 239 alignment and data governance improvements.
• Automation of risk reporting & dashboarding.
• Risk system (“GRC”) implementation.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Finance, Accounting, Compliance, Business, IT, or related.

Advantageous

• Postgraduate risk qualification.
• Professional certifications (FRM, CISA, etc.).

Experience

• 5–10 years’ experience in:
  • Risk management in a bank; or
  • Project management in a banking, regulatory, or fintech environment.
• Proven experience delivering risk, compliance, governance, or audit-related projects.
• Exposure to startup or high-growth environments advantageous.
• Understanding of:
  • Basel III/IV risk concepts
  • South African regulatory landscape (PA, FSCA, FIC, Joint Standards)
  • ERM, Operational Risk, IT risk, credit risk basics, liquidity/market risk fundamentals.
• Experience in implementing risk systems (GRC or specialist tools) preferred.
• Prior interaction with regulators or audit functions beneficial.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of risk frameworks and banking risks.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements in South Africa.
• Familiarity with BA returns and supervisory reporting.
• Experience with project management methodologies (Waterfall & Agile).
• Ability to interpret policies, standards, and risk taxonomies.
• Strong documentation and governance writing skills.

Project and Delivery Skills

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Strong planning, organisation, and tracking skills.
• Stakeholder management at senior levels.
• Exceptional communication (written & verbal).
• Ability to translate risk requirements into practical business processes.

Behavioural Skills

• Highly proactive, takes ownership.
• Able to operate independently with minimal structure.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and change.
• Collaborative, relationship builder.
• Resilience and adaptability in a startup environment

Skills

Adaptive Thinking, Business Requirements Analysis, Change Management, Current State Assessment, Data Compilation, Executing Plans, Oral Communications, Policies & Procedures, Policy Development, Presenting Solutions, Professional Presentation, Strategic Planning

Competencies

Builds Effective Teams

Builds Networks

Business Insight

Collaborates

Communicates Effectively

Customer Focus

Ensures Accountability

Financial Acumen

Education

Closing Date

28 December 2025 , 23:59

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question.

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