Compliance Specialist: Financial Crime (Regulatory Engagement, Reporting & Governance)

Job Advert Summary

To own the Group’s interface with regulators, the consolidated MI and reporting pipeline, and the operating mechanics of the AML/Financial Crime Committee. Under the direction of the Group Executive Legal and Compliance / MLCO, responsible for managing regulator engagement across the Prudential Authority (PA), Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), AUSTRAC and Bank of Namibia; leading the FICAR remediation programme closure; owning the goAML reporting infrastructure and STR/CTR/TFR/TPR submissions; producing monthly MI for the Financial Crime Committee, Risk Committee and Board; secretariating the AML/Financial Crime Committee; managing the annual financial crime compliance cycle; and coordinating the Group’s response to legislative and supervisory change.

Minimum Requirements

Education

• Matric, required
• Compliance, law, audit or accounting qualification (NQF 7 minimum), or professional qualification NQF 8 (e.g. LLB, CA), required
• CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist), or specialist financial crime certification (e.g. AML Prac (SA), required
• Post Graduate Diploma in Compliance Management (NQF 7), preferred
• A person to be interviewed must have either CAMS or AML Prac (SA) already and working towards the other certification within 12 months of appointment.

Knowledge and Experience

• 5+ years AML/CFT compliance experience including direct regulator engagement
• Experience with goAML reporting and prescribed returns
• Knowledge of FICA, POCDATARA, FATF standards, and equivalent foreign legislation
• Understanding of the South African financial services regulatory environment (PA, FIC, FSCA)
• Strong drafting and analytical skills
• Experience producing MI and governance reporting for Board/Risk Committee level
• Working knowledge of CURA (advantageous)
• Experience in life insurance or financial services compliance (preferred)
• Knowledge of sanctions and TFS framework
• Ability to manage inspection cycles and regulatory correspondence

Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Analytical thinking and attention to detail
• Stakeholder management and relationship building
• Results and deadline orientation
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Sense of urgency
• Judgement and decision-making
• Facilitation and presentation skills

Strategic Orientation

• Knowledge and understanding of the financial services regulatory environment.
• Acts with confidence and works independently within a team environment.
• Provides input to Compliance strategies and plans.

Duties and Responsibilities

All the accountabilities listed below will be performed under the guidance of the MLCO and MLRO.

• Own regulator engagement: PA, FIC, FSCA, AUSTRAC, Bank of Namibia. Manage inspection cycles, queries, prescribed returns, and ad hoc information requests.
• Lead the FICAR remediation programme closure submissions to the Prudential Authority.
• Own the goAML reporting infrastructure, STR pipeline quality assurance, CTR, IFTR and TPR submission, and reporting timeliness. Produce monthly MI to the AML/Financial Crime Committee, the Group Risk Committee, and the Board.
• Secretariat the AML/Financial Crime Committee. Manage agendas, papers, decisions log, and action tracking.
• Manage the annual financial crime compliance cycle: BRA refresh Q1, Annual Plan Q2, Mid-Year review Q3, MLCO Annual Report and RMCP re-approval Q4.
• Coordinate Group response to legislative and supervisory change, including FATF Mutual Evaluation preparation.
• General compliance related work not limited to financial crimes, for example monitoring of FAIS or training on POPIA.