About this role
Let's Write Africa's Story Together!Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this. Job DescriptionSymmetry requires a Risk and Compliance Manager to lead the design, implementation and ongoing management of the risk and compliance function for the business, reporting to the Head of GLRC. Symmetry operates as a division of Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited within the Old Mutual Wealth cluster, across institutional, retail and private markets segments, with a regulatory footprint spanning FAIS, CISCA, the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).The role owns Symmetry’s first line risk and compliance function: the overall risk framework, the compliance management and monitoring plan, and the FAIS, AML, privacy and third-party risk processes that sit beneath them. It evaluates whether controls are designed and operating effectively, drives remediation to closure, and reports on the risk and compliance profile of the business to the Symmetry Governance Forum and Old Mutual Wealth governance committees. Clear, concise written work in plain language is a day one requirement, not a development objective.This is a first line role. It does not carry an appointment as the FSCA approved compliance officer for the license under which Symmetry operates. It works alongside Old Mutual Wealth second line risk and compliance within the combined assurance model.Key ResponsibilitiesPRIMARY | Risk Framework and ManagementOwn Symmetry’s first line risk management framework in line with Group and Old Mutual Wealth risk policies and setting the approach to risk and control self assessment, incident management and key risk indicators across every Symmetry teamLead risk and control assessments with each team and maintain the Risk and Control Matrix that forms the business risk profile, evaluating control design and operating effectiveness and determining residual risk ratingsOwn the risk incident process end to end: overseeing prompt logging, leading root cause investigations with the business and service providers, assessing client, financial and regulatory impact, finalising incident reports and confirming that corrective actions are closed with evidenceOwn the risk register so that entries are current, concise and accurately reflect inherent and residual risk, control effectiveness and action statusDefine and monitor key risk indicators and escalation thresholds, identify emerging risks and changes in the control environment, and escalate them to the Head of GLRC promptlyLead first line oversight of key outsourced service providers, including the fund administrator, through review of service levels, incidents, reconciliation breaks and control assurance reporting, escalating where performance falls outside agreed tolerancesPRIMARY | Compliance and MonitoringDesign, implement and maintain Symmetry’s compliance function, mapping requirements under FAIS, CISCA, FICA, POPIA and FSCA conduct standards to business owners, processes and controlsOwn the FAIS supervision and Fit and Proper framework for representatives and key individuals, including supervision arrangements, Fit and Proper evidence (including competence and continuous professional development) and the accuracy of the representative register and records held with the FSCALead Symmetry’s first line implementation of Group compliance requirements, including the Risk Management and Compliance Programme under FICA and the POPIA privacy processes, covering training, attestations, incident escalation and record keepingOperate third party risk management under the Group TPRM Framework: maintaining the vendor inventory and risk tiering, coordinating periodic attestation cycles, and tracking issues to resolutionTrack regulatory change across FAIS, CISCA, FICA, POPIA and FSCA communications, assess the impact on processes and controls, and lead implementation within the businessOversee breach reporting from the administrator and management company on mandate, CIS portfolio limit and Regulation 28 constraints, escalating to the Head of GLRC and the investment team and tracking resolutionPRIMARY | Governance, Reporting and Regulator EngagementPrepare and present risk and compliance reporting, including key risk and compliance indicators, incident trends and remediation status, to the Head of GLRC, the Symmetry Governance Forum and Old Mutual Wealth governance committeesManage the quarterly Governance Forum: agenda, papers, minutes, action tracking and follow up reportingCoordinate first line input into internal audit, second line reviews and independent assurance reviews, including evidence preparation and tracking of findings to closurePrepare FSCA submissions, notifications and correspondence on matters delegated by the Head of GLRC, and manage regulatory information requests within required timelinesSECONDARY | Policy and Legal Workflow ManagementDraft and maintain policies, standard operating procedures and procedural documents for the GLRC function, and continuously improve risk and compliance processesMaintain the contracts register and review incoming agreements for regulatory and third party risk requirements, including outsourcing, data protection and FAIS provisions, routing them for legal review by the Head of GLRC or OMW LegalQualification, Skills and ExperienceA law degree, or a BCom degree with a strong legal or regulatory background (minimum NQF level 7)7 or more years of experience in financial services, including at least 5 years in risk management and regulatory compliance roles, ideally in asset management, collective investment schemes or a linked investment environment, and ideally coupled with operational experienceExperience supervising or leading others, whether direct reports or project and workstream teamsDemonstrable experience designing or embedding a risk management framework, including risk and control self assessment, incident management and key risk indicatorsExperience designing and executing a risk based compliance monitoring planAdvanced working knowledge of FAIS, including supervision and Fit and Proper requirements, and of CISCA, FICA and POPIAStrong written communication: the ability to turn complex operational detail into clear, concise reports in plain languageCredibility with senior stakeholders and comfort operating in a complex group structure with shared services, group oversight functions and layered approval requirementsPreferred:A professional designation from the Compliance Institute Southern Africa or the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA)Experience in third party risk management or oversight of outsourced service providers, particularly fund administratorsExperience preparing FSCA submissions and managing regulatory correspondenceExperience using governance, risk and compliance systemsUnderstanding of investment compliance principles, including CIS portfolio limits, Regulation 28 constraints and mandate monitoringThis role requires someone who:Investigates thoroughly: asks what could go wrong, follows the evidence and gets to root cause rather than accepting the first explanationExercises sound judgement on control effectiveness and risk ratings, and can defend that view with evidenceWrites clearly and concisely: produces incident reports, risk register entries and control descriptions that are accurate, easy to read and expressed in sound risk languageEngages credibly with senior management, operational teams and service providers, building trust while holding firm on control requirementsLeads and develops others, setting clear expectations and reviewing work to a high standardTakes ownership of the programme: this role is not supervised at task level, and the expectation is professional accountability for defined outcomesFollows actions through to closure and escalates clearly and promptly when something requires it, without waiting to be asked naSkillsAction Planning, Analytical Thinking, Computer Literacy, Data Compilation, Developing Creative Solutions, Evaluating Information, Executing Plans, Legal Practices, Oral Communications, Policies & Procedures, Presenting Solutions, Professional Presentation, Second Language, Solution Analysis, WritingCompetenciesBusiness InsightCommunicates EffectivelyCourageEnsures AccountabilityInstills TrustManages AmbiguityManages ComplexityOptimizes Work ProcessesEducationNQF Level 9 – MastersClosing Date30 January 2027 , 23:59The 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.The Old Mutual Story!
- LOCATION
- Pinelands
- WORK MODE
- On-site
- JOB TYPE
- Full-time
- POSTED
- Nov 8, 2026
Source: Old Mutual Careers