Risk & Compliance Manager at TradeMark East Africa (TMEA)

Reporting to the Risk and Compliance Director, the job holder will be responsible for the implementation, execution and monitoring of the risk and compliance framework. Specific risk areas include, financial, information security, regulatory compliance and operational risk. S/he will manage the systems that identify, evaluate, mitigate and monitor TMEA’s operational and strategic risk, and co-ordinate with all programmes and departments within TMEA by creating linkages between enterprise risk initiatives and risk at the country level. S/he will also oversee organisation-wide compliance with TMEA policies and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct risk assessments on the organisation’s programmes, which will involve identifying, describing and profiling the risks affecting the organisation as well as evaluating the identified risks against the organisation’s risk appetite.
• Implement the strategic risk management vision for TMEA and ensure that risk and compliance management policies and strategies comply with applicable regulations and the strategic imperatives of TMEA.
• Continue to develop and improve risk management tools, practices, and policies enabling the analysis and reporting of risk according to the risk and compliance management framework.
• Develop and foster a coherent risk culture and risk management philosophy that becomes effectively embedded throughout the organisation. Guide the integration of enterprise risk management with other organisational planning and management activities.
• Ensure that TMEA’s risk identification, aggregation, mitigation and monitoring capabilities arecommensurate with the size, complexity and risk profile of the organisation.
• Liaise with country operations and departmental/unit heads in ensuring completion and monitoring of quality risk registers.
• Oversee and monitor all operational risk management activities of TMEA, reporting major and critical risks issues to the Risk and Compliance Director.
• Provide support, education and training to staff to build risk awareness within the organisation. Develop and deliver TMEA-wide training on risk and compliance for all staff to complete annually.
• Evaluate the adequacy of the organisation’s internal control framework in addressing risks and accomplishing the goals and objectives;
• Prepare risk reporting in an appropriate way for different audiences, for example the Board Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
• Liaise with country operations and departmental/unit heads on the adequacy of proposed actions in management of risk areas.
• Monitor implementation of action plans to ensure risk mitigation efforts are proceeding as required.
• Monitor and report on compliance with regulatory requirements including: TMEA Regulations, Procurement Procedures Manual, Human Resources Manual, Finance Manual, grant agreements, supplier contracts and other organisation guidelines and polices.
• Proactively identify emerging risks and report to relevant stakeholders.
• Handle corporate governance involving external risk reporting to stakeholders.
• Analyse and disseminate the compliance requirements of existing, new/revised TMEA regulations and policies.
• Ensure that Board of Directors, management and employees comply with the rules and regulations of the organisation, that set policies and procedures are being followed.
• Conduct compliance checks on compliance with policies, rules and regulations, including liaison with internal and external auditors.
• Develop, lead and motivate the Risk and Compliance team to maximise effectiveness and lead a continual drive for enhanced efficiency and client service (internal and external) in all risk and compliance processes.
• Provide guidance and direction to the Compliance Officers, including agreeing workplans, budgets and priorities for the team.
• Regular reporting to the Risk and Compliance Director on management of breaches, incidents and issues.
• Apply the highest standards of controls and risk management practices and behaviours and embed a positive risk and control culture.
• Demonstrate prudence, sound judgement and appropriate and timely escalations in management of all types of risk (including fraud risk) applicable to the role.
• Understand and comply with the relevant end-to-end processes including applicable risks and controls.
• Seek to identify, understand and escalate risk events/incidents/ issues on a timely basis focusing on fixing root-causes and taking ownership of identified mitigating actions.
• Complete all relevant mandatory trainings within the stipulated timelines.
• Contribute to the development/revision of tools and procedures to document and share knowledge, incentivise staff/teams and enforce compliance and standards.
• Participate in regular informal and formal reflection, knowledge sharing and learning events.
• Document lessons learned and best practices for knowledge sharing and learning.
• Promote and adhere to TMEA’s core values and ensure compliance with organisational policies and procedures.
• Maintain zero tolerance to bribery, fraud and corruption, and ensure the immediate reporting of any corruption or suspect behaviour that threatens TMEA’s reputation.
• Adhere to the safeguarding policies and procedures and immediately report any safeguarding concerns.
• Any other related responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager from time to time.

Qualifications

Academic and professional qualifications

• A university degree (Bachelors or Masters) in a relevant discipline such as assurance, risk management, accounting or internal/operational auditing. A professional qualification (CPA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA or other relevant qualification related to risk and assurance) is a requirement.

Work experience

• Undergraduate degree holders will have at least 10 years’ of relevant working experience while postgraduate degree holders will require at least 8 years’ of relevant working experience in risk and compliance.
• At least three years of managing a risk related function in a corporate organisation, ideally one working in trade or development in an international context.
• Experience managing risk and assurance within developing countries.

Technical skills and behavioural competencies

• Excellence in assurance technical expertise.
• Demonstrable capacity to develop and implement oversight and management control procedures.
• Sound judgment and decision making: ability to identify viable alternatives or options in planning and decision making while evaluating the organisational risk appetite.
• Results-oriented: Ability to structure and prioritise individual’s and the team’s objectives against organisational goals.
• Capacity to develop innovative solutions for the optimization of risk management policies in order to meet organisational objectives.
• Highly developed project management skills with the ability to drive performance from all areas within the organisation.
• Proven track record of excellence in decisive leadership in large scale multi-country operations.
• Highly effective team player and change agent with flexible and highly developed communication skills.
• Strategic thinker and innovative and analytical problem solver, with strong influencing skills and exceptional professional credibility.
• Proven ability to partner effectively across all levels of the organization and develop positive working relationships.
• A self-motivated individual who requires minimal supervision.
• The ability to handle competing priorities and a challenging workload.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications.