Head of Risk Management | Johannesburg | Executive / Permanent

Shape enterprise-wide risk strategy at the centre of a complex banking environment. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced banking risk professional who can combine rigorous risk oversight with sound commercial judgement and support sustainable growth.

The Head of Risk Management will establish, maintain and continuously enhance the organisation’s enterprise-wide risk management framework, while leading day-to-day risk activities across credit, capital, liquidity, IRRBB, market, operational, model, country, climate-related and emerging risks. The position reports to the Deputy General Manager, leads a team of four and plays an important role in executive and governance committee decision-making. Job Description - Head of Risk…

The role requires someone capable of looking beyond individual risk disciplines and assessing business decisions through an integrated lens encompassing capital adequacy, liquidity, concentration, regulatory requirements, portfolio quality and risk-adjusted returns. A major part of the mandate includes leading ICAAP and stress testing, strengthening Risk Appetite and portfolio management, advancing RDARR / BCBS 239 capabilities, and engaging directly with the local prudential regulator.

Our client is an established banking institution operating within a broader international financial services environment. Its local operation combines the governance and regulatory requirements of a South African banking presence with the complexity of cross-border banking, creating an environment where robust risk management must enable both regulatory resilience and responsible business growth.

What You'll Do

• Lead the enterprise risk management strategy, Risk Appetite Statement and key risk priorities.

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the Comprehensive Risk Management Committee and contribute risk perspectives to executive decision-making.

• Coordinate Credit Committee deliberations and independently assess material credit proposals.

• Participate in ALCO and assess major funding, investment and balance-sheet decisions from capital, liquidity, IRRBB and market risk perspectives.

• Oversee customer admission, credit assessment, approval, monitoring, portfolio analysis and problem asset management.

• Lead ICAAP, capital planning, capital adequacy monitoring and enterprise-wide stress testing.

• Establish and maintain frameworks covering liquidity risk, LCR, NSFR, IRRBB, NII, EVE and contingency funding.

• Oversee market risk, operational risk, outsourcing risk, business continuity and internal control risk management.

• Establish effective model risk governance covering classification, validation, monitoring and model change.

• Lead the development and implementation of RDARR / BCBS 239 and strengthen risk data governance and reporting.

• Embed climate-related financial risk and other emerging risks into enterprise risk management and ICAAP.

• Lead risk-related regulatory submissions, presentations, remediation programmes and engagement with the Prudential Authority.

• Lead and develop the risk team while coordinating major initiatives across Business, Finance, Treasury, Compliance, Operations, IT and Internal Audit.

What You Bring

• A bachelor's degree or higher in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Mathematics, Statistics, Risk Management or a related discipline.

• A postgraduate qualification would be advantageous.

• Professional qualifications such as CFA, FRM, CA, CPA, ACCA or another recognised banking, finance, accounting or risk qualification would be advantageous.

• Normally at least 10 years' relevant experience in banking risk management, credit management or a related financial services environment.

• Strong practical experience in enterprise risk management, credit risk, ICAAP, capital management or balance-sheet risk.

• Strong knowledge of Basel capital standards and RWA calculations.

• Practical understanding of LCR, NSFR, liquidity management and IRRBB, including NII, EVE and repricing risk.

• Knowledge of market, model and operational risk frameworks.

• Experience with RDARR / BCBS 239 and risk data governance.

• Understanding of climate-related and emerging financial risks.

• Previous experience leading a risk function, professional team or significant regulatory or risk programme is preferred.

• Cross-border banking experience or direct engagement with prudential regulators is highly desirable.

What Success Looks Like

• A robust enterprise-wide risk framework that supports sustainable business growth rather than simply constraining risk.

• Business strategy and portfolio decisions remain aligned with Risk Appetite, capital strength, liquidity and regulatory requirements.

• ICAAP, stress testing and forward-looking risk analysis meaningfully inform capital and business planning.

• Senior management receives clear, quantitative and commercially relevant risk insight for major decisions.

• Credit risk management evolves towards stronger portfolio, concentration and forward-looking analysis.

• Risk data, models and reporting provide reliable information for effective governance and regulatory compliance.

• Regulatory relationships are managed professionally, with submissions, reviews and remediation activities handled effectively.

• The risk function operates as an independent, credible and commercially informed partner to senior management.

Appointment will be subject to the successful candidate obtaining the required BA020 approval from the Prudential Authority.