Senior Manager Non-Financial Risk, Technology, Artificial Intelligence & Change Risk Management, CIB

This opportunity within Liberty's Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) division calls for a seasoned professional to lead the charge in managing non-financial risks, particularly those associated with technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and significant change initiatives. The core mandate of this role is to provide an independent, robust, and partnership-driven approach to risk oversight. This means actively challenging and collaborating with business units to ensure that risks emerging from technology platforms, AI deployments, data management, and strategic change programmes are comprehensively understood, effectively managed, and consistently mitigated.

The successful candidate will be instrumental in embedding and strengthening the non-financial risk framework across the CIB. This involves fostering a proactive risk culture, ensuring that control environments are consistently robust, and guaranteeing adherence to the organisation's risk appetite, internal policies, and relevant regulatory obligations. The role demands a strategic mindset, capable of anticipating future risks and developing proactive strategies to address them, all while ensuring the business can innovate and grow responsibly.

Your responsibilities will span the entire risk management lifecycle for technology, AI, and change-related risks. Key duties include:

• **Independent Oversight and Challenge:** Providing a critical, independent perspective on the risks inherent in technology, AI, and change initiatives undertaken within CIB. This involves robust challenge to business proposals, strategies, and implementations.
• **Risk Identification and Assessment:** Leading the proactive identification and thorough assessment of potential risks and vulnerabilities, especially concerning technology platforms, AI solutions, cybersecurity, data privacy, and digital transformation projects.
• **Monitoring and Mitigation:** Developing and implementing effective monitoring mechanisms to track risk exposure and control effectiveness. This includes defining and overseeing the execution of mitigation strategies to bring risks within acceptable limits.
• **Framework Implementation:** Driving the consistent application and continuous improvement of the non-financial risk management framework, ensuring it remains relevant and effective in the evolving risk landscape.
• **Control Environment Strengthening:** Working collaboratively with business and technology teams to enhance internal controls, ensuring they are fit for purpose and adequately address identified risks.
• **Risk Culture Promotion:** Championing a strong, pervasive risk-aware culture throughout the CIB, encouraging open communication and accountability regarding risk management.
• **Compliance Assurance:** Ensuring that all technology, AI, and change-related activities comply with Liberty's risk appetite statements, policies, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

What They're Looking For

To excel in this role, you will need a significant depth of experience and a proven track record in risk management, particularly within the financial services sector. The ideal candidate will possess:

• **Educational Foundation:** A relevant tertiary qualification, ideally in Business, Commerce, Finance, Accounting, Technology, or Risk Management. A specialised focus on Technology Risk Management would be highly advantageous.
• **Extensive Experience:** A minimum of 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in technology risk, AI governance, change management risk, information security, or operational risk, with a strong preference for a background in financial services.
• **Technical Expertise:** Deep knowledge of technology risk principles, AI governance frameworks, change risk management methodologies, cybersecurity best practices, data privacy regulations, and the construction and evaluation of control frameworks.
• **Risk Oversight Acumen:** Demonstrated experience in providing independent risk oversight and constructive challenge for technology platforms, AI applications, digital transformation programmes, and broad business change initiatives. A solid understanding of risk appetite, corporate governance, control effectiveness, and regulatory expectations is crucial.
• **Key Competencies:** A strong aptitude for articulating complex information clearly, challenging ideas constructively, persuading stakeholders, developing strategic approaches, directing teams, embracing and driving change, exploring new possibilities, generating innovative solutions, making sound decisions, providing insightful analysis, resolving conflicts effectively, and upholding high standards of professional conduct.

This is a senior position within Liberty, a leading financial services group committed to growth in Africa. Roles of this nature typically involve significant responsibility and offer opportunities for professional development and advancement. In South Africa, senior risk management professionals in financial services often command competitive remuneration packages, reflecting the critical nature of their work. Employers commonly include major banking groups, insurance companies, and other large financial institutions. Career progression might involve moving into broader risk leadership roles or specialised areas of risk management.

Type of Qualification: Degree

Field of Study: Business Commerce / Finance and Accounting / Technology /  Risk Management and/or Technology Risk Management

Experience Required

8-10 years’ experience in Technology, AI, Change, Information or Operational Risk within financial services. Strong knowledge of technology risk, AI governance, change risk, cyber security, data privacy, and control frameworks. Experienced in providing independent risk oversight and challenge of technology platforms, AI solutions, digital initiatives, and business transformation programmes, with a sound understanding of risk appetite, governance, controls, and regulatory requirements.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Articulating Information
• Challenging Ideas
• Convincing People
• Developing Strategies
• Directing People
• Embracing Change
• Exploring Possibilities
• Generating Ideas
• Making Decisions
• Providing Insights
• Resolving Conflict
• Upholding Standards

Technical Competencies:

• Analysing Insurable Risk
• Economic Capital Management
• Evaluating Risk Management Effectiveness
• Risk Identification
• Risk Measurement
• Risk Reporting
• Risk Response Strategy
• Risk/ Reward Thinking