Senior Manager, Front Office Operations & Control, Global Markets

Standard Bank Group is a leading Africa-focused financial services group, and an innovative player on the global stage, that offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities – plus the chance to work alongside some of the sector’s most talented, motivated professionals. Our clients range from individuals, to businesses of all sizes, high net worth families and large multinational corporates and institutions. We’re passionate about creating growth in Africa. Bringing true, meaningful value to our clients and the communities we serve and creating a real sense of purpose for you.

Job Description

To develop, enhance and drive the implementation of the Global Markets (GM) first line of defence (1LOD) control framework and to establish and maintain a supervisory framework within Global Markets, acting as a key point of contact for GM business and enablement partners in upholding the governance, efficacy, and efficiency of the GM control environment.

Essential Function:

Define and drive the implementation of the Operations and Control Framework (OCF)

• Proactively design and develop a robust and effective 1LOD Front Office Operations and Controls Framework (OCF) and roadmap to address and mitigate operational, regulatory and conduct risks across the end-to-end business value chain. 
• Build and manage internal relationship with partners across GM Front Office, Operations (particularly Trade Support), and control functions (Compliance, Legal, and Operational Risk, Market Abuse Surveillance) to drive the effective embedding and execution of the OCF and associated policies, procedures, and processes.
• Measure, monitor, assess and generate comprehensive reporting detailing governance compliance, breaches and impact to the business. Independently assess, oversee, and challenge the effectiveness of the 1LOD controls where required.
• Lead O&C digitalisation projects, representing GM interests and requirements in relevant forums. Introduce the innovative use of enhanced data analytics and technology solutions to empower O&C across supervision, management and controls testing and the generation of insight from surveillance data for day to day use in driving better decisions and mitigate risk.

Provide expertise and guidance

• Act as a trusted advisor to the GM business, providing expert advice on changes in GM control requirements, how to achieve greater responsiveness to the rapidly evolving market, operational and conduct risk environment, and ways to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the business environment. Proactively identify and research local and international best practices to identify, recommend and implement opportunities for enhancements across GM
• Assess and identify new GM control requirements based on Clients, regulatory requirements, audit results and compliance reviews, and high residual risk areas identified in the annual RCSA. Determine specific system, data and telecommunication control requirements and co-ordinate projects to implement. 

Drive a risk aware culture

• Embed and drive a risk culture of transparency, accountability, and consistency across all levels of leadership and operational staff, by providing training and development initiatives, disseminating information, regular updates and targeted communication plans to create risk awareness in support of responsible decision making and risk remediation.
• Dealing Room Control and Surveillance Work with compliance and market abuse surveillance who provide surveillance services across GM to identify rogue, abusive or erroneous trading, conduct breaches, incidents, and issues. Where required, procure and coordinate the delivery of specific services from Internal Audit, Operational Risk, Market Abuse Surveillance, Legal and Compliance corporate functions to GM Heads and act as the business representative to those functions at centre. 

• Report all infringements to the relevant Front Office supervisors to enable them to remedy and / or escalate to respective business leads and control functions and ensure ongoing adherence to control requirements.  Follow up on the investigation of issues raised in the reports and where required, conduct High Level investigations of Fraud or Dealer disciplinary issues.

Coordinate audits, RCSA and remediation efforts

• Lead the preparation and readiness of all GM internal and external audits, working with partners to conduct critical process reviews and close out audit findings. Coordinate the Front Office RCSA (Risk Control Self Assessments) process, ensuring correct prioritization, participation, frequency and challenge of outputs.  
• Review audit reports and risk indicators to trends / areas of potential heightened risk. Work closely with partners to facilitate proactive preventative measures to mitigate against heightened risk, prioritize remediation of control weaknesses and create remediation plans.

New product approval and implementation

• Provide expert strategic advice and guidance to ensure all front office control requirements are met before go-live of new products. Ensure that post Trade reviews are performed, and product implemented are approved. Manage dormancy and re-approval of new products as per the CIB NPC Policy.

People management

• Lead direct reports in the effective achievement of the Operations and Controls functional objectives by setting goals, managing performance, coaching, and mentoring, leading talent development initiatives, and implementing the people capability framework / ways of working.

Type of Qualification: First Degree

Field of Study:

• Business Commerce/Chartered Accountant (CA) preferred
• Association affiliation relevant to Global Markets products and processes is preferred

Experience required

Years: 8-10 years

Experience in Global Markets Operations or Operational Risk with a proven track record in designing, assessing, and implementing Front Office risks and infrastructure controls (Conduct and Regulatory controls, Supervision, Trading Risk, Finance, Market, Operational risk, and Compliance controls) and delivering controls related change across a global business with regional and/or product nuances

Years: 5-7 years

Strong knowledge of the GM sales and trading business, value chain, trading process, related control principles, industry standards regulatory requirements, and systems to monitor and manage risks. 

Behavioural Competencies:

• Articulating Information
• Convincing People
• Developing Expertise
• Developing Strategies
• Directing People
• Embracing Change
• Exploring Possibilities
• Interacting with People
• Making Decisions
• Resolving Conflict
• Seizing Opportunities
• Understanding People

Technical Competencies:

• Continuous Improvement
• Deal Appraisal
• Local Market Knowledge
• Risk Awareness
• Risk Identification