Internal Control Officer at Rand Merchant Bank

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, is a leading African corporate and investment bank and part of one of the largest financial services groups in Africa. We offer our clients innovative, value-added advisory, funding, trading, corporate banking and principal investing solutions.

We structure the most appropriate financing solutions to meet the needs of our clients, whether for project finance, on-balance sheet lending or a combination thereof. Our ability to think differently and our collaborative spirit is what sets us apart and enables us to deliver on our brand promise: Traditional values. Innovative ideas.

We are a proud African corporate and investment bank with an extensive deal footprint across more than 35 African countries. RMB has funded several infrastructure and resource finance projects, mergers and acquisitions, and infrastructure developments in many African countries over the past decade.Job Description

To support the development, implementation, and monitoring of internal control processes and systems to ensure compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.
Conduct detailed control reviews, prepare reports on findings, and collaborate with departments to remediate control weaknesses.
Play a critical role in safeguarding the organization’s assets and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of operational and financial processes.

Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the Internal Control Manager:

Conduct regular reviews of financial transactions and operational processes to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Perform independent spot checks across various units to identify control weaknesses and recommend corrective actions.
Monitor adherence to approved limits of authority and access levels, ensuring a robust compliance environment that prevents operational losses and regulatory infractions.
Track sensitive processes across key units to ensure alignment with regulatory directives and internal standards.
Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to conduct detailed reviews of internal controls across departments, identifying gaps and ensuring compliance with organizational policies.
Identify inherent risks in business processes, assess the effectiveness of mitigating controls, and document findings in line with professional standards.
Monitor compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies, providing timely feedback to relevant stakeholders.
Maintain a comprehensive log of control deficiencies, ensuring timely updates, follow-up, and closure.
Support line management and other stakeholders with assigned duties related to internal control and compliance.
Facilitate internal control awareness training for staff, promoting a culture of accountability and compliance.
Utilize data analytics tools to detect patterns, anomalies, and potential control breaches.
Verify the accuracy and completeness of key reports, reconciliations, and documentation used in decision-making.
Assist in the review of third-party service providers to ensure alignment with the bank’s control standards.
Stay updated on industry best practices, regulatory changes, and internal control methodologies to enhance review effectiveness.
Maintain awareness of emerging risk issues and changes in risk status across business units.
Share knowledge and insights with colleagues to foster continuous improvement and learning.
Perform any other duties as assigned by line management or relevant stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
Minimum of 3 – 5 years experience in internal control, audit, or risk management within the banking sector.
Professional certifications (ICAN, ACCA, CIA, CISA) are an added advantage.
An appreciation of regulatory and legal requirements across different products and business lines.  

General Competencies: 

Proficiency in MS Office tools
Strong analytical skills & logical thinking  
Good interpersonal and time management skills  
Keen attention to detail  
Good communication (written and verbal) skills   
Achievement-driven and takes accountability for work assigned  
Creative and innovative thinking  
Customer-focused  
Ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision  
Takes initiative, proactive mindset  
Ability to motivate others  
Business and commercial awareness.