GM Compliance, Ethics & Investigations

Job Description

Role Title:

General Manager: Group Compliance Ethics and Investigations

Client Summary:

Our client is a significant player operating across the African Region deeply embedded in a sector where robust regulatory adherence and unwavering ethical standards are paramount to sustained success. They are undergoing a period of strategic focus requiring a senior leader to champion and embed best-in-class compliance ethics and internal investigations frameworks across their complex operations. This is a high-visibility role reporting directly into the executive leadership team.

Job Description:

This is a career-defining opportunity for a highly credible and operationally sharp compliance leader ready to step into a critical autonomous role. You will be the principal subject matter expert responsible for building maintaining and driving the entire Ethics Regulatory Compliance and Investigations mandate across the Group including international subsidiaries.

This role demands a leader who can operate independently - a true subject matter expert who can hit the ground running without requiring extensive technical guidance. You will not merely advise; you will execute monitor and provide assurance ensuring that practical compliance management is embedded at every level. If you thrive on owning the end-to-end process - from risk identification and framework development to hands-on forensic oversight - and possess the gravitas to engage confidently with the Executive Committee and external regulators this position offers unparalleled impact and visibility.

Responsibilities:

* Strategic Compliance Ownership: Develop implement and maintain the comprehensive Group Compliance Management Program including the full regulatory universe mapping and assurance framework across all operational jurisdictions.

* Financial Intelligence Leadership: Serve as the designated Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance Officer ensuring full registration and adherence to all Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) mandates including developing and overseeing the Groups Risk Management Compliance Programme (RMCP).

* End-to-End Investigations Management: Own the entire whistleblowing and investigations function ensuring processes are best-practice compliant. This includes managing internal capacity quality assuring external investigations and owning case management systems from tip-off to final recommendation implementation.

* Ethics Culture Champion: Drive the organizational ethics agenda developing policies monitoring ethical risk exposure (including anti-bribery and conflict of interest) and championing initiatives that foster a strong adopted ethical culture across the business.

* Data Protection Oversight: Collaborate with IT to implement monitor and maintain internal data protection policies in line with relevant privacy legislation managing registration with the Information Regulator and handling subject access requests.

* Executive Reporting & Assurance: Prepare and present high-quality data-driven reports on compliance ethics and investigation outcomes to the Executive Committee and Board oversight structures.

* Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain influential relationships with key regulatory bodies and industry forums acting as the primary point of contact for regulatory inquiries.

Requirements:

Must-Haves (Essential)

• NQF Level 7 Legal Qualification (e.g. LLB or BCom Law) or equivalent
• 5 - 10 years senior-level experience across Compliance and Ethics in a complex operational environment
• Proven hands-on experience leading internal investigations (not just managing outsourced providers)
• Strong expertise in FICA / AML frameworks including experience acting as a designated Compliance Officer
• Ability to operate independently provide clear leadership and engage credibly at C-suite level
• Cross-border experience particularly across African markets is advantageous

Nice-to-Haves (Beneficial)

• Certification or membership with the Compliance Institute of Southern Africa or IRMSA
• Ethics Officer (EISA) or Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) qualification
• Experience implementing data privacy legislation such as POPIA
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) qualification