Compliance Specialist

Rory Mackie & Associates; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

An independent global asset manager is seeking an experienced Compliance Specialist in Cape Town. You will provide regulatory compliance advisory, develop compliance monitoring plans, and engage with stakeholders. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree, 8-10 years in financial services compliance, and advanced analytical skills. Join a diverse team focused on regulatory alignment and best practices.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years’ experience in financial services compliance with a strong focus on asset management.
• Demonstrable experience advising on and implementing compliance frameworks.
• Advanced analytical, reporting and legislative interpretation skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise on regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain Compliance Risk Management Plans.
• Prepare high-quality reports for governance forums.

Skills

Regulatory Compliance Advisory

Compliance Monitoring

Stakeholder Engagement

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in law, Business, or a related field

Regulatory Certifications: RE1, RE3 and RE4

CPrac (SA) designation or equivalent preferred

Job description

Overview

Our client, an independent global asset manager is seeking a Compliance Specialist to join their team. The Compliance team provides advice and support to senior management and the business to help ensure that the activities of the company are at all times conducted within the spirit of all applicable rules and regulations. The Compliance team also conducts ongoing monitoring of business activities to identify, at an early stage, any deviations from procedures or any issues that may breach the letter or spirit of applicable rules and regulations. The global team consists of 37 persons based in London, Cape Town, Guernsey, Luxembourg, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. The team is diverse and management encourages cross regional participation and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Regulatory Compliance Advisory (FAIS, CISCA and Related Frameworks)
  • Provide subject matter expertise on regulatory requirements arising from the FAIS Act, CISCA, FICA, Regulation 28 and applicable Board Notices and subordinate legislation
  • Assess and interpret proposed or amended regulation, participate in industry working groups, and provide detailed feedback on business impacts
  • Support new product and business change initiatives by evaluating compliance requirements across FSP categories I, II and III and CIS Management Companies
  • Provide guidance on internal controls, policies and procedures that reflect regulatory expectations and practical implementation
• Compliance Monitoring, Risk Management and Automation
  • Provide subject matter expertise and oversight support to the Compliance Monitoring Team and relevant SMEs in the development and maintenance of Compliance Risk Management Plans (CRMPs) and Compliance Monitoring Plans (CMPs)
  • Ensure the adequacy, accuracy and regulatory alignment of CRMPs and CMPs through expert input and cross-review, particularly in areas relating to FAIS, CISCA and investment compliance risks
  • Collaborate with the Monitoring Team to analyse and interpret breach trends and risk themes emerging from monitoring activities, providing regulatory context and escalation where required
  • Champion opportunities for improved compliance monitoring through automation, system enhancements and process refinement
• Internal Reporting, Governance and Integration Projects
  • Prepare high-quality reports for governance forums including Boards
  • Monitor developments impacting licensed entities and ensure reporting frameworks meet all regulatory reporting obligations
  • Support regulatory inspections and internal/external audit engagements
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Engage effectively with Legal, Investment, Product, Risk and Operations Teams, offering practical guidance on complex regulatory queries
  • Maintain relationships with external stakeholders including Industry Bodies and Regulators
  • Represent Compliance in internal working groups and external industry forums, ensuring alignment with regulatory direction and industry best practice

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in law, Business, or a related field
• Regulatory Certifications: RE1, RE3 and RE4
• CPrac (SA) designation or equivalent preferred
• 8-10 years’ experience in financial services compliance with a strong focus on asset management
• Demonstrable experience advising on and implementing compliance frameworks under FAIS, CISCA, FICA and related laws
• Proven background in implementing monitoring frameworks and supporting regulatory engagement
• Advanced analytical, reporting and legislative interpretation skills
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities, including report drafting for executive audiences
• Familiarity with compliance system implementation and data driven compliance reporting
• Ability to build strong cross-functional relationships and support business delivery through sound compliance advice

Skills and Attributes

• The ability to ‘approach and own’ and continuously look for opportunities to develop
• Driven by results
• Intellectual curiosity
• High conviction and be comfortable sharing opinions
• Ability to analyse, interpret and assimilate information