Risk Execution Officer

Standard Bank Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 650,000 - 950,000; Full time

Job summary

Standard Bank Group in Cape Town seeks an Officer, Risk Execution to support the Risk Execution Manager by overseeing and testing key risk, compliance and regulatory controls within forex and branch cash operations.

You will apply EXCON/SARB knowledge to strengthen the control environment, engage stakeholders, and translate risk data into actionable improvements for regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Banking, Finance, Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Audit, or a related field.
• Formal training or certification in Exchange Control Regulations, SARB compliance, or Forex product knowledge will be advantageous.
• 5–7 years’ branch banking experience in forex functions, including teller, treasury, and cash operations.
• Strong knowledge of retail and commercial foreign exchange products and SARB rulings; interpret rulings practically.
• Proven expertise in managing operational risk within the forex and cash environment; control testing and remediation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and support risk execution by testing key controls in forex and cash processes.
• Conduct sample testing of critical controls and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (EXCON, SARB, KYC, FAIS, PoPI).
• Engage with branch teams and stakeholders to embed SOPs and strengthen the risk control environment.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Risk data analysis

Operational excellence

Business continuity

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Banking, Finance, Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Audit, or a related field

Job description

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.

The Officer, Risk Execution is responsible for supporting the Risk Execution Manager in overseeing, assessing, and conducting physical sample testing on key risk, compliance, and regulatory controls within the assigned Area, Region, or Province. The role is pivotal in safeguarding the Bank by rigorously testing, evaluating, and continuously strengthening the risk control environment across cash and foreign exchange (forex) operations. It requires a strong technical understanding of Exchange Control (EXCON) regulations, South African Reserve Bank (SARB) cash-handling requirements, and branch-level forex processes—including teller operations, ATMs, bulk cash, forex drafts, traveller’s cheques, and forward contracts.

• Bachelor's Degree in Banking, Finance, Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Audit, or a related field.
• Formal training or certification in Exchange Control Regulations, SARB compliance, or Forex product knowledge will be advantageous.

Experience Required:

• 5–7 years’ branch banking experience in forex functions, including teller, treasury, and cash operations, with a deep understanding of exchange rates, Exchange Control (EXCON) regulations, and their impact on transactional banking.
• Strong knowledge of retail and commercial foreign exchange products (e.g., foreign currency accounts, bank drafts, traveller’s cheques, forward exchange contracts, international remittances) and the ability to interpret exchange control rulings and SARB circulars practically.
• Proven expertise in managing operational risk within the forex and cash environment, including control testing, compliance monitoring, exception reporting, and remediation of audit and assurance findings.
• Experience driving risk execution frameworks, conducting sample testing of critical controls, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., KYC, FAIS, PoPI, data privacy) within Personal and Private Banking branch contexts.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to analyse risk data, provide actionable insights, embed standard operating procedures, and support operational excellence and business continuity.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Adopting Practical Approaches
• Articulating Information &Providing Insights
• Interpreting Data & Checking Things
• Developing Expertise
• Establishing Rapport
• Managing Tasks
• Producing Output
• Resolving Conflict

Technical Competencies:

• Coaching and Mentoring
• Compliance
• Evaluating Risk Management Effectiveness
• Fraud Detection and Management
• Promote Good Governance, Risk & Control
• Risk Awareness
• Risk Identification