Senior Financial Crime Specialist

Bidvest Bank Limited; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bank in South Africa is seeking a Fraud Management Analyst to enhance investigation capabilities and support financial crime prevention initiatives. The role requires a strong understanding of fraud types, proactive problem-solving, and collaboration across departments to maintain security and compliance. Candidates should possess relevant qualifications and experience in managing fraud-related investigations effectively.

Qualifications

• Diploma or equivalent required in relevant fields.
• 3-5 years experience in fraud investigation preferred.
• Certification as a Fraud Examiner is a key requirement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct incident management and analysis to mitigate risks.
• Collaborate with teams to lead financial crime prevention initiatives.
• Oversee investigations into suspicious activities and financial crimes.

Skills

Fraud prevention frameworks

Analytical skills

Confidentiality

Communication skills

Risk management

Education

Diploma in Forensic Investigation

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

Job description

Primary Purpose

Conduct incident management, incident analysis, gap identification, and enhance information to support investigations, Fraud Risk assessments, prosecutions, and intelligence-driven operations. These efforts will assist clients and stakeholders in preventing, detecting crime, and mitigating business risks.

Technical Competency Requirements

• Strong understanding of fraud types (payment fraud, identity theft, account takeover, etc.) and industry-specific risks.
• Knowledge of fraud prevention frameworks, tools, and regulatory obligations.
• Ability to translate technical findings into clear business insights.
• Ability to anticipate fraud trends and proactively develop mitigation strategies.
• Ability to work effectively across departments (fraud ops, IT, compliance, product, etc.).
• Maintains high standards of confidentiality, data privacy, and compliance.
• Delivers results within deadlines while maintaining quality.

Minimum Education and Training

• Diploma or equivalent (Forensic Investigation, Law, Crime Analysis, Criminology).
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Minimum Work Experience

• 3-5 years’ experience within Fraud Department handling different aspects of fraud and investigations.

Key Performance Areas (KPA)

Financial Management

• Prevent and reduce financial losses by ensuring adherence to processes and procedures.

Customer Centricity

• Communicate investigation outcomes and emerging risks to management and relevant recipients.
• Liaise with customers regarding financial crime-related concerns, inquiries, or investigations, ensuring professionalism and confidentiality.
• Partner with technology, risk, and operations teams to lead or contribute to financial crime prevention initiatives and system enhancements.
• Maintain and enhance relationships with clients, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations involved in addressing crimes of mutual interest.
• Advise frontline teams, compliance, AML, legal, and operational stakeholders on financial crime matters.
• Assist with FCU queries.
• Provide and track recommendations to reduce client risks identified during reviews.
• Review, evaluate, and recommend customer escalations.
• Collaborate with the business to define data requirements to address gaps in mitigating financial crime risks.

Operational Excellence

• Conduct and oversee investigations into suspected money laundering, fraud, terrorist financing, sanctions breaches, and other financial crimes.
• Ensure timely escalation and documentation in line with regulatory requirements.
• Identify weaknesses in controls and propose improvements to policies, procedures, and monitoring systems.
• Evaluate complex customer profiles, transactional behaviors, and adverse media to assess risks and recommend remediation or exit strategies.
• Utilize analytical tools and data sources to detect patterns, support investigations, and generate intelligence.
• Compile reports, affidavits, and testify in court.
• Mitigate risks through proactive incident analysis and management.
• Perform database testing, data mining, and data interpretation.
• Respond to legal proceedings, including testifying in internal disciplinary hearings and tribunals.
• Research latest fraud syndicates and develop a database with heatmaps for preventative measures.
• Investigate and register cases under relevant legislation.
• Ensure all matters are recorded on the FCU platform/system.
• Adopt Fraud Risk Assessments.
• Contribute to management and court reports.
• Report fraud trends to SABRIC.
• Draft and present executive summaries and findings.
• Handle ad-hoc assignments and ensure SLA adherence.
• Support AML initiatives through information collection and profiling.
• Manage workgroups, projects, investigations, and conduct presentations.

Learning and Growth

• Support junior team members through training, guidance, and quality assurance.
• Take ownership of personal and team development.
• Achieve objectives set in development plans.
• Broaden skills for greater marketability within the bank.

This position is advertised in line with our commitment to Employment Equity.