Senior Forensic Manager: Investigations

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (SA) Ltd (PFA); Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (SA) Ltd (PFA) in South Africa seeks a Senior Forensic Manager for Investigations to lead, transform and enhance the Group's investigations capability. You will provide strategic, operational and technical leadership over complex cases involving fraud, financial crime, misconduct and regulatory breaches.

The role drives proactive, intelligence-led investigations, leveraging data analytics and technology to mitigate risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee significant forensic investigations across the Group.
• Establish and maintain world-class investigation methodologies, frameworks and standards.
• Ensure investigative processes remain independent, objective, legally defensible and aligned to regulatory expectations.
• Direct investigation of high-profile, complex and sensitive matters.
• Allocate investigative resources in line with enterprise risk priorities.
• Ensure timely delivery of investigations within agreed service standards.
• Build and lead a high-performing investigations team with deep technical expertise and future-ready capabilities.
• Provide expert investigative guidance for litigation and regulatory matters.

Job description

Let's Write Africa's Story Together!

Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description

Role Overview:

The Senior Forensic Manager for Investigations is responsible for leading, transforming, and continuously enhancing the Group's investigations capability across Old Mutual.

The role provides strategic, operational and technical leadership over complex forensic investigations involving fraud, corruption, financial crime, misconduct, regulatory breaches, procurement irregularities, cyber-enabled financial crime and other matters that may expose the Group to financial, legal, regulatory, operational and reputational risk.

Beyond the delivery of investigative outcomes, the role is accountable for transforming the investigations function into a modern, intelligence-led, data-enabled and technology-driven capability that proactively identifies, investigates and mitigates financial crime risks.

Purpose of the Role:

While maintaining the highest standards of investigative excellence, the role is responsible for transforming the investigations function from a predominantly reactive, case-driven environment into a proactive financial crime investigations capability that intelligence-led, insight-driven, and technology-enabled.

The incumbent will leverage advanced investigative methodologies, data analytics, digital investigation techniques, fraud intelligence, forensic technology and emerging market practices to improve investigative effectiveness, generate actionable business insights and drive meaningful risk reduction across the Group.

As a member of the GFS leadership team, the role contributes to the strategic direction of Group Forensic Services and supports the development of a world‑class forensic function aligned to Old Mutual's risk, governance, integrity and customer trust objectives.

Strategic Objectives of the Role:

• Drive the evolution of investigations from a reactive case-management function to a proactive intelligence-led investigative capability.
• Improve the identification of emerging fraud and financial crime risks through the use of analytics, intelligence and technology.
• Enhance the speed, quality and consistency of investigative outcomes.
• Strengthen organisational resilience against financial crime.
• Generate actionable insights that influence business decisions and risk management strategies.
• Build and lead a high-performing investigations team with deep technical expertise and future-ready capabilities.
• Promote innovation, continuous improvement and operational excellence across the investigations practice.

Key Result Areas / Outputs

1. Investigations Leadership and Operational Excellence

Provide leadership and strategic direction to the investigations function.

Accountabilities

• Lead and oversee all significant forensic investigations across the Group.
• Establish and maintain world‑class investigation methodologies, frameworks and standards.
• Ensure investigative processes remain independent, objective, legally defensible and aligned to regulatory expectations.
• Direct the investigation of high-profile, complex and sensitive matters.
• Act as escalation point for significant investigation decisions and outcomes.
• Allocate investigative resources in line with enterprise risk priorities.
• Ensure timely delivery of investigations within agreed service standards.
• Monitor investigative performance through appropriate metrics and reporting.
• Drive investigative consistency across geographically dispersed teams.

2. Financial Crime Investigations

Provide specialist oversight and leadership over complex investigations involving:

Areas of Investigation

• Internal fraud
• External fraud
• Corruption and bribery
• Procurement fraud
• Financial crime
• Employee misconduct
• Regulatory breaches
• Conflicts of interest
• Whistleblower disclosures
• Third‑party misconduct
• Cyber-enabled fraud
• Digital misconduct
• Organised financial crime
• Insider threats
• Reputational risk incidents

Accountabilities

• Direct complex investigations from allegation assessment through to final reporting.
• Ensure proper collection, preservation and management of evidence.
• Oversee investigation strategies and execution plans.
• Support disciplinary, civil, criminal and regulatory action where appropriate.
• Engage external specialists when required.
• Provide expert investigative guidance for litigation and regulatory matters.
• Testify, where necessary, at disciplinary hearings, regulatory proceedings and legal forums.

3. Financial Crime Intelligence and Investigative Analytics

Build and mature an intelligence-led investigations capability.

Accountabilities

• Integrate fraud intelligence and investigative analytics into investigative processes.
• Use data-driven insights to identify patterns, linkages and emerging threats.
• Develop strategic intelligence products that support investigations and decision-making.
• Collaborate with proactive forensic teams to identify and