Head of Control Rigor

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Bishopsgate, Runnymede, Surrey, England
In-Office
Financial Services
The Role
Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

My Career Development Portal: Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you. Design your future. Discover leading-edge guidance, tools and support to unlock your potential. You are Absa. You are possibility.

Job Summary

To drive consistency, depth, and quality in control design, execution, and testing across Absa Bank Kenya. The role ensures that controls are robust, standardized, and audit-ready, reducing operational risk and strengthening the bank’s control environment. The role holder leads Control Assurance engagements, supports combined assurance efforts, and partners with business units to embed a strong control culture.
The role holder will be responsible for the following:
1. Control Assurance Reviews
• Deliver a comprehensive Control Assurance review program aligned to business needs and FLOD methodology.
• Conduct planned and ad-hoc reviews across all business functions with professionalism and rigor.
• Produce high-quality documentation and review reports, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with FLOD standards.
• Assess compliance with internal policies and external regulations, escalating issues as needed.
• Track, monitor, and ensure closure of findings from CT engagements.
• Maintain accurate databases and ensure proper archiving of review materials.
2. Combined Assurance & Audit Support
• Track and validate remediation of Internal Audit (AIA), regulatory, and external audit observations.
• Provide assurance on control issue closure and support partner functions during audits.
• Contribute to the combined assurance approach by ensuring alignment across assurance providers.
3. Other Control Assurance Engagements
• Ensure all Significant Control and Material Issues are effectively managed across the business.
• Identify root causes and embed lessons learned.
• Provide independent evaluations of business risk profiles to senior management, local board, and regulators.
• Support business control forums and enhance control awareness across the organization.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Control Assurance Testing- 60%

  • Analyse evidence and information to identify risks and controls, conduct effective testing, and draw objective conclusions.
  • Identify root causes and agree SMART actions with management that are sustainable and address the root issue.
  • Produce high-quality documentation aligned with FLOD methodology, including soft working papers.
  • Deliver error-free review reports for senior review.
  • Communicate FLOD methodology and keep leadership informed of engagement progress.
  • Complete reviews as per the assurance plan and issue reports within agreed timelines.
  • Identify thematic control issues and recommend solutions.
  • Undertake ad-hoc engagements, due diligence, and demand initiatives.

Business Support & Partnerships - 20%

  • Support business units in identifying and resolving control issues and emerging risks.
  • Facilitate understanding of processes and procedures to strengthen control ownership.
  • Conduct awareness sessions and share insights to enhance control maturity.
  • Assist in root cause analysis and development of actionable recommendations

Combined Assurance & Audit Support - 10%

  • Track and validate remediation of Internal Audit (AIA), regulatory, and external audit observations.
  • Provide assurance on control issue closure and support partner functions during audits.
  • Contribute to the combined assurance approach by ensuring alignment across assurance providers.

Team Participation & Self-Development - 10%

  • Actively contributes to team initiatives and knowledge sharing.
  • Coach and train team members in areas of expertise.
  • Continuously develop personal capability and stay updated on control and assurance practices.

People & Capability Development

  • Build and lead a team of Control Rigor Managers.
  • Champion a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
  • Drive training and capability-building initiatives across the business.

Education and experience required

  • B-degree in Auditing / Accounting (NQF level no.)
  • Formal qualification or studying for ACIB, CPA, CIA, CISA, CCSA and or business or risk related degree / qualification.

Preferred experience

  • 8-10 years (Technical/Managerial) experience i.e., Auditing/Rigor/Assurance/Risk management experience and / or working at a management level in the financial services sector with a proven track record / Audit experience within a banking environment
  • Report writing and presentation experience.
  • Exposure to consultation and facilitation.
  • MA software tools and techniques
  • Stakeholder management and negotiation experience

Knowledge and skills

  • Auditing/Assurance/Risk/Rigor and investigative skills under a risk-based methodology
  • Understanding of key risks faced by banks and core control environment
  • Knowledge of the Bank’s governance requirements
  • Computer literate (Strong MS office skills – excel, word and PowerPoint)
  • Controls Testing & Monitoring
  • Stakeholder management and negotiation experience

***Application Deadline – 5 January 2026***

Absa Bank Kenya is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity

Education

Bachelors Degree and Professional Qualifications: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

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The Company
HQ: Johannesburg
39,055 Employees
Year Founded: 2018

What We Do

Absa Group Limited (Absa) has forged a new way of getting things done, driven by bravery and passion, with the readiness to realise growth on the African continent and beyond.

We’re a truly African brand, inspired by the people we serve in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. We also have representative offices in China, Namibia, Nigeria and the United States, as well as securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, along with technology support colleagues in the Czech Republic.

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