Head: Lending Fraud Strategy | Absa Group Limited

Key accountabilities

• Fraud Risk Governance
• Develop, implement, and maintain the Fraud Risk Governance Framework aligned to enterprise risk management standards and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure fraud risk management policies, standards, and operating procedures are up-to-date, consistent, and effectively embedded across business banking units.
• Chair or represent the function in fraud risk and governance committees, ensuring transparent decision-making and escalation processes.
• Partner with Group Risk, Compliance, and Internal Audit to ensure alignment and assurance on fraud control effectiveness.

Strategic Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner with the Head of Payments Fraud, Head of Lending Fraud, Head of Data Insights & Analytics and Fraud Operations to ensure cohesive fraud risk management across detection, investigation, and recovery functions.
• Lead or contribute to strategic fraud reduction initiatives and digital transformation projects (AI-driven fraud detection, automation, analytics tools).
• Act as a trusted advisor to Business Banking leadership on fraud governance and risk trends.
• Promote a strong fraud risk culture, awareness, and accountability across all levels of the business.

Reporting & Insights

• Oversee fraud data aggregation, analysis, and reporting to senior management, risk committees, and regulators.
• Produce and deliver insightful management information (MI), dashboards, and trend analyses to inform strategic decisions.
• Drive data quality and integrity within fraud reporting systems.
• Translate complex risk data into clear, actionable insights for business leaders.

Risk Assessment & Oversight

• Lead the fraud risk assessment process across all business banking products and digital channels (loans, deposits, trade finance, payments, etc.).
• Monitor the fraud risk appetite, thresholds, and control performance indicators.
• Ensure early identification of emerging fraud threats and oversee the development of risk mitigation strategies.
• Support new product development with fraud risk input and control design.

Stakeholder & Regulatory Engagement

• Maintain relationships with external stakeholders (regulators, law enforcement, industry bodies).
• Influence senior leadership and cross-functional partners including Product, Tech, Operations, Information Security, Legal, and Compliance.
• Provide strategic direction on responses to major fraud incidents, losses, and control failures.
• Manage audit and regulatory interactions, ensuring timely responses and remediation of findings.
• Preferred Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Finance, Accounting, Forensics, Statistics or Business Administration advantageous
• CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) advantageous
• Preferred Experience
• 10+ years’ experience in fraud risk management, governance, risk reporting, or financial crime risk within banking or financial services.
• Strong understanding of fraud risk frameworks, governance structures, and fraud typologies within business banking.
• Exposure to fraud analytics, data-driven decisioning, control automation and knowledge of fraud prevention and detection systems.
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements and internal governance standards related to fraud risk.
• Experience in driving fraud governance, strategy, or oversight in a large financial institution.
• Experience interfacing with regulators and senior executives.

Knowledge and Skills

• Commercial Mindset (Senior) – Level 4
• Strategic Leadership – Level 4.
• Technical Expertise – Level 4
• Analytical Thinking – Level 4
• Stakeholder Influence – Level 4.
• Innovation & Change Leadership – Level 4

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

End Date: January 8, 2026