Group Executive: Head of Governance at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

End Date: May 7, 2026

Key Accountabilities

Enterprise Governance Strategy & Frameworks


Lead the design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of the Group's enterprise‑wide governance frameworks, ensuring alignment to King IV, applicable regulatory requirements, and international best practice.
Translate governance strategy into practical policies, standards, delegations, and operating models that are scalable across diverse African jurisdictions.
Ensure governance frameworks remain proportionate, pragmatic, and aligned to the Group's risk appetite and strategic objectives.


Board and Committee Governance


Provide governance oversight of Group Boards, Board committees, and key subsidiary governance forums to ensure effective decision‑making, role clarity, and accountability.
Strengthen Board and committee processes, charters, calendars, mandates, and information flows to support effective oversight and regulatory confidence.
Partner closely with Group Company Secretariat and Legal to ensure seamless coordination of governance activities.


Regulatory Alignment & Stakeholder Confidence


Act as a key governance interface with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring governance practices meet regulatory, supervisory, and stakeholder expectations.
Enable consistent interpretation and application of governance‑related regulatory requirements across jurisdictions.
Anticipate emerging governance and regulatory trends and proactively embed them into Group frameworks.


Governance Integration Across the Group


Act as the integrator across governance‑related disciplines (Legal, Compliance, Risk, Secretariat, Ethics, Conduct, and ESG) to ensure alignment and avoid fragmentation.
Drive consistency while allowing for local regulatory, cultural, and operational nuances across African markets.
Enable governance uplift in subsidiaries through guidance, support, and shared standards.


Culture, Ethics, and Governance Maturity


Promote a culture of ethical leadership, accountability, and responsible decision‑making in line with the Group's values.
Embed governance principles into leadership practice, conduct frameworks, and organisational capability.
Support the maturity of governance practices beyond compliance toward performance‑enabling governance.


Oversight, Assurance, and Continuous Improvement


Monitor governance effectiveness through defined metrics, reviews, and assurance mechanisms.
Identify governance gaps, risks, and inefficiencies and implement targeted improvements.
Ensure governance processes are efficient, sustainable, and continuously improved in response to business and regulatory change.


Minimum Requirements

Qualifications


Postgraduate qualification in Law, Governance, Risk Management, Finance, or a related field
Professional certification in governance (e.g. Chartered Governance Professional) advantageous


Experience


Minimum 12 - 15 years' experience in governance, legal, regulatory, or risk environments within financial services
Proven experience operating at executive or senior leadership level in a complex, multi‑jurisdictional organisation
Demonstrated exposure to Board and executive governance within a regulated banking environment
Experience across African markets preferred