Risk Manager

What will you do?

The individual will be responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing the risks associated with Alternative Investments within the portfolios and funds managed by SAI. The successful candidate will work closely with the investments, compliance, and operations teams to develop and implement strategies that mitigate and / or appropriately manage financial and other relevant risks, while safeguarding the investors’ financial interests.

What will make you successful in this role?

•Risk Identification and assessment
 o Develop and maintain risk methodologies, approaches, models, and process for alternative investment across the following asset classes: private equity, private debt, property, and infrastructure.
 o Conduct in-depth analysis of the risks associated with different Alternative Investment strategies, portfolio structures, investments and other asset classes.
 o Perform scenario analysis and stress testing to identify potential vulnerabilities.

•Risk mitigation and strategy development
 o Develop and implement risk mitigation and management strategies tailored to each Alternative Investment product and / or underlying investments.
 o Work with the investment teams to assess risk-adjusted returns and suggest ways to balance and optimise risk and reward in the portfolios and / or funds.
 o Ensure that risk management practices align with the SAI’s and / or managed funds’ overall investment goals and risk appetite of its clients and / or target market.

•Monitoring and reporting
 o Monitor the risk exposures of alternative investments on an ongoing basis.
 o Regularly report on the performance, risk, and compliance status of Alternative Investments to senior management and stakeholders.
 o Provide recommendations for portfolio adjustments and optimisation based on the analysis of emerging risks.

•Compliance and regulatory adherence
 o Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards, including those specific to Alternative Investments.
 o Collaborate with the compliance team to ensure risk management practices meet both internal and regulatory requirements.
 o Keep abreast on changes to financial regulations affecting Alternative Investments and adjust risk management strategies accordingly.

•Cross-functional collaboration
 o Work closely with the portfolio managers and credit analysts to assess the risk-return profile of Alternative Investment positions and portfolios.
 o Support decision-making by providing actionable insights and risk analysis to senior leadership and investment committees.
 o Assist with due diligence processes when evaluating new Alternative Investment opportunities.

Qualification and Experience  
• Advanced qualification such as CA(SA) or CFA is required. 
• A minimum of post graduate degree in finance or a related field.
• At least five to seven years of experience in risk management, particularly within the alternative investments space (specifically private equity, private debt, property, and infrastructure).
• Experience in developing risk related models and tools specific to Alternative Investments (including credit rating models).
• In-depth knowledge of investment risk, market dynamics, and regulatory frameworks governing alternative assets.
• Experience from an Investment Management company or a company with a substantial Alternative Investments portfolio will be advantageous.
• Knowledge of emerging trends and risks in Alternative Investments, such as ESG and private debt will be advantageous.

Technical Competencies and Soft Skills 
• Strong proficiency in financial modelling, valuations and analysis
• Experience with data analytics and quantitative analysis
• Proficient in MS Office suite, particularly Excel, with advanced functions and macros
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex risk concepts to non-expert stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing multiple projects and deadlines effectively
• High attention to detail and accuracy

Personal Attributes

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth. Through its business clusters – Sanlam Personal Finance, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Sanlam Investments, Sanlam Corporate, Santam, Miway, as well as the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Core Competencies

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers. 

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