Head of Group Forensic Services (Senior Executive)

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

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Group Forensic Services is a senior executive responsible for the strategic leadership, growth, and operational excellence of the organisation’s forensic function across all geographies. This role provides the overarching vision for a full suite of forensic services – including digital forensics, fraud and misconduct investigations, data analytics, regulatory advisory, and enterprise fraud risk management.

Role Overview:

The incumbent leads a multidisciplinary national team of forensic specialists, drives innovation, embeds best practice, and ensures investigations and fraud risk management activities are conducted ethically, efficiently, and in compliance with legal and regulatory obligations. The role also oversees proactive fraud prevention, detection, and response strategies and acts as a senior advisor to the business, regulators, and law enforcement on high-profile and complex forensic matters.

Key Responsibilities

A. Strategic Leadership & Direction

• Develop and execute the group-aligned forensic strategy, including preventive, detective, and investigative capabilities.

• Set a clear vision, policies, frameworks, and methodologies that align forensic services with business objectives, risk appetite, and emerging industry trends.

• Lead strategic initiatives, oversee the development of country-specific fraud risk strategies and anti-fraud roadmaps.

• Stay abreast of forensic, fraud, and digital trends and proactively recommend changes to keep the organisation at the forefront of investigative excellence.

B. Service Line Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of all forensic service lines:

  • Digital forensics & e-discovery

  • Fraud and financial crime investigations

  • Fraud risk assessments

  • Whistle-blower/ethics hotline management

• Ensure each service line is delivered with technical precision, operational efficiency, and ethical rigor.

• Continuously evolve service lines (reactive, proactive, and remediation services) to address emerging risks, regulatory developments, and business needs.

C. Fraud Prevention, Detection & Response

• Drive the implementation of group-wide anti-fraud policies, standards, and methodologies.

• Oversee analytics, automated fraud decisioning models, discovery activities, and data-driven detection mechanisms.

• Manage fraud risk assessments, forensic audits, and due diligence processes (vetting/pre-screening).

• Ensure forensic investigations are conducted in line with legal requirements, organisational policies, evidence-handling standards, and global best practices.

• Oversee quantifications of financial loss, control assessments, and root-cause analyses to support recovery actions and risk mitigation.

D. Quality, Governance & Risk Management

• Establish stringent quality control standards, methodology frameworks, and evidence-management protocols.

• Serve as final reviewer for major investigation reports, expert witness statements, and audit committee submissions.

• Oversee budgeting, cost control, and resource utilisation across the forensic function.

• Ensure alignment with independence, ethics, data privacy, and risk management principles.

• Maintain and enhance the whistle-blower/ethics reporting channels to support a culture of integrity.

E. Client, Regulatory & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a senior advisor on high-profile and sensitive matters, providing expert guidance and oversight.

• Engage with law enforcement, regulators, external legal counsel, and forensic experts.

• Represent the forensic function at Executive Committees, Risk Committees, and governance forums.

• Strengthen internal stakeholder partnerships, including Internal Audit, Compliance, Risk, Legal, and business units.

• Ensure clear, accurate, and timely reporting of forensic trends, case progress, and emerging risks to relevant committees.

F. People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary forensic team investigators, digital forensic analysts, data analysts).

• Guide the Group subsidiaries in terms of forensic group practices and frameworks.

• Build a high-performance culture centred on collaboration, ethics, innovation, and continuous learning.

• Ensure role clarity, performance contracts, development plans, and succession planning for all critical roles.

• Recruit and retain high-calibre forensic talent and cultivate future leaders through coaching and skills development.

G. Thought Leadership & Innovation

• Champion innovation in forensic technology, data analytics, digital forensics, and e-discovery platforms.

• Provide thought leadership on fraud risk, cybercrime, regulatory developments, and investigative techniques.

• Promote best practices and continuous improvement across the Group Forensic Services function.

• Partner with ERM and Compliance to create business partnerships to enable a cohesive strategic function.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Accounting, Finance, Law, Business, or related field.

• Professional qualification: CA(SA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), or equivalent forensic/accounting/risk management certification.

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree in Finance, Forensics, Law, Accounting, or related discipline.

• Additional professional qualifications in compliance, digital forensics, business intelligence, or risk management.

Experience

Minimum

• 12–15 years’ experience in forensic investigations, fraud risk management, or financial crime management.

• At least 5–10 years in a senior leadership role in a forensic, audit, risk, or financial crime environment.

• Proven experience managing complex investigations, analytics-driven detection, and multi-disciplinary teams.

Preferred

• Experience in a Big Four or leading financial Services environment.

• 7–10 years in financial services, with exposure to insurance, banking, or credit.

• Demonstrated experience interacting with regulators and providing expert testimony.

• Evidence of having grown or transformed a forensic or investigative function.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

• Advanced forensic investigation and forensic accounting capability.

• Deep understanding of fraud, financial crime methodologies and due dilligence.

• Knowledge of digital forensics, e-discovery, analytics tools, data governance, and evidence management.

• Strong understanding of relevant legislation: anti-fraud laws, data privacy, employment law, financial services regulations.

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

Strategic Leadership

• Vision setting, strategic planning, and commercial acumen.

• Ability to lead national teams and drive organisational alignment.

People Leadership

• Coaching, developing talent, empowering teams, succession planning.

Communication & Influence

• Clear and persuasive communication with executives, regulators, and legal stakeholders.

• Skilled at presenting findings to Board Committees and Exco.

Interpersonal Skills

• Relationship building, collaboration, conflict management.

Adaptability & Resilience

• Ability to lead under pressure and navigate ambiguity.

Ethics & Integrity

• High ethical standards, independence, objectivity, accountability.

Results Orientation

• Ability to deliver outcomes, manage budgets, and ensure operational efficiency.

Key Deliverables for this role

• A high-performing, future-fit, compliant, and strategically aligned forensic function.

• High-quality investigations, reports, and insights delivered to executive stakeholders.

• Reduced fraud losses and strengthened fraud risk management practices across the business.

• Consistent improvement of forensic methodologies, technologies, and team capability.

• Strong stakeholder relationships, including with law enforcement and regulators.

• Thought leadership that positions GFS as a leader in forensic and fraud risk management.

Skills

Action Planning, Adaptive Thinking, Claims Management, Computer Literacy, Cultural Awareness, Data Compilation, Data Controls, Executing Plans, Information Management, Insurance Claims Investigations, Numerical Aptitude, Oral Communications, Professional Presentation, Risk Management, Typology

Competencies

Builds Effective Teams

Business Insight

Collaborates

Communicates Effectively

Cultivates Innovation

Develops Talent

Directs Work

Drives Engagement

Education

Bachelors Degree (B): Accounting (Required), Postgraduate: Chartered Accountancy (Required)

Closing Date

06 February 2026 , 23:59

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question.

The Old Mutual Story!