Job Description

The role

A position as a Senior Auditor: Data Analytics exists within Group Internal Audit: Santam Corporate Services, based in the Johannesburg office.

What will you do?

To conduct various types of assurance and consulting reviews with the primary use of Data Analytics across the Santam Group (Santam Ltd, subsidiaries, portfolio managers, underwriting agencies and international partners). This will be done in accordance with the annual audit plan approved by Santam’s Audit Committee and conducted in terms of International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Audit. The role requires someone with a strong technical foundation in data analytics, including database structures, data flows, data transformation principles and data visualization techniques, who can apply our risk-based methodology, as well as lead and manage multiple assignments and work independently.

What will make you successful in this role?

• To support risk-based audit assignments using data analytics, ultimately to contribute to delivering on the internal audit plan approved by Santam’s Group Audit Committee.
• Assignment work entails planning (understanding business processes and their associated data linkages), execution (data sourcing, validation and analysis) and reporting and audit follow up work (where applicable) including the following activities:
  • Performing risk and control assessments (where applicable).
  • Designing, executing, and, reviewing data-driven audit procedures, with a focus on data analytics-based testing over traditional manual approaches.
  • Preparing audit findings and unpacking root causes with management.
  • Compiling a draft audit report and advising on practical recommendations with various levels of management which will support the achievement of the Santam Group’s and our business partners strategic and financial objectives.
  • Ensuring that audit work is documented on GIA’s audit software tool and adheres to the required quality standards; and
  • Ensuring that audit work is completed within time and cost budgets.
• Assist in reporting to various audit and risk committees.
• Provide input into annual audit planning.
• Follow up on audit issues raised and provide input into the reports to the audit committee and other relevant governance structures.
• Maintain quality standards in terms of the audit methodology, approach and documentation.
• Supporting and mentoring junior / trainee auditors.
• Client relationship management with internal Santam stakeholders as well as external stakeholders.
• National and international travelling to Santam offices and partners may be required.

Qualification and experience

• A relevant qualification (Diploma, Bachelors or Honours degree) in science, commerce, engineering, technology, information systems, informatics or similar.
• More than 3-5 years’ experience in an audit/consulting services function and demonstrable exposure as per the job description.
• Experience in the insurance industry would be an advantage
• Data analytics experience using tools such as ACL or similar.
• Understanding of Cloud-Based Data Architectures (AWS preferred) – Familiarity with data services and how data is stored, structured, and accessed within cloud environments (Advantageous).
• Strong ability to work with SQL and query data across relational and non-relational databases to support audit testing and analytics (Advantageous).
• A basic understanding of internal audit disciplines, methodologies and practices.
• Use of the Diligent One audit software package would be advantageous.
• Experience with designing and maintaining intuitive data dashboards that support decision-making.
• A background in creating visual representations of data, utilizing tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms would be advantageous.
• Use of Generative AI Tools (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT, Azure OpenAI) to enhance audit planning, testing, documentation, and reporting would be advantageous.

Skills

• Very strong numerical, analytical and conceptual skills
• Analytical ability and logical reasoning
• Completion of audit assignments effectively and in a timely manner (Time Management)
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills
• Relationship management (Strong client service orientation)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team as well as by yourself

Competencies

• Conceptual and innovative thinker
• Ability to think analytically
• High ethical standards
• Problem solving skills
• Proactive and achievement oriented
• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations
• Planning and organising
• Writing and reporting
• Knowledge management and sharing

• Ability to work under pressure
• Continuous self-improvement and learning
• Agility and multi-tasking

About the company

We are a leading general insurer in South Africa with a market share less than 24%. We have 108 years of standing and we provide a diverse range of general insurance products and services to individuals, commercial and corporate markets. We operate in South Africa, Namibia and selected emerging markets through a network of intermediaries, direct and partnership channels. Our portfolio of insurance products includes car, property, liability, engineering, agricultural insurance, guest house insurance; tourism, leisure and entertainment and reinsurance insurance. Our agriculture insurance products, include crop insurance, asset insurance, and weather insurance. In addition, the company provides claim, brokerage, and SOS services to its customers. In South Africa and Namibia, We serve more than 1 million policyholders who range from individuals to commercial and specialist business owners and institutions. Headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, Santam was founded in 1918 and listed on the JSE in 1964 under the insurance (non-life) sector. The group has secondary listings on the Namibian Stock Exchange and A2X Markets Exchange. Santam is a subsidiary of South African financial services group Sanlam, which holds 62.3% of Santam’s shares.