Ukho Mpalala
Non-Financial Risk Manager
Midrand
Summary
I am a knowledgeable Risk Manager with extensive experience in insurance and the financial services. A driven professional that brings a proven track record for developing risk control plans which not only focus on known risks but also proactively highlight emerging risks. I am dedicated to instilling a culture of responsibility and teaching. I am highly attentive to detail and constantly ensure accurate risk reporting. I can easily perform under pressure to meet deadlines within a team environment as well as individually and I understand the importance of always embodying the company's culture and values through my behaviour in and out of office interactions.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Languages
Work History
Non-Financial Risk Manager
Standard Bank
Johanesburg
5 2024 - Current
- Provide oversight and guidance to ensure that key events, indicators, and controls are identified by the business and challenge management on their assessment when evidence is conflicting.
- Provide specialist advice and support to the business partners on risk management procedures.
- Promote awareness of the Group policies and frameworks, embedment, and facilitate implementation by business.
- Conduct scenario analysis by considering internal data, external data, top and emerging risks to determine significant and catastrophic events.
- Develop strong relationships with internal stakeholders, promoting a culture of risk awareness and accountability.
- Conduct ongoing assessments and monitoring of key control effectiveness.
- Provide training on risk principles and systems.
Risk Manager
First National Bank
02.2023 - 04.2024
- Reviewed group policies and frameworks and ensured appropriate deployment and embedding within the business units.
- Provided guidance in alignment with the risk frameworks and policies, and training on risk tools.
- Compiled monthly and quarterly reports on the Segment's risk posture and highlighted material incidents and risk trends for mitigation and escalation.
- Conducted continuous monitoring of risk management activities to areas of risk and control breakdowns.
- Trusted advisor to the stakeholders.
- Built working relationships across teams and functional lines to enhance work delivery, collaboration, and innovation.
Risk Manager
FirstRand Life Assurance
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Formulated and tabled risk policies and frameworks.
- Prepared and presented the operational risk management reports.
- Conducted control evaluations to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the controls.
- Facilitated the documentation and review of the risk and control self-assessments, and ensured all key processes are documented.
- Identified new and emerging risks while monitoring existing risks through risk and control evaluation exercises, key risk indicator breaches, monitoring reports, and audit finding exceptions.
- Controlled expenditure and identified process improvements to contain and reduce costs.
Operations Control
FirstRand Life Assurance
05.2019 - 12.2019
- Developed the operations control function and reported to the COO.
- Designed the quarterly control testing plan by identifying the key processes, as well as the key controls, which support the process.
- Drafted the control testing approach to be utilized in the environment, tested the design adequacy and effectiveness of the controls, and documented as well as reported on the test results.
Internal Audit Trainee
FirstRand Group Internal Audit
08.2018 - 04.2019
- Seconded to the Internal Audit team and worked on the following audit reviews: Claims Management Review, Billing & Collections Review, Client Take-On Review.
- Planned audit engagements (Understanding of the environment, drafting of the PRCM, determining the scope of the audit, and translating into the engagement letter, as well as performing an assessment of risks and controls).
Financial Administrator
First National Bank
01.2016 - 07.2018
Education
BCOM - Financial Sciences
University of Pretoria
Pretoria 01.2012 - 12.2014
Skills
Data Analytics
Stakeholder Engagement
Interpersonal Skills
Control Evaluation
Reporting
Risk Identification
Risk Analysis
Strategic Thinking
Root Cause Analysis
Risk Advisory
Timeline
Risk Manager
First National Bank
02.2023 - 04.2024
Risk Manager
FirstRand Life Assurance
01.2020 - 01.2023
Operations Control
FirstRand Life Assurance
05.2019 - 12.2019
Internal Audit Trainee
FirstRand Group Internal Audit
08.2018 - 04.2019
Financial Administrator
First National Bank
01.2016 - 07.2018
BCOM - Financial Sciences
University of Pretoria
01.2012 - 12.2014
Non-Financial Risk Manager
Standard Bank
5 2024 - Current
Similar Profiles
MAXHAMAZA EMMANUEL MBENSEMAXHAMAZA EMMANUEL MBENSE
Team leader service centre at Standard BankTeam leader service centre at Standard Bank
Hercildo MassuanganheHercildo Massuanganhe
Senior People & Culture Business Partner at Standard BankSenior People & Culture Business Partner at Standard Bank
Jonathan SourceJonathan Source
Short Term Insurance Consultant at Standard BankShort Term Insurance Consultant at Standard Bank