Derivative Valuations and Market Risk Advisory Senior Manager

At BDO, we believe in investing in our people to help them grow, both professionally and personally. The foundation of our business is strong relationship, with colleagues, clients and other stakeholders and we work hard every day to make this a reality. Our commitment is to create unlimited growth by giving our people continuous opportunities.

BDO’s global organisation extends across 164 countries and territories, with 111,307 people working out of 1,803 offices – and we’re all working towards one goal: to provide our clients with exceptional service. Our firms across the organisation cooperate closely and comply with consistent operating principles and quality standards.

BDO South Africa has vacancy for a Financial Instruments (Derivatives) Valuations Senior Manager in our FS Advisory team.

The Derivative Valuations and Market Risk Advisory Senior Manager will be responsible for:

• Project management;
• Fair valuation of financial instruments (derivatives and capital and money markets instruments);
• Act as a subject matter expert on external audit engagements related to financial instrument fair valuations and on specialist advisory projects within FS such as:
  • Market Risk and investment / global markets linked audits / process and control reviews;
  • Hedging strategy design and hedge accounting implementations; and
  • Derivative fair valuation pricing and independent price verification testing

It will be the job of the Advisory Manager to provide support to the FS advisory team. The Derivative Valuations and Market Risk Advisory Senior Manager will also be required to mentor, upskill and coach the existing team to ensure that we build a sustainable specialist FS advisory team.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Reviews fair valuation of financial instruments (derivatives and capital / money markets instruments) and documentation/assigned scope of work;
• Understands the relevance of financial instruments (derivatives and capital / money markets financial instruments) and financial services in reviews of the testing and documentation as a audit expert;
• Manage the day-to-day activities of the Specialised Valuations Group along with the related valuation software of B-VAL and B-Listed;
• Manages ad hoc advisory engagements linked to market risk, hedge accounting, investments and valuation process / control reviews, internal audits and external audits
• Take ownership of, and manages work assignments to completion within the allocated time frame and to an appropriate standard (quality), through:
• Proper planning before the assignment, appropriate coaching during the assignment, attention to quality of the deliverable and the supporting documentation, adequately completing provisions;
• Managing the WIP appropriately and within budget, where applicable, billing the engagement, and closing the engagement;
• Is an effective project manager and coaches other to be effective project managers;
• Agrees development plan with the partner at the start of the assignment;
• Coaches the team in the writing of Management Letter Points (MLPs) of an appropriate standard for weaknesses identified. Discusses with the client and obtains their comments;
• Reviews written documents to ensure that they are organised, well-written, referenced, and easy to follow;
• Establish effective working relationships directly with key clients, and broader BDO stakeholders;
• Understand what the company you are working on, does and how they make revenue;
• Bring industry insights and recommendations to the client during client discussions;
• Ensures value-added delivery to the client driving sustainability of client relationship and work allocation;
• Drives up-selling and cross-selling opportunities at the client;
• Assist with executing and supervising on FS advisory engagements;
• Actively participates in meetings with the key client stakeholders and internal senior stakeholders;
• Review project risks, processes, and controls;
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the client’s processes and methodologies, including the reviews of process flows related to financial instruments and market risk;
• Can work in, manage and coach teams and effectively communicate across different levels within the organisation. Is able to run multiple engagements concurrently;
• Mentor, coach, upskill and supervise junior team members;
• Has a focus on building the business and be able to identify potential leads to communicate to senior leaders;
• Run with the end-to-end proposal and business development process with the assistance of a senior leader;
• Coordinate and lead meetings with C-level client stakeholders;
• Able to lead initiatives from commencement to conclusion with coaching and mentoring. Understands when to request input or assistance;
• Support broader FS business initiatives and also expected to live the BDO values; and
• Ensures compliance with the engagement performance process.

Qualifications/Recognition of Prior Learning equivalent

• Honours degree in Mathematical Sciences; or
• Honours degree in Financial Engineering; or
• Honours degree in Accounting Sciences; or
• Honours degree in Finance or Equivalent; or
• CFA Charter Holder

Work Experience and Knowledge

• Minimum 3 years’ experience specialised training in financial instrument fair valuations (specifically: derivatives and capital / money markets financial instruments) and hedge accounting (preferable)
• Experience in Financial Services clients audit(external/internal)(preferable)
• Proven experience in dealing with clients and management related to financial services

Technical Competencies

• Financial instruments valuations (derivatives and capital / money markets instruments)
• Financial accounting and disclosures for financial instruments and derivatives
• Financial instruments control environment understanding
• Hedge accounting in terms of IFRS 9 or IAS 39
• Audit(external/internal) experience( Preferable)

Behavioural Competencies

• Effective Communication Skills, both written and verbal.
• Problem-solving techniques and effective conflict management skills.
• Must have a customer first execution philosophy. Demonstrate awareness of business and industry dynamics. Ability to analyse technology trends and operational business issues and make informed decisions.
• Must demonstrate the ability to respond effectively to changing environments (expected and unexpected). Ability to evolve own ideas and solutions in response to changing circumstances.
• Must have an awareness and openness to diversity – promote inclusion and sharing of ideas and convey respect for different perspectives.
• Demonstrate the ability to use different problem-solving strategies and select the one that best meets the requirements of the situation. Keep the big picture of the problem in mind while focusing on its specifics.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Demonstrate the ability to effectively interpret the needs of all stakeholders, respond to their needs, and manage expectations.
• Ability to collaborate with all stakeholders in the pursuit of common goals. Must have strong interpersonal skills to manage large teams with influence.
• Must be a proven leader, able to take charge and act assertively without guidance. Use business criteria and values to evaluate alternative courses of action. Make a timely choice based on the options and information available
• Focus on desired results and business outcomes. Must be both a problem solver and a risk taker. Define performance standards in terms of doing what is appropriate (and doing it well). Work to achieve goals despite barriers or difficulties. Must be able to engage, build and manage relationships with relevant internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrate the ability to
• handle and resolve conflict situations to ensure ongoing goal achievement.
• Practical orientation and current knowledge in the ar