Job Reference Number: ARC-CO-016
Department: 01 - CENTRAL OFFICE
Industry: Professional
Job Type: Contract
Positions Available: 1
Salary: Market Related

Job Description

The Chairperson will amongst other duties perform the following:

• Convene and preside over meetings of the CERMC.
• Provide leadership and ensure the effective functioning of the CERMC.
• Review the Risk Management Policies, Strategies and Plans and recommend for approval to the Council via the Audit and Risk Committee.
• Provide guidance on the integration of risk management into planning, monitoring and reporting processes.
• Provide advice/guidance on setting risk appetite and review risk appetite, tolerance levels and antifraud measures.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigating strategies implemented to address the material risk of the organisation.
• Review the material findings and recommendations by assurance providers on the system of risk management and monitoring the implementation of such recommendations and advise the Board via the ARC.
• Lead the Committee in conducting its activities in terms of the Public Sector Risk Management Framework, PFMA, Risk Committee Charter and King IV Report on Corporate Governance.
• Provide quarterly reports to the Executive Management Committee as well as the Audit and Risk Committee on the state of risk management, together with aspects requiring improvement accompanied by the CERMC’s recommendations to address such issues.
• Perform any other duties of the CERMC as specified in the committee terms of reference.

Job Requirements

The applicants should have sufficient qualifications, knowledge and extensive experience to serve on the CERMC of the ARC. The ideal candidate should possess (at minimum) the following:

QUALIFICATIONS: - A bachelor’s degree in commerce, risk management or related. Must have one or more of the following certifications: Certified Risk Management Practitioner (CRM (Prac)); Certified Risk Management Professional (CRM (Prof)); Certification in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC); Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) and any other qualification and affiliation to a professionally recognised risk management body.

The ideal candidate must be an independent external person with previous experience of serving in a Risk Management Committee in the public sector; with excellent knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999), Treasury Regulations, other relevant legislation and risk management related frameworks.

EXPERIENCE: - Candidates should have at least 10 (ten) years management experience in Governance, Risk Management, and Internal Control environments with at least 5 years exposure to serving in similar oversight Committees.

TERM OF OFFICE: - The term of office for the Independent Chairperson of the CERMC is 3 (three) years. The appointment will be reviewed annually based on the performance and attendance of the Chairperson.

REMUNERATION: - The compensation of the Independent Chairperson of the CERMC will be determined in line with the Circular on Remuneration of Non-Official Members: Commissions & Committees of Inquiry and Audit Committees as approved and published by the Minister of Finance from time to time. There is a minimum of 4 (four) meetings held per financial year.

ELIGIBILITY: - To be eligible for appointment or designation as Chairperson of the CERMC, the applicant must not:

• Be an office bearer of any political party, movement, organisation or body of a partisan political nature.
• Personally, or through a spouse, partner or associate – (i) acquire a direct or indirect financial interest in a supplier; or (ii) have or acquire an interest in a business or enterprise, which may conflict or interfere with proper performance of the duties for a member of the Committee.
• Be an unrehabilitated insolvent or become insolvent.
• Be removed from an office of trust on account of misconduct in respect of fraud or the misappropriation of money.
• Be subject to an order of a competent Court holding that person to be mentally unfit or disordered.
• Within the previous 10 (ten) years, have been, or be convicted in the Republic of South Africa or elsewhere of theft, fraud, forgery or uttering a forged document, perjury, an offence under the Financial Intelligence Sector Act, 2001 (Act 38 of 2001), or an offence involving dishonesty; or
• Be convicted of any other offence committed after section 35 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993), took effect, and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine
• Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae together with proof of qualifications, experience and contact details of three referees. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have foreign qualifications verified by the South African Qualifications Authority. Background verification, qualification checks, criminal record and citizenship checks will be conducted on recommended candidates, and they will be required to submit disclosure of financial interest(s).

Enquiries: Ms Rethabile Mathibela (012) 427-9722, Mathibelar@arc.agric.za

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION:19 AUGUST 2024

Competitive remuneration package will be congruent with the scope, responsibilities, and the stature of the position. The appointment will be subject to a positive security clearance and preference will be given to designated groups in terms of the ARC Employment Equity Plan. The Agricultural Research Council is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the principles and processes of Employment Equity Act. 

Applications accompanied by covering letter, detailed CV (Including certified copies of certificates, supporting documents, copy of driver’s license) must be attached.

NB: Non-RSA citizens with work permit must attach certified copies as well as the names and particulars of three (3) traceable referees. 

SAQA evaluation report must accompany foreign qualifications. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who do not receive any response four (4) weeks after the closing date must regard their applications as unsuccessful. The company has the right not to appoint.