Chief Risk and Governance Officer

Job Description:

The role is accountable for ensuring operational excellence and effective oversight. This strategic position involves various responsibilities, including managing HR risk, audit & governance processes, and compliance management.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct regular Risk & Control Self-Assessment and maintain Risk Registers for HR in consultation with the HR leads and CHRO as required.
• Embed the risk appetite statement and risk limits into day-to-day activities to promote prudent risk-taking and a robust risk culture.
• Facilitate, participate in, and verify the results of the self-assessment process and provide expert opinion on departmental/business assessment of risk types, quantification, and frequency.
• Ensure timely escalation of operational and enterprise risk issues, their Root Cause, and mitigation plans approved by respective functional heads to CRO and CHRO every month.
• Review the appropriateness of design and implementation of risk mitigation strategies.
• Responsible for timely follow-up, documentation, and status of action plans, open issues (regulatory, internal & external audits), and other initiatives pending completion.
• Prioritize control testing based on the level of risk associated with each control.

Audit & Departmental Governance:

• Act as audit lead for the HR function, coordinating with internal and external auditors.
• Conduct periodic internal audits of HR processes, identify gaps, and collaborate with HR Leads to implement corrective actions.
• Partner with HR Leads to develop sustainable remediation plans for audit observations and ensure accountability.
• Continuously improve and automate audit processes to reduce manual effort and enhance independence.
• Ensure HR policies and SOPs are regularly reviewed, updated, and policies are approved by the Board in a timely manner.

Compliance Management:

• Ensure full compliance with HR statutory requirements and timely submissions to regulatory authorities and internal stakeholders.
• Stay updated on changes in statutory or government regulations and ensure organisational compliance.
• Prepare accurate quarterly compliance certificates for the department and ensure timely submission.
• Liaise with the labour office / officers, provident fund office, and other such government departments.
• Oversee the smooth execution of government schemes and programs which may come from time to time - Apprenticeship Act, PMO Internship program.

Oversee the HR Operations & Payroll:

• Supervise and manage HR operations, ensuring smooth execution of processes.
• Maintain and update HR databases and governance systems, ensuring data accuracy and generating relevant reports and dashboards.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing, including salaries, bonuses, and sales commissions.
• Manage employee off-boarding in internal systems and ensure timely closure prior to full and final settlement.
• Lead HR budget planning and monitoring, including forecasting, variance analysis, and cost utilisation reporting.
• Collaborate with HR Leads to provide timely financial provisions and updates to the Finance team.
• Oversee HR operations vendors, ensuring timely billing and compliance with agreed terms.

Policies & Benefits Administration:

• Support the development, implementation, and administration of HR policies and employee benefits.
• Ensure consistent communication and timely updates of policies and benefits across the organisation.
• Manage the employee health insurance policy, ensuring smooth administration and employee support.

Continuous Improvement:

• Measure and track the effectiveness of HR operations, identifying opportunities for automation and process improvement.
• Drive initiatives to reduce manual dependencies and enhance operational efficiency.
• Undertake any additional responsibilities or projects as delegated by the Head of HR.

Requirements:

• Qualification: Graduate or higher degree.
• Minimum 12+ years experience with at least 7 years of experience in HR risk management; audit & governance competence.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills - ability to analyze data, detect patterns, and identify root causes. Design effective risk mitigation strategies.
• Attention to detail - precision in reviewing processes, documentation, and compliance reports. Spot gaps and inconsistencies in HR operations.
• Demonstrate strong ownership and accountability.
• Effective communication and influence skills - ability to collaborate with HR leaders, auditors, and regulators. Present risk findings and recommendations clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Ethical judgement and integrity - high ethical standards to handle sensitive HR data and decisions. Commitment to confidentiality and fairness.
• Technical proficiency - possess a technical mindset with ability to quickly learn new HR or governance systems and analyze work flows effectively.

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