Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Position Summary: The Privacy Officer is responsible for overseeing and ensuring compliance with privacy laws, regulations, and policies within Access Bank in South Africa. This role will develop and implement privacy programs, policies, and procedures to safeguard customer data and ensure the protection of personal information in accordance with relevant legal requirements and industry standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Privacy Compliance:
- Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive privacy program to ensure compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa.
- Monitor changes in privacy laws and regulations and assess their impact on Access Bank's operations and practices.
- Conduct privacy risk assessments and audits to identify and mitigate potential privacy risks.
- Policy Development:
- Develop and implement privacy policies, procedures, and guidelines to govern the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal information.
- Ensure that privacy policies and procedures are communicated effectively to employees and stakeholders and provide training as needed.
- Data Protection:
- Oversee data protection measures and controls to safeguard customer data and sensitive information.
- Monitor data breaches and incidents and coordinate responses in accordance with incident response protocols.
- Collaborate with IT and security teams to implement technical safeguards and controls to protect personal information.
- Privacy Governance:
- Establish and chair a privacy governance committee to oversee privacy-related activities and initiatives.
- Provide guidance and support to business units and departments on privacy-related matters and initiatives.
- Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs):
- Conduct privacy impact assessments for new projects, initiatives, and systems to assess and mitigate privacy risks.
- Ensure that PIAs are conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements and best practices.
- Privacy Training and Awareness:
- Develop and deliver privacy training programs and awareness campaigns for employees to enhance understanding of privacy principles and requirements.
- Promote a culture of privacy awareness and accountability throughout the organization.
- Bachelor's degree in Law, Information Privacy, Information Technology, or related field. Master's degree or professional certification (e.g., CIPP/E, CIPM) is preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in privacy compliance, data protection, or related field, preferably in the banking or financial services industry.
- In-depth knowledge of privacy laws and regulations, including POPIA, GDPR, and other relevant frameworks.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess and mitigate privacy risks effectively.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
