About this role
SENIOR INVESTIGATING OFFICER
FINANCIAL IMPACT CRIMES (Payclass10; Permanent) Risk Services; Investigations Unit PROPERTIES AND SERVICES The University of Cape Town’s Risk Services, within Properties and Services (P&S), is seeking to appoint a Senior Investigating Officer: Financial Impact Crimes. The purpose of the position is to provide functional leadership and specialist expertise in forensic and criminal investigations, ensuring the effective management of high-risk investigation matters involving fraud, corruption, financial misconduct and any financial losses suffered by the institution.
The position is accountable for the oversight, governance and quality assurance of investigations, and provides advisory input to executive management and governance structures to mitigate institutional risk and strengthen the control environment. The position will act as the complainant in cases registered with the SAPS from an institutional perspective, as required by legislation. The role has two direct reports who report to the position.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROLE
Relevant NQF 6 tertiary qualification in Forensic Investigation, Criminology, Law, Accounting, Risk Management, or a related field. Successful completion of the Detective Learning Programme / Investigation Course or similar At least 5 years investigative experience in a law enforcement environment of which 3 years must be related to financial crime investigations. Applied knowledge of the higher education environment, including student conduct systems and stakeholder coordination with law enforcement and regulatory bodies.
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION OR LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
PSIRA Registration (minimum Grade B); Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or equivalent recognised forensic certification; Valid Code B / EB / 8 driver’s license.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Investigation of incidents and misconduct, including, but not limited to: Conducting and directing complex investigations into fraud, corruption, financial misconduct and other incidents resulting in financial losses to UCT. Determining investigative scope, methodology and evidentiary approach, ensuring legal defensibility and evidence integrity. Case Management and Reporting , including, but not limited to: Conducting and overseeing investigations from initiation to closure, providing functional and technical leadership.
Providing findings, reports and recommendations for disciplinary, civil and criminal proceedings, providing expert evidence and representation where required. Ensuring confidential and secure management of investigation information while maintaining its integrity. Coordinating investigative maters with HR, Legal, Internal Audit, Finance and external bodies, including SAPS. Managing high-risk and sensitive matters, including whistleblower protection and reputational risk mitigation.
Preparing executive briefings on key findings, institutional risks and recommended actions. Stakeholder Engagement and Liaison , including, but not limited to: Engaging authoritatively with senior leadership, directors and audit committees on high-risk investigations, emerging fraud trends and institutional exposure. Providing expert advice and decision support on fraud risks, evidence and appropriate disciplinary, civil or criminal action. Threat Detection and Risk Assessment , including, but not limited to: Leading proactive identification and assessment of emerging fraud risks, including corruption, financial misconduct, procurement irregularities and abuse of authority.
Directing and conducting institution-wide fraud risk assessments to evaluate control effectiveness and identify systemic weaknesses. Analysing investigation trends and patterns to identify systemic vulnerabilities and drive strategic interventions. Developing fraud mitigation strategies and control improvements and influencing their implementation. Awareness and Prevention , including, but not limited to: Leading the development and institutional-wide rollout of fraud awareness strategies, and influencing and driving preventative control frameworks.
Administrative Responsibilities , including, but not limited to: Overseeing the integrity, security, and audit readiness of all investigative records, evidence registers, and case management systems. Ensuring timely and accurate submission of investigation reports to senior management, audit committees, and governance structures to support institutional decisions Strategic Value , including, but not limited to: Directing the investigations’ function in line with institutional governance, risk management and compliance frameworks.
The annual cost of employment, including benefits for 2026, is between R 661 967 to R 778 783 To apply , please visit the UCT Jobs site ( www.jobs.uct.ac.za ) to create a candidate profile and to submit your application. Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application: Cover letter that speaks to the specific requirements of the position. Curriculum Vitae (CV). Copy of your PSIRA Registration (minimum Grade B) Copy of a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or equivalent recognised forensic certification.
Copy of a valid Code B / EB / 8 driver’s license. Copy of your ID or passport. Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number. An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and may be required to undergo competency and pre-placement medical assessments.
Any enquiries for the position to be addressed to Ms. Natasha Khan at +27 (0) 21 650 3469 or [email protected] Telephone: 021 650 3469 Website: www.hr.uct.ac.za Reference Number: 1526 Closing date: 23 November 2026 UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups.
Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/oic/employment-equity When you apply for a position at UCT, we collect your personal information to assess your application, communicate with you, and coordinate interview logistics. Information such as race, gender, nationality, and disability status is used to support our Employment Equity obligations. We also verify your references, qualifications, conduct criminal and, for certain roles, credit checks.
For more information about how the University of Cape Town uses personal information and your rights, please email [email protected] . The University reserves the right to extend the closing date for applications if deemed necessary and reserves the right to make no appointment.