Risk Team Leader Jobs in Johannesburg

A technically strong and experienced Risk Team Leader is needed in Johannesburg to lead a team that administers death claims and ill-health and disability retirement claims. This is a permanent role with Unique Personnel, and it suits a retirement fund professional who is confident with Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act, careful with benefit calculations, and comfortable leading people through sensitive, high-stakes casework.

About the company and the work

Unique Personnel is a recruitment agency placing this role with a client in the retirement fund administration space. The team you would lead is responsible for the administration of death claims under Section 37C as well as ill-health and disability retirement claims. The heart of the work is getting decisions right: claims must be adjudicated accurately, decisions must comply with the Pension Funds Act and the rules of the relevant funds, and benefits must be paid on time.

This is work where accuracy and fairness matter enormously. Behind every claim there is a family or an individual whose financial security depends on a correct, well-documented outcome, so the role carries real responsibility alongside its leadership duties.

Role details and duties

As Risk Team Leader, you will lead, coach and supervise Senior Risk Administrators, Risk Administrators and Ill Health Assessors. Your duties will include:

• Ensuring the accurate and timeous processing of death claims under Section 37C and of ill-health and disability retirement claims.
• Making sure claims are correctly classified, assessed and treated, and reviewing, verifying and authorising claim calculations, documentation and final benefit payments.
• Ensuring the correct application of taxable and tax-free benefit components.
• Applying Section 37C consistently and in a way that can be defended, including assessing dependency, financial need and beneficiary information for both minor and major dependants.
• Ensuring decisions are properly motivated and documented, and aligned to case law.
• Providing technical guidance to Risk Administrators and Senior Risk Administrators.
• Liaising with Trust and Beneficiary Fund Administration teams, and handing over approved allocations and beneficiary information accurately.
• Setting performance objectives, monitoring delivery, and giving coaching and feedback to the team.
• Building a culture of compliance, accountability, professionalism and service excellence, and supporting skills development, mentorship and succession planning.
• Keeping accurate claim documentation and notes on the administration system, and preparing daily, weekly and monthly operational reports, including reports for management and Trustees covering Section 37C-related responses.
• Maintaining professional relationships with internal teams, service providers and stakeholders, and communicating professionally and timeously, both internally and externally.

Requirements

Only the requirements stated in the advert are listed here:

• A Degree or Diploma in Business Administration or a related qualification — mandatory.
• A Retirement Funds qualification, such as a Certificate of Proficiency, RE1, RE5, or working towards one of these.
• At least 5 years of experience in Retirement Fund Administration, covering death and ill-health and disability claims.
• At least 5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• At least 3 years of experience checking claims and authorising or releasing payments.
• Strong working knowledge of the Pension Funds Act, with specific emphasis on Section 37C.
• Proven experience assessing dependency and beneficiary status, including minor and major dependants.
• A sound understanding of financial calculations, including taxable and tax-free benefit components.
• Experience using the Everest administration system.
• An understanding of the role of Bargaining Councils and of customer service principles within financial services.
• In-depth knowledge of Section 37C adjudication principles and case law, and a strong understanding of ill-health and disability retirement claims.
• Knowledge of POPIA, FICA and FAIS.
• Proficiency in the MS Office Suite, including Word and Excel.
• The ability to manage complex, sensitive cases with sound judgement, along with strong leadership, coaching and stakeholder-management skills.

Where to find and apply safely

This vacancy is listed on Careers24, and the Apply button on this page takes you directly to the original advert, reference 80894. Applications close on 27 November 2026, so apply well before that date. Apply only through the official listing, and never pay anyone a fee to apply for a job or to secure an interview.

Practical tips

Before you apply, make sure your CV clearly shows your years of experience in retirement fund administration, your team leadership experience, and your experience checking claims and releasing payments, since these are all stated minimums. Highlight your Section 37C work, including dependency assessments and any experience with minor beneficiaries, and mention your Everest system experience and your qualifications, including any RE or Certificate of Proficiency progress. Because this role involves sensitive cases, a neat, accurate application that reflects attention to detail will work in your favour.

How the process works

Submit your application through the original Careers24 advert. The employer or recruiter will review applications against the stated requirements, and shortlisted candidates can expect to be contacted for further steps. Keep an eye on your email and phone after applying, and be ready to discuss your Section 37C experience and your approach to leading a claims team.

Important information

This post is informational only. It summarises the original advert for job seekers and is not the employer, the recruiter or the application itself. Salary is stated as negotiable in the advert, with no maximum figure given. Always confirm the full details, including the closing date and requirements, in the original advert before applying, and use the Apply button on this page to reach it.

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