Senior Manager - AI Assurance

Company Description At Deloitte, our Purpose is to make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, and society. This is the lens for which our global strategy is set. It unites Deloitte professionals across geographies, businesses, and skills. It makes us better at what we do and how we do it. It enables us to deliver on our promises to stakeholders, while creating the lasting impact we seek. Harnessing the talent of 457 000+ people located across more than 150 countries and territories, our size and scale puts us in a unique position to help change the world for the better—by bringing together the services we provide, the societal investments we make, and the collaborations we advance through our ecosystems. Deloitte offers career opportunities across Audit & Assurance (A&A), Tax & Legal (T&L) and our Consulting Services business, which is made up of Strategy, Risk & Transactions (SR&T) and Technology & Transformation (T&T). Job Description Deloitte South Africa is seeking an experienced and visionary leader to build and expand our AI Assurance capability within the Technology Assurance portfolio. This role is ideal for a senior professional with deep expertise in AI governance, risk, and controls assurance — and a strong track record in leading teams, engaging senior stakeholders, and driving market growth. You will be responsible for shaping Deloitte’s AI assurance offering, establishing market presence, overseeing the delivery of high-quality engagements, and playing a pivotal role in helping organisations adopt AI safely, responsibly, and in alignment with emerging regulatory expectations. Market Leadership & Growth Drive business development efforts to grow Deloitte’s AI Assurance practice in South Africa and support broader Africa Member Firm needs. Originate and shape new AI governance, risk, and assurance opportunities across industries. Build and maintain strong executive‑level relationships with C‑suite leaders, boards, audit committees, and risk stakeholders. Represent Deloitte as a market thought leader on AI governance, responsible AI, and assurance over AI systems and models. Contribute to go‑to‑market strategies, thought leadership, and industry engagements focused on safe and trustworthy AI adoption. Service Delivery & Innovation Lead complex assurance engagements across AI governance, AI risk management, AI controls assurance, model risk management, and responsible/ethical AI. Conduct readiness assessments and assurance over regulatory‑aligned frameworks (e.g., EU AI Act‑aligned controls, local regulatory expectations). Oversee design and execution of assurance methodologies for AI systems, including controls testing, governance evaluation, documentation review, and risk assessments. Ensure that assurance solutions remain aligned with leading standards and frameworks such as: ISO/IEC 42001 (AI Management System) NIST AI Risk Management Framework King IV / emerging King V SOC 1 / SOC 2 / ISAE 3402 where applicable Coordinate closely with technology implementation teams (who handle design/build work) to ensure clear separation of assurance and implementation services. Deliver high‑quality, risk-based, and value-driven outcomes for clients that address trust, transparency, fairness, robustness, and accountability in AI systems. Bring innovative thinking around the use of automation and analytics to enhance assurance delivery. Team Leadership & Development Build, mentor, and lead a growing AI Assurance team, developing capability from a lean foundation into a scalable, high-performing unit. Foster a culture of excellence, inclusion, curiosity, and continuous learning — with a focus on emerging AI risk and governance skills. Collaborate with regional and global Deloitte teams to leverage leading practices, methodologies, and accelerators. Provide coaching, performance management, and technical guidance to practitioners at all levels Qualifications 12+ years of experience in technology assurance, risk, governance, or related advisory fields — with at least several years focused on AI, data, advanced analytics, or model risk. Proven track record in business development and senior client relationship management. Strong understanding of AI governance, risk, and control frameworks, with familiarity (or practical exposure) to: ISO/IEC 42001 NIST AI RMF Responsible AI principles King IV Cloud and AI platform risks (Azure/OpenAI, AWS, GCP) SOC / ISAE assurance standards Hands‑on knowledge of AI/ML concepts sufficient to contextualise risk and assurance activities (not implementation-focused). Professional certifications such as CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CISSP, or AI‑focused governance/risk certifications are advantageous. Prior experience in a Big 4 or similar professional services environment is preferred. Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and leadership capabilities. Additional Information Leadership Capabilities Living our Purpose - Acts as a role model, embracing and living our purpose and values, and recognizing others for the impact they make. Talent development - Develops high-performing people and teams through challenging and meaningful opportunities. Performance drive - Delivers exceptional client service; maximizes results and drives high performance from people while fostering collaboration across businesses and borders. Influence - Influences clients, teams, and individuals positively, leading by example and establishing confident relationships with increasingly senior people. Strategic direction - Understands key objectives for clients and Deloitte, aligns people to objectives and sets priorities and direction. Note: The list of tasks / duties and responsibilities contained in this document is not necessarily exhaustive. Deloitte may ask the employee to carry out additional duties or responsibilities, which may fall reasonably within the ambit of the role profile, depending on operational requirements. Be careful of Recruitment Scams: Fraudsters or employment scammers often pose as legitimate recruiters, employers, recruitment consultants or job placement firms, advertising false job opportunities through email, text messages and WhatsApp messages. They aim to cheat jobseekers out of money or to steal personal information. To help you look out for potential recruitment scams, here are some Red Flags: Upfront Payment Requests: Deloitte will never ask for any upfront payment for background checks, job training, or supplies. Requests for Personal Information: Be wary if you are asked for sensitive personal information, especially early in the recruitment process and without a clear need for it. Fraudulent links or contractual documents may require the provision of sensitive personal data or copy documents (e.g., government issued numbers or identity documents, passports or passport numbers, bank account statements or numbers, parent’s data) that may be used for identity fraud. Do not provide or send any of these documents or data. Please note we will never ask for photographs at any stage of the recruitment process. Unprofessional Communication: Scammers may communicate in an unprofessional manner. Their messages may be filled with poor grammar and spelling errors. The look and feel may not be consistent with the Deloitte corporate brand. If you're unsure, make direct contact with Deloitte using our official contact details. Be careful not to use any contact details provided in the suspicious job advertisement or email. At Deloitte, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves and to thrive at work—in every country, in everything we do, every day. We aim to create a workplace where everyone is treated fairly and with respect, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. We are committed to employment equity and building a diverse and inclusive workplace across the African continent. Our recruitment processes are aligned with our Employment Equity Plan and the principles of the Employment Equity Act. Preference may be given to candidates from designated groups. We actively support the inclusion of people with disabilities and embrace neurodiversity in the workplace. We recognise and value the unique strengths that neurodivergent individuals bring, and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive. If you require reasonable accommodations in relation to your disability and neurodiverse needs during the recruitment process, please let us know. We are happy to make adjustments to suit your individual needs.