Transition Manager

Acenda Life Services Australia Pty Ltd; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Lifestyle leave

Recognition programs

Job summary

Acenda Life is seeking a Transition Manager to lead complex investment transitions and operational change initiatives on a 12-month fixed-term contract. You will work across our investment environment, translating strategies into practical implementation with governance, risk controls and stakeholder collaboration.

The role involves coordinating internal teams and external providers, assessing costs and impacts, and delivering outcomes with minimal disruption.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience within an investment management, fund administration or custodian environment.
• Proven experience leading complex investment transitions or operational change initiatives.
• Strong understanding of investment operations and the end‑to‑end investment trade lifecycle.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Sound knowledge of governance, risk management and control frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end investment transitions and operational change initiatives across the investment environment.
• Conduct pre-transition analysis to assess implementation costs, risks, constraints and operational impacts.
• Develop and execute optimal transition strategies that align with investment objectives and business priorities.
• Create integrated implementation plans, ensuring stakeholder alignment, clear accountability and successful delivery.
• Coordinate internal teams and external service providers to manage dependencies, milestones and implementation outcomes.
• Embed effective governance, risk management and communication protocols throughout the transition lifecycle.
• Drive continuous improvement through post-implementation reviews, lessons learned and process enhancements.

Skills

Investment operations

Stakeholder management

Governance & risk

Communication skills

Change leadership

Job description

At Acenda Group, everything we do is driven by a clear purpose: to help our customers and their families live, save and retire with confidence. We bring together some of Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted life insurance brands. With over 176 years of combined heritage and deep expertise across our local markets, our Group includes Acenda Life, Resolution Life Australasia, and Asteron Life New Zealand. Backed by the global strength of Nippon Life, we are one of the largest life insurance businesses across Australia and New Zealand. More than two million customers rely on us for life insurance, wealth protection and retirement solutions that support their confidence at every stage of life. We’re building an inclusive, dynamic and future focused business. Joining us means stepping into a period of integration and growth, where your work will help shape our future. If you’re energised by change and motivated by purpose, this is your moment to make an impact.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Transition Manager to lead complex investment transitions and operational change initiatives across our investment environment on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Working closely with internal teams and external service providers, you'll play a key role in translating investment strategies into successful implementation outcomes. From assessing impacts and developing transition plans through to managing delivery, governance and risk, you'll ensure critical initiatives are executed efficiently, effectively and with minimal disruption. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced investment operations professional looking to take ownership of high-profile change initiatives within a dynamic and collaborative environment.

How will you make an impact?

• Lead end-to-end investment transitions and operational change initiatives across the investment environment.
• Conduct pre-transition analysis to assess implementation costs, risks, constraints and operational impacts.
• Develop and execute optimal transition strategies that align with investment objectives and business priorities.
• Create integrated implementation plans, ensuring stakeholder alignment, clear accountability and successful delivery.
• Coordinate internal teams and external service providers to manage dependencies, milestones and implementation outcomes.
• Embed effective governance, risk management and communication protocols throughout the transition lifecycle.
• Drive continuous improvement through post-implementation reviews, lessons learned and process enhancements.

About You

• 5+ years' experience within an investment management, fund administration or custodian environment.
• Proven experience leading complex investment transitions, implementation projects or operational change initiatives.
• Strong understanding of investment operations and the end‑to‑end investment trade lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders and build effective working relationships across business functions.
• Sound knowledge of governance, risk management and control frameworks.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong commercial acumen, organisational capability and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.

Join us in building confidence— for our customers, our communities and each other. Your work makes a real impact. Everything we do helps our customers and their families live, save and retire with confidence, and your contribution will directly support that purpose. You’ll help drive meaningful change. As an inclusive, dynamic and adaptable organisation, we offer a unique opportunity for you to grow while shaping the future of our organisation. You’ll feel supported and included. Our team culture is flexible, collaborative and people‑centred, with hybrid working to help you balance life and work. By making things simpler. We help our people operate efficiently, adapt easily and spend more time on meaningful work that drives personal and organisational growth. We celebrate success. Our incentive and recognition programs ensure great work is acknowledged and rewarded. Your wellbeing comes first. We offer tools, resources and benefits that support your whole self, including additional lifestyle leave. We celebrate the diversity of our customers and community, and we embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into how we do business. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and identities. Should an applicant be the preferred candidate, background checks (including Federal Police Checks, Employment checks, ASIC banned and disqualified persons and Bankruptcy checks) will be completed prior to the candidate's employment being confirmed. The outcomes of the background checks do not automatically bar candidates, however they will be assessed against the inherent requirements of the position. At Acenda Life, we exist to help our customers and their families live, save and retire with confidence. A member of the Nippon Life Group – the world’s largest mutual life insurer – we are one of the largest life insurers in Australia and New Zealand, supporting more than two million customers through life insurance, wealth protection and retirement solutions. With over 175 years of combined experience, we take a long‑term view, building for customers over decades, so they can be confident at every stage. That same belief shapes how we work. We empower our people to grow boldly, aim high and make an impact, and we’re looking for talented people who are curious, driven and committed to making a difference. Join us and you’ll work alongside experienced professionals, take on meaningful challenges and explore diverse career and learning pathways. Your development matters here. Whether you want to deepen your experience or expand your expertise, you’ll find the resources, support and flexibility to build a rewarding career while helping millions of people achieve confidence that lasts a lifetime. Explore our current opportunities and discover where you can take your career at Acenda Life.