AI And Automation Senior Manager

Ernst & Young Global Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global professional services firm is seeking an AI and Automation Senior Manager specializing in assurance innovation. This role demands over 10 years of experience in consulting, understanding advanced data analytics, and driving innovation in digital transformation. The candidate will oversee business development and empower teams, ensuring client engagement success while managing financial health. Excellent communication skills in English are essential, alongside practical experience in analytics solutions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in a professional services or consulting environment.
• 10+ years of experience in designing and delivering analytics solutions.
• 7-10 years of experience in managing people and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Drive the development and growth of the Innovation business.
• Monitor processes for planning and delivering client engagements.
• Support engagement delivery teams in overcoming challenges.
• Manage the financial health and risks of the business.
• Foster collaboration across the Innovation and Digital business.

Skills

Customer-centric solution mindset

Analytical and logical thinking

Data science methodologies

Machine Learning (ML) techniques

Design thinking

Agile project management

Excellent communication skills

Presentation and storytelling

Attention to detail

ICT understanding

Education

Preferred degree in Mathematics/Engineering/Economics/Computer Science

Tools

PowerApps

SQL

Python

R

PowerBI

Job description

Job title

AI And Automation Senior Manager

Job Location

Gauteng, Johannesburg

Deadline

November 24, 2025

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The Opportunity

We are seeking a dynamic candidate for the role of Africa Assurance Innovation Leader. In this position, your innovation skills, data strategy expertise, business development acumen, engagement management capabilities, and problem‑solving abilities will be instrumental in guiding our clients through the complexities of digital transformation, modern data science, and analytics.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Development & Growth : Drive the development, growth, and management of the Innovation business within the broader Assurance Innovation and Digital landscape, aligning with relevant business targets and ensuring achievement.
• Engagement Management : Establish and monitor processes that enable teams to plan, scope, design, deliver, and quality review client engagements utilizing data analytics, complementing other service offerings such as Sustainability, Forensics, and Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS).
• Team Empowerment : Act as a subject matter resource (SMR) to support engagement delivery teams in overcoming challenges by leveraging personal experience and connecting networks.
• Financial Oversight : Manage the financial health of the business, continuously monitoring for potential financial risks.
• Collaboration : Foster collaboration across the specialists’ network within the Africa Assurance Innovation and Digital business, including Data Delivery, Custom Analytics, Process Mining, and Go‑to‑Market strategies to drive digital transformation.
• Team Well‑being : Prioritize the well‑being of your teams, assisting them in achieving their career ambitions and learning goals.
• Community Building : Drive collaboration across specific Africa regions and build a community of practice.
• Expertise in Data Value Chain : Understand how engagement objectives relate to various phases of the data value chain and utilize advanced technology and analytics to address analytical problem statements.
• Proactive Learning : Actively seek out learning opportunities to contribute to the advancement of the Assurance Innovation and Digital business.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements

• Educational Background : Preferred degree in Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, Computer Science, Information Management, Statistics, or a related field.

Professional Experience

• 10+ years of relevant experience in a professional services or consulting environment.
• 10+ years of experience in designing and delivering analytics solutions for audit and forensic clients using a broad range of analytical toolsets (e.g., PowerApps, SQL, Python, R, PowerBI).
• 7-10 years of experience in managing people and budgeting within a business area.

Skills and Competencies

• Customer‑centric solution mindset with strong analytical and logical thinking skills.
• Strong understanding of modern data science methodologies and analytics development.
• Experience in applying Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to solve business problems.
• Experience in design thinking and agile approaches to project management and solution delivery.
• Understanding of business processes and the ability to design analytical solutions that address specific business challenges.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with fluency in English.
• Proficient presentation and storytelling abilities.
• Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and demonstrate lateral thinking.
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive attitude towards service delivery.
• Independent, self‑motivated, and passionate about delivering quality and innovative products.
• Understanding of information communication technology (ICT) in enabling businesses and financial statement production.
• Familiarity with different database types (relational databases / NoSQL) and the ability to analyze relationships between data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Accreditations in Innovation and Business Strategy.
• Research / Data Analysis jobs