Engineering Operation Associate

PwC; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

PwC is seeking an Associate for their Capital Advisory and Restructuring Services team in Johannesburg. This role focuses on driving operational improvement and restructuring for high-profile clients across various sectors. Ideal candidates will possess strong financial analysis skills, project management expertise, and the ability to manage stakeholders effectively. This opportunity offers involvement in dynamic projects that significantly impact client success and performance improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience in operational improvement programmes.
• Advisory experience in management consultancy.
• Competent in financial and operational KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Support client delivery excellence and project delivery.
• Lead complex client situations focused on operational turnaround.
• Provide advice on restructuring and turnaround strategies.

Skills

Financial analysis

Project management

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Education

Engineer or relevant professional qualification

MBA

APICS

CPIM

Job description

To really stand out and make us fit for the future in a constantly changing world, each and every one of us at PwC needs to be a purpose-led and values-driven leader at every level. To help us achieve this we have the PwC Professional; our global leadership development framework. It gives us a single set of expectations across our lines, geographies and career paths, and provides transparency on the skills we need as individuals to be successful and progress in our careers, now and in the future.

As an Associate, you'll work as part of a team of problem solvers, helping to solve complex business issues from strategy to execution. PwC Professional skills and responsibilities for this management level include but are not limited to :

Encourage everyone to have a voice and invite opinion from all, including quieter members of the team.

Deal effectively with ambiguous and unstructured problems and situations.

Initiate open and candid coaching conversations at all levels.

Move easily between big picture thinking and managing relevant detail.

Anticipate stakeholder needs, and develop and discuss potential solutions, even before the stakeholder realises they are required.

Contribute technical knowledge in area of specialism.

Contribute to an environment where people and technology thrive together to accomplish more than they could apart.

Navigate the complexities of cross-border and / or diverse teams and engagements.

Initiate and lead open conversations with teams, clients and stakeholders to build trust.

Uphold the firm's code of ethics and business conduct.

Role Summary :

A junior restructuring capability that will support the PwC Africa Operational Restructuring Lead with the capability and practice build-out - mainly through business development - and project delivery excellence. The role will be professionally demanding, leading complex client situations - focussed on operational turnaround and performance improvement, across industry and business requirements.

Qualifications / Certifications required :

• Engineer or relevant professional qualification (e.g. MBA, APICS, CPIM);

Experience required :

Experience of operational improvement programmes

Advisory experience from a management consultancy, advisory firm or as an 'internal consultant' in a corporate

Operations experience, across one or more sectors : engineering, financial services, retail, industrial, consumer, high tech, utilities, logistics, telecoms and energy

Proven P&L analysis, cash flow and balance sheet work

Competent with spreadsheets, financial and operational KPIs. Comfortable with financial analysis

Track record in business development

Responsibilities of role :

As a member of the PwC CARS (Capital Advisory and Restructuring Services) team, the candidate will be involved in a variety of restructuring and performance improvement projects across a diverse range of industries and will gain exposure to a wide range of clients. PwC CARS services a wide spectrum of clients ranging from large, listed multinationals through to entrepreneurial, owner managed businesses, covering both domestic and cross Africa border work.

We are looking for anAssociate to join our growing team to work on high-profile clients experiencing stress / distress to their business model and who require turnaround or transformation with a financial, and / or an operational restructuring lens, spanning a broad range of industry sectors. You’ll provide advice and assistance around restructuring and / or turnaround. Typically you will work with clients to identify and implement rapid, tactical and sustainable operational restructuring measures, for example you will advise on :

Independent business reviews,

Turnaround strategies, with specific performance intervention measures and targets,

Strategic options analysis,

Cost out and EBITDA optimisation initiatives

Short-term cash flow reviews and forecasting, helping clients see and control their cash positions

Cash levers to smooth cash flow / conserve cash

Restructuring Office services - helping client management develop and implement turnaround programs

In addition to these servicesyou’ll be expected to :

Take on a “hands-on” role to manage stakeholders and inspire change

Provide robust management and monitoring of change programmes

Be responsible for the day to day leadership of projects with minimal oversight from a Director / Partner

Interface directly with client management, financiers and other advisors

Prepare presentations and / or reports to key stakeholders (e.g. Board, Private Equity investor, lenders, etc.)

Work alongside other PwC teams, including specialist lines of service and sector experts.

You will also be expected to take an active part in our team and practice development and will typically :

Take responsibility for one or more areas of internal team management

Take the lead in areas of business development and origination efforts

Become an active counselor, coach and role model to other team members

Supporting the needs of the go-to-market strategy.

Skill sets required :

To be successful in this role, strong financial analysis skills and commercial business acumen are critical. You will be able to demonstratea high level of agility in a demanding environment and be able to effectively communicate with a broad range of stakeholders. Exceptional project management skills are considered fundamental together with critical thinking and a motivated and commercially astute approach to business restructuring needs.

Candidates will display the following competencies :

Possesses a high degree of self-motivation and energy, agility and the ability to drive for high quality, meeting of deadlines and track record of setting and achieving goals;

Good interpersonal and client relationship skills and the ability to relate to people at all levels of an organisation;

A highly motivated, confident individual with presence;

A proactive and dynamic team player who can provide coaching and guidance to junior team members where appropriate;

Problem solving capabilities / skills with the ability to think strategically, innovatively and “out the box”;

Ability to demonstratea high level of agility in a demanding environment;

An interest in and knowledge of the financial markets and the significant turnaround opportunity across SMA and Africa;

A desire to build on commercial and industry knowledge;

A desire and motivation to apply interest and knowledge to proactive origination and account targeting;

Financial analysis skills;

Astute negotiation skills with the ability to develop negotiation strategies;

Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential, including the ability to storyboard commercial solutions for clients including on projects and proposals - be able to write succinct, well-structured reports and client communications;

Project and client management skill including the ability to run independently with projects when necessary;

Highly rated with good academic credentials; and

Proven ability to multitask and ensure effective delivery of the priorities to meet targets and objectivesand who works effectively under pressure.

Travel Requirements Up to 20% Available for Work Visa Sponsorship? No Job Posting End Date July 5, 2025

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Engineering Operation Associate • Johannesburg