Programme Manager

Apex Group Ltd; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Group Ltd in Cape Town seeks a Senior Project Manager to join the PMO (Change Team). You will lead end-to-end delivery of client-facing projects, translating senior-level intent into executable plans, and maintaining delivery confidence with senior stakeholders.

The role requires coordinating multiple project managers and workstreams, applying waterfall, agile or hybrid methods, and managing risks and dependencies to ensure on-time, within-scope outcomes for key clients.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering complex, multi-workstream projects in financial services.
• Strong delivery background in technology and/or business change.
• Ability to operate in high-ambiguity, fast-paced environments.
• Fluent in English with clear stakeholder communication.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end delivery of projects within scope, time and cost.
• Translate high-level objectives into clear delivery plans with milestones and dependencies.
• Lead and coordinate multiple project managers and workstream leads.
• Maintain oversight of project status, risks, issues and dependencies.
• Act as primary contact for senior stakeholders with transparent progress updates.
• Apply delivery methodologies (waterfall, agile or hybrid) pragmatically.
• Manage project-level resourcing with Practice and Portfolio Leads.
• Drive resolution of delivery blockers across technology, operations, risk and business units.
• Capture and apply lessons learned to improve future delivery.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Asset Servicing knowledge

Project delivery

Technology change delivery

Ambiguity management

Delivery governance

Communication

Independent work

English fluency

Tools

Azure DevOps

MS Project

Jira

Job description

The Apex Group was established in Bermuda in 2003 and is now one of the world’s largest fund administration and middle office solutions providers.

Our business is unique in its ability to reach globally, service locally and provide cross-jurisdictional services. With our clients at the heart of everything we do, our hard-working team has successfully delivered on an unprecedented growth and transformation journey, and we are now represented by over circa 13,000 employees across 112 offices worldwide. Your career with us should reflect your energy and passion.

That’s why, at Apex Group, we will do more than simply ‘empower’ you. We will work to supercharge your unique skills and experience.

Take the lead and we’ll give you the support you need to be at the top of your game. And we offer you the freedom to be a positive disrupter and turn big ideas into bold, industry-changing realities.

For our business, for clients, and for you

What we are looking for:

We are looking for a Senior Project Manager to join the PMO function (Change Team), reporting to the relevant Portfolio Lead / Head of Practice.

This role is focused on end-to-end delivery of client-facing projects. Either working with new Clients (e.g. transitioning funds administration service to us), or with existing clients (e.g. extending or continuously improving the services we offer them). You will be accountable for translating senior-level intent into executable plans, maintaining a grip on delivery, building and maintaining Client confidence in that delivery and ensuring outcomes are achieved in line with agreed objectives.

The Senior Project Manager may manage an individual project, several projects or as significant workstream on a major client deal under a Programme Director. Either way this will involve the definition and control of multiple projects and/or workstreams, coordinating delivery teams, managing dependencies and risks, and providing clear, honest reporting to senior stakeholders. The role requires someone who is comfortable working at pace, making pragmatic decisions, and applying the right level of governance rather than process for process’ sake.

The practice team is currently located across UK – London, Ireland – Dublin, Bulgaria – Sofia, South Africa – Cape Town and India – Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore. Apex currently operates a 5-day office working policy.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end delivery of one or a few projects, ensuring outcomes are delivered in line with agreed scope, time and cost parameters.
• Translate high-level objectives into clear delivery plans, with defined milestones, dependencies, risks and ownership.
• Lead and coordinate multiple project managers and workstream leads, providing direction, challenge and support as required.
• Maintain clear oversight of project status, risks, issues and dependencies, escalating appropriately and early where required.
• Act as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders, providing clear, factual and transparent updates on progress and delivery confidence.
• Act as the primary point of contact for large Corporate Clients, providing clear, factual and transparent updates on progress and delivery confidence.
• Apply appropriate delivery methodologies (waterfall, agile or hybrid), using pragmatism and judgement rather than rigid adherence to frameworks.
• Ensure project governance is proportionate, effective and supports delivery rather than slowing it down.
• Manage project-level resourcing, working with Practice and Portfolio Leads to address capacity constraints and skill gaps.
• Drive resolution of delivery blockers, coordinating across technology, operations, risk, compliance and business teams as needed.
• Ensure lessons learned are captured and applied to improve future delivery.

Experience and skills:

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage, challenge and influence at senior levels.
• Experience of having worked within the Asset Servicing/Management sector of the Financial Services Industry; familiar with the services and typical operating model construct for such a business.
• Proven experience delivering complex projects spanning multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• Strong background in project delivery within technology and/or business change environments.
• Experience operating in environments with high levels of ambiguity, pace and competing priorities.
• Ability to maintain delivery grip under pressure and make pragmatic decisions when faced with incomplete information.
• Solid understanding of delivery disciplines across waterfall and agile approaches, with the judgement to apply “what works”.
• Experience managing project-level risks, dependencies and resourcing constraints.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Clear, concise verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership and operate with minimal supervision.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written).

Nice to have:

• Must have worked with Corporate Clients in Financial Services if not in our sector of the industry
• Exposure to large-scale onboarding, migration or integration programmers
• Familiarity with common project and portfolio tooling (e.g. Azure DevOps, MS Project, Jira).