Project Manager - Insurance

Datonomy Solutions (Pty) Ltd; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Datonomy Solutions (Pty) Ltd is seeking a hands-on Project Manager to deliver technology and business change projects in the insurance/financial services sector. You will own delivery end to end, including planning, budgeting, reporting to stakeholders, and steering committee updates.

The role requires 6+ years in project delivery (3+ as PM) and experience in banks, insurers or asset managers, plus a track record of managing project finances.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in project delivery, including at least 3 years as a Project Manager running your own projects.
• Experience delivering projects in financial services (insurer, bank, asset manager).
• Track record of project financial management: budgets, forecasts, cost tracking and variance reporting.
• Experience preparing SteerCo packs and reporting to executive stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Agile (Scrum/Kanban) and traditional methods (PMBOK/PRINCE2).
• Based in Johannesburg or able to commute to the office on hybrid days.

Responsibilities

• Plan, run and close medium-to-large technology and business projects end-to-end.
• Define scope, milestones and success criteria; build detailed project plans.
• Run delivery using Agile, Waterfall or hybrid approaches.
• Coordinate business analysts, developers, testers, vendors and business users.
• Manage risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies and change requests (RAID).
• Oversee UAT, business readiness and handover to business-as-usual.
• Build and own project budgets, forecasts and cost tracking.
• Report actuals vs budget; explain variances and take corrective action.
• Manage funds release, purchase orders and vendor invoices in line with controls.
• Track resource costs and benefits realization.
• Prepare steering committee packs, status reports and executive dashboards.
• Present project health, financials, risks and decisions to sponsors and senior stakeholders.
• Keep project documentation audit-ready and compliant with PMO standards.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (POPIA, FSCA conduct rules).

Skills

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Delivery leadership

RAID management

Hybrid work adaptability

Education

Relevant degree or diploma (IT, Commerce or Business)

Tools

MS Project

Jira

Azure DevOps

Excel

Job description

We're looking for a hands-on Project Manager to deliver technology and business change projects in an insurance or financial services environment. You'll own delivery end to end: plan, track the budget, report progress and finances to stakeholders and the steering committee, and keep teams moving.

This is a delivery role, not a programme director or head-of-projects role. It suits someone who has run several projects at a bank, insurer or asset manager and wants to keep delivering.

Key responsibilities

Delivery

• Plan, run and close medium-to-large technology and business projects from start to finish
• Define scope, milestones and success criteria, and build detailed project plans
• Run delivery using Agile, Waterfall or a hybrid approach, depending on the project
• Coordinate business analysts, developers, testers, vendors and business users
• Manage risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies and change requests (RAID)
• Oversee UAT, business readiness and handover to business-as-usual

Project financial reporting

• Build and own project budgets, forecasts and cost tracking
• Report actual against budgeted spend, explain variances and take corrective action
• Manage funds release, purchase orders and vendor invoices in line with financial controls
• Track resource costs and benefits realisation

Governance and stakeholder reporting

• Prepare steering committee (SteerCo) packs, status reports and executive dashboards
• Present project health, financials, risks and decisions to sponsors and senior stakeholders
• Keep project documentation audit-ready and in line with PMO standards
• Make sure projects meet regulatory and compliance requirements, such as POPIA and FSCA conduct rules

Requirements

• 6 or more years in project delivery, including at least 3 years as a Project Manager running your own projects
• Experience delivering projects at an insurer, bank, asset manager or other financial services firm
• A track record of project financial management: budgets, forecasts, cost tracking and variance reporting
• Experience preparing SteerCo packs and reporting to executive stakeholders
• Working knowledge of Agile (Scrum or Kanban) and traditional methods (PMBOK or PRINCE2)
• Strong MS Project, Jira or Azure DevOps, and Excel skills
• A relevant degree or diploma (IT, Commerce or Business)
• A project management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner or Certified Scrum Master
• Based in Johannesburg or able to commute to the office on hybrid days

Nice to have

• Insurance experience (life, short-term or reinsurance), or projects such as IFRS 17, SAM or policy administration system replacements
• Regulatory or compliance projects (POPIA, FICA, Conduct of Business, TCF)
• Digital channel delivery: apps, portals, digital wallets or chatbots
• Power BI or similar for project dashboards
• SAFe experience