Senior DFM Operations Leader: Platform & Growth

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (SA) Ltd (PFA); Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (SA) Ltd (PFA) is seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to lead and continuously improve the operational capability supporting the DFM business. The role sits at the intersection of investment management, platforms, data, governance and client service.

You will ensure that approved portfolio decisions are implemented accurately and efficiently within a robust control framework while building a scalable operating model for future growth.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant experience in DFM, investment operations, asset management, multi-management or wealth management.
• Practical knowledge of model portfolios, portfolio rebalancing and discretionary investment implementation.
• Experience with LISPs, investment platforms, administrators and investment professionals.
• Strong understanding of operational risk, controls, reconciliations, data quality and regulatory record keeping.
• Proven people-leadership and stakeholder-management experience.
• Track record of improving processes using data, workflow or automation.
• Tertiary qualification in finance, investments, commerce, accounting, economics or related discipline.
• Category II FSP/DFM experience and offshore implementation exposure would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end implementation of approved portfolio changes, rebalances, transitions and new model portfolios across investment platforms.
• Manage platform and service-provider relationships, including portfolio setup, fund availability, issue resolution and service standards.
• Maintain strong operational governance, maker-checker controls, reconciliations, audit trails and exception management.
• Oversee portfolio, holdings, AUM and implementation data, including target-versus-actual monitoring and operational dashboards.
• Lead process improvement, workflow design, automation and technology initiatives to reduce operational risk and support scale.
• Coordinate onboarding of new adviser practices, portfolios and investment solutions.
• Provide Portfolio Managers with clear implementation status, constraints and exceptions. Investment decisions remain with Portfolio Management.
• Lead and manage the DFM Operations team, with responsibility for team performance, development, capacity planning and cross-skilling.

Skills

Action Planning

Backlog Management

Change Management

Data Compilation

Executing Plans

Legal Practices

Occupational Safety and Health

Oral Communications

Organizational Design

Policies & Procedures

Professional Presentation

Project Budget Management

Project Delivery Management

Readiness Assessments

Education

Masters (NQF Level 9)

Job description

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (SA) Ltd (PFA) is seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to lead and continuously improve the operational capability supporting the DFM business. The role sits at the intersection of investment management, platforms, data, governance and client service.

You will ensure that approved portfolio decisions are implemented accurately and efficiently within a robust control framework while building a scalable operating model for future growth.