Senior Manager – Private Equity (Fund Accounting & Administration)

CO_SANFPL Apex Fund & Corporate Services SA (Pty) Ltd; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Group in Cape Town seeks a Senior Manager for Private Equity Fund Accounting and Administration to oversee end‑to‑end delivery for strategic PE clients. You will provide hands‑on operational oversight, engage with clients at senior levels, and coordinate across Fund Accounting, ManCo/AIFM support, and Depositary to ensure accurate, timely outputs.

You will lead and develop a team, drive process improvements, and strengthen controls while managing risk and delivering audit‑ready results in a

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ PE fund accounting and administration experience, including 3+ years at managerial level.
• Experience preparing/reviewing fund financial statements and reporting under IFRS or relevant GAAP framework, including audit support.
• Proven escalation management for complex funds/clients with strong judgement and prioritisation.
• Strong working knowledge of LPAs/side letters and translating terms into operations (fees, waterfalls, reporting).
• Experience coordinating delivery across multiple service lines and stakeholders.
• Private equity systems exposure preferably eFront or Allvue.
• Demonstrated strong Excel skills and familiarity with GL/investor reporting and workflow tools advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end delivery for one or more strategic/complex PE fund clients.
• Provide hands-on operational oversight and senior client engagement.
• Coordinate across Fund Accounting, ManCo/AIFM support, and Depositary.
• Lead and develop Managers/VPs; coach and drive performance.
• Ensure timely, audit-ready outputs and strengthen control frameworks.
• Drive process improvements and risk management across engagements.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Excel proficiency

Problem solving

Communication

Leadership

Risk & controls

ESG/IFRS knowledge

Tools

eFront

Allvue

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

Senior Manager – Private Equity Fund Accounting and Administration

Job Title: Senior Manager – Private Equity Fund Accounting and Administration
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Employment type: Permanent
Reporting to: Locally to Head of Private Equity Operations (South Africa) and internationally to the Client Director

Role Summary

The Senior Manager is accountable for end-to-end delivery of Private Equity fund administration for one or more strategic clients. You will provide hands‑on operational oversight and senior client engagement, acting as the escalation point for complex delivery, technical and risk matters. Working across Fund Administration and adjacent service lines (e.g., ManCo/AIFM support, Depositary), you will coordinate stakeholders to deliver accurate, on‑time outputs, strengthen controls, drive process improvement, and coach VPs and Managers.

Key Deliverables (KPIs)

• On‑time, accurate delivery of agreed outputs (NAV/financial packs, capital activity, investor reporting, and other scoped deliverables).
• Own escalations end‑to‑end (root cause, remediation, and prevention).
• Audit‑ready delivery and strong control outcomes (timely closure of queries; adherence to governance standards).
• Proactive operational risk management for assigned clients (identify, mitigate, monitor).
• Lead and develop the Manager / Assistant Manager (coaching, delegation, performance, retention).
• Deliver measurable process improvements (reduced defects/rework, shorter cycle times, lower risk).

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Client Engagement (Hands‑On) Own delivery for one or more strategic/complex clients, staying close to day‑to‑day execution where required.
• Build deep knowledge of the client’s strategy, governance, operating model, and priorities.
• Be the client’s trusted operational partner; support Manager / Assistant Manager on communications while remaining visibly engaged on key topics.
• Operational Escalation & problem Solving Primary escalation point for complex operational, technical, and delivery issues.
• Lead cross‑team resolution across jurisdictions/service lines with clear ownership and deadlines.
• Balance priorities, client impact, and operational risk; drive root‑cause fixes (not workarounds).
• Cross‑Service & Internal Navigation Navigate the organisation on behalf of clients across Fund Accounting and Administration and adjacent areas (ManCo/AIFM support, Depositary, Onboarding, Compliance and Risk).
• Align internal teams and messaging; ensure issues are owned and not handled in silos.
• Set clear ways of working and expectations for both clients and internal stakeholders.
• Technical & Delivery Oversight Interpret LPAs/side letters and ensure terms are correctly operationalised (fees, waterfalls, reporting).
• Perform senior reviews of key deliverables and strengthen review frameworks across the team.
• Maintain oversight across the broader portfolio while staying close to delivery detail.
• Team Leadership & Capability Lead, coach and develop VPs/Managers in escalations, prioritisation and senior client engagement.
• Set standards for operational excellence, accountability and quality across the team.
• Risk, Control & Quality Own operational risk for assigned clients; ensure adherence to control frameworks, governance and internal policies.
• Lead responses to audits, due diligence requests and internal quality reviews for strategic clients.
• Continuous Improvement Identify recurring issues and drive scalable improvements in process, controls and ways of working.
• Support change initiatives including fund launches, migrations, transitions and system enhancements.

Required Experience, Qualifications & Skills

• 8+ years’ PE Fund accounting and administration experience, including 3+ years at managerial level.
• Experience preparing/reviewing fund financial statements and reporting under IFRS or relevant GAAP framework, including audit support.
• Proven escalation management for complex funds/clients with strong judgement and prioritisation.
• Strong working knowledge of LPAs/side letters and translating terms into operations (fees, waterfalls, reporting).
• Experience coordinating delivery across multiple service lines and stakeholders.
• Private equity systems exposure preferably eFront or Allvue.
• Demonstrated strong Excel skills and familiarity with GL/investor reporting and workflow tools advantageous.
• Strong communication and problem‑solving skills; able to drive process improvement.
• Proven people leadership (coaching, performance management, developing teams).
• Detail‑oriented and effective under pressure and deadlines.

About Apex Group

We are dedicated to driving positive change in financial services while fuelling the growth and ambitions of asset managers, allocators, financial institutions, and family offices. Established in Bermuda in 2003, the Group has continually disrupted the asset serving industry through our investment in innovation and talent. Today, we set the pace in asset servicing and stand out for our unique single‑source solution and unified cross asset‑class platform which supports the entire value chain, harnesses leading innovative technology, and benefits from cross‑jurisdictional expertise delivered by a long‑standing management team and over 13,000 highly integrated professionals.

We’re a people‑powered business, and our people are full of ambition. Together, we’re inspired to lead the new era of data and tech‑enabled service. Bringing new products and services to market. Sharpening our client focus. Disrupting the market to exceed expectations. Innovating across a range of specialisms. With our focus on making a difference to our people, our planet and our society, you’ll experience more here than you would at most other companies. Prepare to accelerate.

We’ll make sure the time and effort you put in takes you further, faster. Positive change starts with you. We’re a people‑powered business with a vision to inspire a new era of service‑led FinTech. We’re expanding globally and offering more to our clients. This means you get more opportunities to grow with us. So prepare to accelerate. We’ll make sure the time and effort you put in takes you further, faster. The journey is yours to own. When you stretch yourself, you grow. We want you to explore ways of working that will see you thrive as part of something bigger. We’ll help you with a solid structure, challenging projects, vibrant networks, supportive colleagues and approachable leaders. All the things you need to own your unique journey.

We’re a people‑powered business with a vision to inspire a new era of service‑led FinTech. We’re expanding globally and offering more to our clients. This means you get more opportunities to grow with us. So prepare to accelerate. We’ll make sure the time and effort you put in takes you further, faster.