Senior Operations Manager

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

Job Description

Symmetry is looking for an experienced Senior Operations Manager to lead and continuously improve the operational capability supporting our DFM business.

This senior, hands-on role sits at the intersection of investment management, implementation, platforms, data, technology, governance and client service. You will ensure that approved portfolio decisions are implemented accurately, efficiently and within a robust control framework, while helping us build a scalable operating model for future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the 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 that reduce operational risk and support scale.
• Coordinate the operational onboarding of new adviser practices, portfolios and investment solutions.
• Provide Portfolio Managers with clear implementation status, constraints and exceptions. Investment decisions remain with the Portfolio Management team.
• Lead and manage the DFM Operations team, with responsibility for team performance, development, capacity planning and cross-skilling, while fostering a culture of ownership, accuracy and continuous improvement.

These responsibilities offer an overview and a general outline of the role and are not exhaustive.

Qualification, Skill and Experience

• 8+ years of relevant experience in DFM, investment operations, asset management, multi-management, wealth management or an investment platform.
• Practical knowledge of model portfolios, portfolio rebalancing, unit trusts/CIS portfolios and discretionary investment implementation.
• Experience working 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.
• A track record of improving processes and using data, workflow or automation to make operations more effective.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in finance, investments, commerce, accounting, economics, business science or a related discipline.
• Category II FSP/DFM experience and exposure to local and offshore implementation would be advantageous.

You will be

• Accountable, detail-oriented and comfortable taking ownership through to resolution.
• Investment-aware, control-minded and able to challenge incomplete or impractical instructions.
• Collaborative, service-oriented and confident working across Investment, Compliance, Risk, Technology and external providers.

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

Competencies

• Builds Effective Teams
• Communicates Effectively
• Customer Focus
• Directs Work
• Drives Engagement
• Drives Results
• Ensures Accountability
• Financial Acumen

Education

NQF Level 9 - Masters

Closing Date

15 November 2026 , 23:59

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question.

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