Team Manager Operational Finance (Sickpay)

PPS Recruitment; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

PPS Recruitment in Parktown, Johannesburg seeks a Team Manager for Operational Finance (Sickpay) to lead end-to-end sickness claim payments and related financial processes. You will manage a team, ensure accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to approvals, with focus on risk controls and stakeholder communication.

Role covers payments, reconciliations, reporting and drive process improvements within the Operational Finance department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related field.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification or professional designation will be advantageous.
• Minimum of three years’ people management or team-leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end sickness and permanent incapacity claim payments and refunds.
• Review and authorise payments within the delegated authority and escalate out-of-mandate transactions.
• Ensure documentation, banking validation, claim-period information and workflow records are complete.
• Monitor service-level performance and resolve escalated enquiries and complaints.
• Maintain financial control over claim liabilities, settlements, refunds, and recoveries.
• Ensure compliance with FICA, banking verifications and PPS policies.

Skills

Insurance claims payment

Accounting

FICA

Banking verification

Operational risk control

Member engagement

Commitment to values

Accounting principles

Systems knowledge

Process discipline

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance/Commerce

Postgraduate qualification or professional designation

Tools

Service Manager

MIP

GBI

IAA

Job description

Team Manager Operational Finance (Sickpay)

Details

Closing Date 2026/10/12

Reference Number PPS261005-9

Job Type Permanent

Job Title Team Manager Operational Finance (Sickpay)

Business Unit PPS InsCo

Department Operational Finance

Location - Country South Africa

Location - Province Gauteng

Location - Town / City Parktown, Johannesburg

Job Advert Summary

Overall Job Purpose

To lead and oversee the end-to-end operational finance processes relating to sickness and permanent incapacity claim payments, refunds and associated member account transactions. The role is accountable for ensuring that payments are processed accurately, timeously and in accordance with approved delegations of authority, accounting standards, service-level commitments, regulatory requirements and internal financial controls.

The incumbent provides operational leadership over claim liabilities, account settlements, unpaid debit order recoveries, payment releases, reconciliations, management reporting and related member and adviser communication. The role is further responsible for safeguarding financial integrity, managing operational and compliance risk, driving process and systems improvement, resolving escalated service matters, and leading a capable and accountable team that consistently delivers quality outcomes to members and internal stakeholders.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Financial Management or a related field.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification or professional designation will be advantageous.

Experience:

• A minimum of three years’ people management or team-leadership experience, including responsibility for performance management, coaching, work allocation and quality oversight.
• Solid accounting and financial experience.
• Experienced in Statutory and Regulatory reporting requirements.
• Experienced in the development and enhancement of current business processes.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of insurance claims payment, accounting, FICA, banking verification and operational risk control requirements relevant to sickness claim payments.
• Exposure in dealing with members, brokers and advisors.
• Strong sense of commitment to the organization’s goals and values.
• Solid knowledge of accounting and financial principles.
• Sound working knowledge of IAA, Service Manager, MIP and GBI, with the ability to identify system, workflow and automation opportunities that improve control, turnaround time and operational efficiency.
• Process driven.

Duties and Responsibilities

Sickness Claims Payment Operations and Service Delivery

• Lead and oversee the end-to-end processing of sickness and permanent incapacity claim payments and refunds, from receipt and verification through to authorisation, payment release and stakeholder communication.
• Review and authorise payments within the approved delegation of authority and **escalate** transactions outside the applicable mandate.
• Ensure that all payment requests are supported by complete and accurate documentation, banking validation, claim-period information, payment instructions and workflow records.
• Monitor service-level performance and ensure that claim payments, notifications and remittance advice are completed within agreed turnaround times.
• Oversee the investigation and resolution of escalated member, adviser, servicing and sales enquiries and complaints.

Financial Control, Reconciliations and Account Management

• Maintain effective financial control over claim liabilities, current-account settlements, unpaid debit orders, arrears transfers, process advances, refunds, overpayments and recoveries.
• Ensure that all relevant account balances and recoveries are identified, investigated and accurately resolved before payment release.
• Oversee the completion and review of relevant reconciliations and supporting analyses to ensure the integrity of financial records.
• Identify financial exceptions, aged or unreconciled items and control breakdowns, and ensure that corrective action is implemented within agreed timelines.
• Safeguard the accuracy, completeness and validity of sickness-related financial transactions and supporting records.

Risk, Compliance and Governance

• Ensure payment activities comply with internal controls, approved delegation of authority, FICA and banking verification requirements, document quality standards, risk governance requirements and applicable PPS policies.
• Maintain effective controls over claim liabilities, banking validations, workflow notes, remittance advice, GBI releases, segregation of duties and supporting documentation to reduce operational, financial and compliance risk.

People Leadership and Culture

• Lead and manage the team to ensure business objectives are achieved through effective performance management, staff development, coaching and regular feedback.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members and review key deliverables to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Oversee team operations, ensuring that processes are effective, KPIs are monitored and performance targets are achieved.
• Foster a culture of accountability, encouraging team members to take ownership and use initiative in delivering business objectives.
• Be available to work outside of standard business hours when required to meet operational needs

Competencies:

• Analytical and be able to make prudent decisions.
• Flexible and adaptable in changing and challenging circumstances.
• High level of accuracy and be able to operate efficiently under pressure.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be self-motivated.
• Time management skills.
• Be a team player and take responsibility for own development initiative.