Senior Manager

Job title : Senior ManagerJob Location : Gauteng, JohannesburgDeadline : February 09, 2025Quick Recommended Links Jobs by Location Job by industries A Senior Manager performs the role of a "Pod Leader" and is responsible for managing a group of clients, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services while fostering team collaboration and client satisfaction.
This role bridges leadership, operational management, and client service, ensuring both team efficiency and client needs are met effectively.
A senior manager will ultimately be responsible for allocated clients, and will be accountable to manage: Service Delivery Project Resourcing Client Growth (Cross-selling and up-selling) Team performance, upskilling and growth With the support of a senior director, a senior manager will be the main liaison between the client and the delivery teams, and will be responsible for ensuring successful project delivery and building client relationships, whilst providing practical and technical support to the finance professionals who are delivering on projects.
In certain instances, senior  managers may be required to perform accounting advisory duties and be responsible for client delivery. Resource Planning Resource Allocation and Availability Ensure that regular follow ups are done with the talent acquisition team for all open deals for which resources are required Regularly assess the quality of potential resources for each deal to ensure that the talent acquisition team is on the right track Ensure that quality candidates are received for inclusion in proposals within set deadlines Assess Cost to Company of resources and related profit margins Quality Control Screen profiles and perform assessments of potential resources to assist on a specific project Perform resource interviews to assess suitability Shortlisting and Final Interview Invitations Review of Shortlisted Candidates: Revisit candidates' profiles, previous interview feedback, assessments, and references to confirm alignment with the role's requirements. Ensure communication with candidates: Send formal invitations to selected candidates for the final interview, specifying the date, time, format (virtual or in-person), and any required preparation. Candidate assessments in the following areas: Behavioral Fit: Use situational and behavioral questions to understand how the candidate aligns with company values and team dynamics. Technical Skills: Evaluate role-specific skills relevant to the recruitment industry, such as client management, negotiation, or CRM usage. Problem-Solving Ability: Present case studies or scenarios that test the candidate's critical thinking and decision-making. Assessment or Case Study (if applicable): Role-Specific Tests: Develop case studies or assessments which will assess the candidates capability to perform the required project. Timeframe: Allow sufficient time for candidates to complete and return the assessment if conducted offline. Project Management Planning and Project Setup Define Project Objectives: Collaborate with stakeholders to set clear goals, deliverables, timelines, and budgets. Resource Allocation: Assign financial professionals with the required expertise to specific project roles. Budget Development: Prepare detailed financial plans, including cost estimation, funding sources, and expenditure forecasting. Project Scheduling: Develop a timeline with milestones, deadlines, and contingency plans for delays. Stakeholder Communication: Establish regular communication channels with clients, internal teams, and other stakeholders. Resource Management Talent Deployment: Ensure that the right financial professionals are placed in roles that align with their skills and project needs. Capacity Planning: Monitor resource availability to avoid under- or over-utilization. Training and Upskilling: Identify skill gaps and organize necessary training sessions to enhance team performance. Performance Monitoring: Track the performance of allocated resources and provide feedback for improvement. Financial Oversight Budget Management: Continuously monitor expenditures to ensure alignment with the project budget. Cost Optimization: Identify opportunities for cost savings without compromising project quality. Billing and Invoicing: Ensure accurate and timely billing for project work, adhering to client agreements. Risk Management: Anticipate and address financial risks, such as cost overruns or funding shortfalls. Project Execution and Monitoring Milestone Tracking: Monitor progress against the project plan, ensuring timely completion of key deliverables. Quality Assurance: Ensure the financial outputs, such as reports or analyses, meet high standards and client expectations. Compliance: Ensure all project activities adhere to relevant regulations, standards, and internal policies. Technology Utilization: Use project management and finance software tools for tracking and reporting. Scope Management Progress and Performance Management Ensuring that team members are performing duties in accordance with the required scope of work Providing guidance and reviews where necessary or beneficial to project success Maintaining progress trackers and promptly engaging with the client when any potential delays arise Deliverable Reviews and Team Management Quality Assurance Standards Compliance: Ensure all deliverables adhere to internal and client standards, including format, accuracy, and completeness. Detail Verification: Review the content for errors, inconsistencies, or omissions, including calculations, data sources, and references. Alignment with Objectives: Confirm that deliverables meet the project's objectives and address the client's requirements effectively. Consistency Checks Formatting and Style: Verify that documents and presentations follow established templates, branding, and tone guidelines. Logical Flow: Ensure the narrative, arguments, and conclusions are coherent and logically structured. Terminology: Maintain consistency in terminology, definitions, and abbreviations throughout the deliverables Feedback and Iteration Constructive Feedback: Provide actionable suggestions to enhance the quality and relevance of the deliverables. Version Control: Track changes and maintain records of iterations to ensure clarity and accountability. Approval Process: Sign off on finalized deliverables before submission to clients or stakeholders. Team Guidance Task Assignment and Monitoring Role Clarity: Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expectations for team members. Skill Development Mentorship: Offer one-on-one or group mentoring sessions to address knowledge gaps or enhance capabilities. Training Recommendations: Identify training needs and suggest resources or workshops to upskill team members. Coaching for Performance: Provide specific coaching to address performance issues or improve specific skills. Workload Management: Distribute tasks evenly to ensure team capacity is optimized. Progress Tracking: Monitor progress through regular updates, dashboards, or status meetings. Problem Resolution Conflict Management: Mediate disputes or disagreements within the team to maintain productivity and harmony. Issue Escalation: Identify and escalate critical challenges to higher management when necessary. Support and Encouragement: Offer guidance and motivation to overcome roadblocks and keep the team engaged. Collaboration and Communication Regular Check-Ins: Hold frequent team meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and upcoming tasks. Feedback Loops: Foster a culture of open communication where team members can give and receive constructive feedback. Cross-Team Coordination: Collaborate with other teams or departments to ensure alignment and avoid duplication of efforts. Deliverable Preparation Support Content Review: Assist team members in crafting high-quality content for reports, presentations, or analyses. Tools and Resources: Provide templates, guidelines, and software tools to streamline deliverable preparation. Time Management: Help prioritize tasks to meet deadlines without compromising quality. Performance and Improvement Evaluation Metrics: Establish criteria to measure the quality and effectiveness of both deliverables and team contributions. Lessons Learned: Conduct post-delivery reviews to identify successes and areas for improvement. Continuous Improvement: Implement feedback from past projects to refine processes and enhance team efficiency. Client and Stakeholder Engagement Expectation Management: Ensure the team understands client requirements and expectations from the outset. Presentation Support: Guide the team in preparing and delivering presentations or reports to stakeholders. Feedback Integration: Incorporate stakeholder feedback into deliverables and adjust team efforts accordingly. Client and Stakeholder Management Expectation Setting: Clearly communicate project scope, timelines, and deliverables to stakeholders. Regular Updates: Provide periodic updates through reports, meetings, and dashboards. Issue Resolution: Act promptly to address client concerns or project challenges. Client Relationship Building: Foster trust and long-term partnerships with clients through proactive engagement and successful delivery. Reporting and Documentation Progress Reports: Create detailed reports on project status, resource utilization, and financial performance. Final Deliverables: Ensure timely submission of all project outputs, such as financial statements, models, or analyses. Post-Project Review: Document lessons learned and best practices to improve future projects. Risk and Change Management Risk Assessment: Identify and evaluate potential risks, including financial, operational, and resource-related issues. Contingency Planning: Develop strategies to mitigate identified risks and ensure project continuity. Change Management: Address scope changes, budget adjustments, or resource reallocation promptly and efficiently. Team Collaboration and Leadership Foster Collaboration: Encourage open communication and teamwork among project members. Conflict Resolution: Mediate disputes within the team to maintain productivity and morale. Motivation and Support: Provide guidance, encouragement, and resources to keep the team focused and engaged Strategic Alignment Align with Business Goals: Ensure the project contributes to the organization's broader strategic objectives. Resource Optimization: Maximize the utilization of available resources to deliver value to the organization and clients. Market Awareness: Stay informed about trends in the finance industry to incorporate best practices into projects. Continuous Improvement Process Optimization: Evaluate and refine project management and resource allocation processes. Feedback Loops: Collect feedback from clients, stakeholders, and team members for improvement. Technology Integration: Leverage advanced tools and analytics to enhance project efficiency and outcomes. Client Maintenance Client Relationship Building Maintain client relationships by regularly visiting client premises and keeping up to date on significant client matters Gaining client feedback on project and role delivery and indetifying areas for improvement  Maintaining effective lines of communication with the client  KPI's and Performance Management Measuring Success Key Metrics: Track career progression rates, employee satisfaction scores, and retention rates to assess program impact. Employee Surveys: Conduct regular surveys to gauge the effectiveness of career guidance initiatives. Continuous Improvement: Use data and feedback to evolve career guidance strategies and programs. Mentoring and Coaching Mentorship Programs: Pair employees with senior consultants or leaders for mentorship to share insights and career advice. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule periodic one-on-one coaching sessions to address challenges and track progress. Behavioral Coaching: Guide employees in developing leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Identifying Growth Opportunities Project Assignments: Assign employees to projects that align with their career interests and expose them to new challenges. Cross-Functional Opportunities: Facilitate rotations across different departments, industries, or regions to broaden expertise. Leadership Development: Identify high-potential employees and prepare them for leadership roles through targeted development plans. Annual Budget preparation Strategic Planning Alignment with Business Goals: Collaborate with leadership to ensure the budget aligns with the firm's strategic objectives, growth targets, and operational priorities. Market Analysis: Assess market conditions, economic trends, and industry benchmarks to inform revenue and expense projections. Scenario Planning: Develop best-case, worst-case, and most-likely financial scenarios to prepare for uncertainties. Revenue Projections Pipeline Analysis: Review current and anticipated project pipelines to forecast billable hours, utilization rates, and revenue streams. Client Insights: Analyze historical data, client retention rates, and new business prospects to estimate income. Rate Review: Incorporate any planned adjustments to billing rates or service pricing. Expense Forecasting Operational Costs: Estimate recurring costs such as office rent, utilities, and technology expenses. Payroll and Benefits: Calculate staff costs, including salaries, bonuses, benefits, and recruitment expenses. Training and Development: Budget for employee upskilling, certifications, and professional development programs. Travel and Entertainment: Forecast expenses for client visits, conferences, and business development activities. Capital Expenditures: Plan for investments in new tools, systems, or office infrastructure. Data Collection and Analysis Historical Data Review: Analyze financial performance and budget utilization from previous years. Variance Analysis: Identify discrepancies between past budgets and actual expenditures to refine future estimates. Trend Analysis: Examine spending trends to predict future needs accurately. Drafting the Budget Consolidation: Combine revenue and expense projections into a single, comprehensive budget document. Categorization: Organize the budget into clear categories, such as fixed and variable costs or direct and indirect expenses. Detailed Line Items: Break down costs and revenues into specific line items for transparency and accuracy. Review and Refinement Leadership Review: Present the draft budget to senior management or the board for input and approval. Adjustments: Incorporate feedback, refine assumptions, and reallocate resources as necessary. Stakeholder Alignment: Ensure all stakeholders are aligned on the final budget and its underlying assumptions. Monthly performance reviews and analysis Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustments Monthly Tracking: Compare actual performance against the budget regularly to identify variances early. Reforecasting: Update the budget periodically based on changing circumstances or unexpected developments. Reporting: Provide periodic updates to leadership on budget adherence and financial health. Business Development Client Growth and monitoring Cross-Selling and Upselling Explore opportunities to offer additional consulting services to existing clients. Propose innovative solutions that provide added value to the client's business. Revenue Tracking and Reporting Monitor progress against revenue and client acquisition targets. Analyse the effectiveness of business development strategies and adjust as needed. Report on key performance metrics to senior management. Competitive Intelligence Gather insights on competitors' strategies, pricing models, and service offerings. Use competitive data to refine positioning and value propositions. Requirements and Qualifications: Qualifications: Chartered Accountant (CA(SA));  Experience: 3-5 years post-articles experience in a business development or consulting environment role Accounting / Financial Services  jobs