Job Advert Summary
Who we are:
PPS Investments is part of the PPS Group, which for over 8 decades has been the trusted financial partner for graduate professionals in South Africa. Unlike a company that is listed on a stock exchange, PPS belongs to its members and operates under the ethos of mutuality. This means that qualifying members can exclusively share in the profits of the Group, through the unique PPS Profit-Share Account.
PPS Investments exists to create and grow the wealth of graduate professionals and their families to live the lives they want in a world worth living in. We offer diversified and flexible investment solutions that are mutually beneficial to our clients in the long run because we believe that success is better shared.
Purpose of the job:
We are looking for a strategic, detail-oriented Product Implementation Specialist to join our dynamic team in Cape Town. This role is pivotal in driving the successful rollout of new investment products, platform enhancements, and user experience improvements for our advisers and investors.
As a key member of the team, you will ensure seamless integration of digital and operational solutions by collaborating across Product, IT, Operations, and Client-facing teams. Your work will directly support PPSI’s mission to deliver hyper-personalised, innovative, high-impact investment solutions that meet evolving client needs.
In addition to your implementation responsibilities, you will serve as a Product Manager within the PPS SAFe Agile Programme, where you will define and support the development of solutions that are desirable, feasible, viable, and sustainable. You will act as the voice of the customer and stakeholders, ensuring that product outcomes align with strategic objectives.
Minimum Requirements
Ideal experience:
- At least 5 years’ experience in an Investment Platform or Asset Management environment at a Senior Operations Level.
- Proven experience in product implementation
- High level legal and regulatory knowledge applicable to the investment and retirement industry
- Knowledge and experience in the Financial Services industry with a sound understanding of local and international investment platforms.
- Experience in working within Agile frameworks
- MS Office with advanced MS Excel
Ideal qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Computer Science, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications (CFA, FRM, PMP) are a plus.
Competencies and ideal personality attributes:
- Technical Skills: Strong understanding of investment products (e.g., equities, fixed income, derivatives, mutual funds, ETFs), portfolio management systems, and financial technologies.
- Project Management: Proven experience in managing complex projects with cross-functional teams and delivering them on time and within budget.
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex product and technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
- Client-Facing Skills: Experience working directly with clients and a customer-focused mindset.
- Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to think critically and solve complex implementation issues.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulous in managing project timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
- Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Team Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with diverse teams.
- Client-Centric: Always striving to meet and exceed client expectations while maintaining strong professional relationships.
- Proactive: Able to anticipate potential challenges and proactively work toward solutions
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Product Implementation & Delivery
- Lead the end-to-end implementation process for new investment products, platforms, and solutions, ensuring timely, efficient, and accurate delivery.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams, including technology, operations, legal, compliance, and distribution to ensure smooth implementation.
- Develop detailed project plans, timelines, and milestones for each implementation, tracking progress and addressing any issues or delays.
- Manage stakeholder expectations throughout the implementation process, ensuring alignment with client needs and objectives.
- Report on the progress of strategic initiatives being implemented on a regular basis to the PPSI Executive Committee.
2. Product Integration & Configuration
- Work closely with the technology and development teams to ensure the correct integration of new products with client systems, including data feeds, reporting tools, and investment platforms.
- Provide input into system configuration and ensure that all aspects of the product are aligned with business operational and technical requirements.
3. Issue Resolution & Problem Solving
- Proactively identify and address potential challenges or roadblocks during the implementation process, working with internal teams and clients to resolve issues.
- Act as a liaison between technical teams and other stakeholders to ensure that any product or platform-related issues are quickly escalated and resolved.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation of all issues, resolutions, and client feedback.
4. Continuous Improvement & Knowledge Sharing
- Provide feedback to product and IT development teams on client needs, market trends, and product performance to drive continuous improvement.
- Develop best practices, guides, and training materials to enhance the product implementation process.
- Stay up to date on industry trends, regulatory changes, and new product offerings in the investment platform space.
- You acknowledge that any information supplied to PPS is provided voluntarily and therefore constitutes unconditional, specific and voluntary consent to the processing of such information by PPS. Your personal information will be processed for facilitating your employment application with PPS including any statutory or regulatory compliance with which PPS must comply (where applicable) and for the legitimate interests of PPS and yourself, both during the recruitment process and thereafter. You may instruct PPS by written notice to cease the processing of your personal information at any time and, subject to the requirements of applicable South African law, request that PPS delete and/or de-identify such personal information.
- Based on the nature of our business, honesty and integrity are inherent requirements for our roles.
- All appointments are made in line with the Company's Employment Equity targets.