Account Manager - KZN at Datafin Recruitment

ENVIRONMENT:

• A forward-thinking company specializing in cost-efficient and innovative business solutions, situated in KwaZulu-Natal, is seeking an Account Manager. This individual will be responsible for implementing and overseeing best practice scheme administration systems and processes in alignment with the company’s strategic objectives.
• Ensuring adherence to all regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures is also a key aspect of the role. A Bachelor of Commerce degree or an equivalent Accounting Diploma is required, with a preference for candidates who have majored in accounting.

DUTIES:

Scheme Account Management:

• Accountable for the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Scheme’s operations.
• Responsible for continuous improvement and increasing overall efficiency and effectiveness for the Scheme’s operations through the streamlining and enhancement of existing processes and practices.
• Responsible for effectively collaborating with the policy administration department to ensure deliverables are met.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining productive working relationships with their internal support functions and business enablers.
• Responsible for pro-actively partnering with IT and Project Office to facilitate continuous improvement.
• Ensures that the principles of TCF (Treating Customers Fairly) are embodied in the processes and practices used in managing the Scheme.

Financial Reporting and Analysis:

• Responsible for aligning the scheme accounting processes to effectively support the scheme operations.
• Accountable for providing the business partners with accurate, complete and value adding financial and operational reports and underwriting deliverables.
• Accountable for ensuring that the delivery of reports are as per agreed SLA’s.
• Responsible for reviewing the scheme financial reports to ensure that they are accurate and complete.
• Responsible for reviewing and analysing data and reports with the intention of understanding trends, anomalies, and errors.
• Responsible for reviewing the MIS information to provide value added analysis and feedback to business partners.
• Responsible for ensuring that the premium collection process runs smoothly, and best practice collection efforts are implemented to enhance premium collection and fee generation.
• Responsible for the submission of data to stakeholders.
• Responsible for continually improving both the quality and format of data and related reporting for the scheme.
• Responsible for pro-actively identifying opportunities to increase the effectiveness of data integration between the accounts departments and scheme operations.
• Responsible for assisting in the compilation of budgets and the statutory returns.
• Responsible for assisting in the coordination and delivery on the year end reporting requirements.

Relationship Management:

• Responsible for developing and maintaining productive and positive working relationships with their business partners through understanding, anticipating, and meeting their expectations.
• Responsible for providing excellent service through on-going engagement, responsiveness and diligent resolution of matters raised.
• Responsible for the quality of outputs to business partners and their policyholders.
• Responsible for building and maintaining productive working relationships within the organisation.
• Liaising with company and business partner auditors during the audit, providing comments on findings, and correcting inefficiencies identified.

Leading and Managing People:

• Effectively align to the framework of the Leadership Attributes at the company, as documented.
• Consistently exhibit the desired outcomes of Excellence, Relationships, Responsiveness, Accountability and Teamwork.
• Demonstrate and engender a high-performance driven culture of accountability, commitment to delivery and customer service.
• Responsible for ensuring that the department is optimally resourced and assist with the recruitment of employees.
• Facilitate continuous development of the team through appropriate training and coaching by identifying training needs and ensuring that training/ coaching is arranged.
• Accountable for ensuring adequate and timely communication within the team.
• Monitor employee performance, manage under performance, manage conflict and disciplinary issues.
• Responsible for the daily operational management of employees within the team, the quality and completeness of work produced by the team, and the effective performance of the team.
• Responsible for the efficient use of resources through planning, allocating, organising and coordination of work.
• Responsible for the completion of performance plans, check-in sessions and evaluations.
• Responsible for identifying training requirements, and for pro-actively up-skilling, developing and empowering the team where necessary.
• Responsible for maximising employee potential and development through appropriate guidance and motivation.
• Ensure understanding and compliance with all internal policies and procedures

General:

• Ensure effective collaboration and communication with internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues that may arise.
• Manage expectations for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist in identifying and mitigating risks associated with the scheme administration and reporting functions.
• Assist to resolve escalated queries received from policy holders.
• Implement processing methodologies to increase efficiencies and create opportunities for growing the operational capacity of the department.
• Responsible for driving innovation / “continuous improvement” initiatives.
• Responsible to assist with and support change management interventions.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Com Degree or equivalent level Accounting Diploma is required.
• An Accounting “major” would be preferable.
• Proven track record in leading, managing and coaching a team is required.
• At least 5 years previous related working experience in a corporate entity is required with demonstrated supervisory and management experience.
• Experience in working with advanced Excel is required.
• Proficient in the preparation and analysis of reports.
• Previous work experience in the financial services environment would be preferable.
• Thorough knowledge and application of accounting principles.
• Good understanding of the insurance industry.
• Good understanding of Partner accounting practices.
• Good understanding of a “systems’” enabled accounting function.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Excellent relationship management skills.
• Ability to plan & co-ordinate team activities.
• Ability to lead and manage a small team.
• Computer literate - Good MS Office skills including advanced Excel.
• Ability to persuade business partners to choose the most effective route.
• Good numeracy skills
• Quality orientation.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Results focused.
• Ability to solve problems.
• Good communication skills.
• Conflict resolution.
• Honesty and integrity.
• Diplomatic and mindful of impact.
• Team focused.
• Customer service centricity.
• Ability to provide coaching and guidance.
• Systems orientation.
• Cross cultural awareness