Engineering Operation Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Role Summary:

• A junior restructuring capability that will support the PwC Africa Operational Restructuring Lead with the capability and practice build-out - mainly through business development - and project delivery excellence.
• The role will be professionally demanding, leading complex client situations - focussed on operational turnaround and performance improvement, across industry and business requirements.

Qualifications / Certifications required:

• Engineer or relevant professional qualification (e.g. MBA, APICS, CPIM)

Experience required:

• Experience of operational improvement programmes
• Advisory experience from a management consultancy, advisory firm or as an 'internal consultant' in a corporate
• Operations experience, across one or more sectors: engineering, financial services, retail, industrial, consumer, high tech, utilities, logistics, telecoms and energy
• Proven P&L analysis, cash flow and balance sheet work
• Competent with spreadsheets, financial and operational KPIs. Comfortable with financial analysis
• Track record in business development

Responsibilities of role:

• As a member of the PwC CARS (Capital Advisory and Restructuring Services) team, the candidate will be involved in a variety of restructuring and performance improvement projects across a diverse range of industries and will gain exposure to a wide range of clients.
• PwC CARS services a wide spectrum of clients ranging from large, listed multinationals through to entrepreneurial, owner managed businesses, covering both domestic and cross Africa border work.
• We are looking for an Associate to join our growing team to work on high-profile clients experiencing stress / distress to their business model and who require turnaround or transformation with a financial, and/ or an operational restructuring lens, spanning a broad range of industry sectors.
• You’ll provide advice and assistance around restructuring and/or turnaround.

Typically you will work with clients to identify and implement rapid, tactical and sustainable operational restructuring measures, for example you will advise on:

• Independent business reviews
• Turnaround strategies, with specific performance intervention measures and targets
• Strategic options analysis
• Contingency planning reviews
• Cost out and EBITDA optimisation initiatives
• Short-term cash flow reviews and forecasting, helping clients see and control their cash positions
• Cash levers to smooth cash flow/ conserve cash
• Working capital improvement plans
• Restructuring Office services - helping client management develop and implement turnaround programs

In addition to these services you’ll be expected to:

• Take on a “hands-on” role to manage stakeholders and inspire change
• Provide robust management and monitoring of change programmes
• Be responsible for the day to day leadership of projects with minimal oversight from a Director/Partner
• Interface directly with client management, financiers and other advisors
• Prepare presentations and/or reports to key stakeholders (e.g. Board, Private Equity investor, lenders, etc.)
• Work alongside other PwC teams, including specialist lines of service and sector experts.

You will also be expected to take an active part in our team and practice development and will typically:

• Take responsibility for one or more areas of internal team management
• Take the lead in areas of business development and origination efforts
• Become an active counselor, coach and role model to other team members
• Supporting the needs of the go-to-market strategy.

Skill sets required:

• To be successful in this role, strong financial analysis skills and commercial business acumen are critical.
• You will be able to demonstrate a high level of agility in a demanding environment and be able to effectively communicate with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Exceptional project management skills are considered fundamental together with critical thinking and a motivated and commercially astute approach to business restructuring needs.

Candidates will display the following competencies:

• Possesses a high degree of self-motivation and energy, agility and the ability to drive for high quality, meeting of deadlines and track record of setting and achieving goals
• Good interpersonal and client relationship skills and the ability to relate to people at all levels of an organisation
• A highly motivated, confident individual with presence
• A proactive and dynamic team player who can provide coaching and guidance to junior team members where appropriate;
• Problem solving capabilities / skills with the ability to think strategically, innovatively and “out the box”
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of agility in a demanding environment
• An interest in and knowledge of the financial markets and the significant turnaround opportunity across SMA and Africa
• A desire to build on commercial and industry knowledge
• A desire and motivation to apply interest and knowledge to proactive origination and account targeting

Financial analysis skills

• Astute negotiation skills with the ability to develop negotiation strategies

Conflict management skill

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential, including the ability to storyboard commercial solutions for clients including on projects and proposals - be able to write succinct, well-structured reports and client communications;
• Project and client management skill including the ability to run independently with projects when necessary;
• Highly rated with good academic credentials; and
• Proven ability to multitask and ensure effective delivery of the priorities to meet targets and objectives and who works effectively under pressure.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 20%

Available for Work Visa Sponsorship?

• No

Job Posting End Date

• July 5, 2025