IT Manager: Group Finance Applications at Old Mutual South Africa

Role overview

This role is responsible for the delivery of a variety of IT services to support business objectives and is individually accountable for achieving results by leading a team of IT resources, over periods of up to 1 year. The IT Manager's business portfolio is smaller than that of a Senior IT Manager. The successful candidate will form part of the Old Mutual Group Finance IT Delivery team.

The incumbent will be responsible for the management of the delivery lifecycle for Group Finance applications. He/she will have to collaborate with business stakeholders and IT interfaces, creating and maintaining solutions that are synergistic to the IT Strategy and Group Finance Portfolio. The incumbent will also apply subject matter expertise to identify, develop, and implement techniques to improve engagement productivity, increase efficiencies, mitigate risks, resolve issues, and optimize cost savings and efficiencies.

Role Description / Key Performance Areas

Specific KRA’s

• Accountable for the efficient operation of the area.
• Provides thought leadership (operational and tactical focus) in areas of responsibility.
• Manages various stakeholders in areas of responsibility.
• Responsible for application and infrastructure management in areas of responsibility.
• Responsible for change management around IT Implementations and upgrades.
• Responsible for clear and effective communication to team and business.
• Provides technical consulting services where required.
• Accountable for financial management in areas of responsibility.
• Oversee Management and delivery of Projects.
• Responsible for people management – includes talent management, change leadership.
• ·Ensures continuous service improvement.
• Ensures systems security.
• Responsible for aligning technology and technology support to business needs.
• Effectively management of risks within the portfolio.

Generic KRA’s

Budget Control

• Responsible for the financial management of the area, including budget setting and expense and income monitoring.

IT Solution Delivery Management

• Actively demonstrate proactive resource planning and demand management capabilities.
• Project gates - collaborate with the Business and Delivery partners to understand the business strategies and priorities and articulate the scope, business outcomes and targeted roles that will benefit from the investment. Collaborate with the Delivery and Business Partners to optimize the project schedule/scope.
•  User Acceptance Test - Engage as SME’s during the User Acceptance Test to validate the business requirements in the pre-production environment.
• Change Management - Champion the change management plan by collaborating with business partners and IT to prepare for adoption and realize business value.

Team Effectiveness

• Accountable for others' time, task and output quality.
• Balances own priorities with directing and motivating others.
• Creates a climate for optimal performance.
• Guides and directs staff to achieve operational excellence standards.
• Individually accountable for customer/client service delivery through efforts of a team.
• Manage individual and team performance.
• Plans and assigns work over the applicable period.
• Selects potential staff to sustain customer/client service delivery.

Vendor & Contract Management

• Manages the relationship between service providers and Old Mutual, including negotiations, contractualisation, service and support (SLAs).
• Responsible for IT Contracts Management.

Consulting

• Consults on IT strategy and architecture from technical and business perspectives.
• Provides technical and solutions advice.

Requirements: Skills, Qualifications and Experience required

• Matric, plus relevant tertiary qualification (degree/diploma).
• 7 years relevant IS work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing financials applications.
• Must have working knowledge of Financial and Project Management.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of ITIL processes and principles
• Up to date with trends in financial systems.
• Building Customer and Partner Relationships - establishing and maturing relationships across multiple teams.
• Confidence - takes ownership of challenging situations that require engagement with stakeholders. Engages stakeholders to drive positive outcomes.
• Keep abreast of best practice within the IT sector and must drive Innovation in the team.
• Solid experience in working in a multi discipline team fostering collaboration and team work.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and facilitations skills and business acumen.
• Experience in the Insurance industry and financial applications will be advantageous.
• Experience working with offshore IT teams as well as SAAS/PAAS/IAAS solutions will be advantageous.
• Agile delivery and experience highly advantageous.

Attributes / Competencies

• Strategic
• Change as a Way of Executing
• Leading with influence
• Collaboration (Diversity & Inclusion)
• Agile Innovation
• Customer First
• Personal Mastery (Lifelong Learning)