Payment Specialist at PwC South Africa

Job summary: 

• We are seeking a highly motivated Strategy Analyst at Manager grade to support and lead strategic initiatives across our Payments business. The role requires strong analytical capability, commercial acumen, and deep understanding of the payments ecosystem.
• You will work closely with senior leaders to define strategy, assess growth opportunities, and drive execution across complex, cross‑functional initiatives. 
• This role combines hands‑on strategic analysis with team leadership and stakeholder management, making it ideal for a candidate with a strong background in payments and experience operating at manager or engagement‑lead level. 

Key responsibilities: 

Strategy & Commercial Analysis 

• Lead strategic assessments across payments (e.g. cards, digital wallets, real‑time payments, acquiring, issuing, cross‑border, billing, or embedded finance) 
• Develop market, competitor, and ecosystem analyses to inform strategic decision‑making 
• Build robust financial and commercial models to evaluate new products, partnerships, and investments 
• Support the definition of medium‑ and long‑term payments strategy, including growth, pricing, and operating model considerations 

Execution & Delivery 

• Translate strategy into actionable initiatives with clear milestones, KPIs, and success measures 
• Drive end‑to‑end delivery of strategic projects, from hypothesis development to executive‑level recommendations 
• Identify risks, dependencies, and trade‑offs, and proactively propose mitigation plans 
• Partner with Product, Technology, Risk, Compliance, and Operations teams to ensure feasibility and alignment 

Leadership & Stakeholder Management 

• Manage and coach junior analysts, providing guidance on analytical approach, storylining, and problem solving 
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, including Payments leadership and executive management 
• Facilitate workshops, steering committees, and decision forums with confidence and clarity 
• Influence decision‑making through clear, concise, and data‑driven insights 

Thought Leadership & Continuous Improvement 

• Stay current on payments trends, regulatory developments, and emerging technologies 
• Contribute to thought leadership on the future of payments and implications for the business 
• Continuously improve strategic frameworks, tools, and ways of working within the strategy function 

Skills and competencies: 

Essential 

• 6–10+ years’ experience in strategy, consulting, corporate strategy, or commercial roles, with significant exposure to Payments 
• Strong understanding of the payments value chain and economics 
• Proven ability to lead complex, ambiguous workstreams and deliver high‑quality strategic outputs 
• Advanced analytical and financial modelling skills 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to senior audiences 
• Demonstrated people‑management or team‑lead experience 

Desirable 

• Experience in banking, fintech, payment networks, or consulting (payments‑focused) 
• Exposure to digital transformation, platform strategy, or product‑led growth in payments 
• MBA or postgraduate qualification in Business, Finance, or Strategy 

Job Posting End Date

• May 8, 2026