Best Practice Specialist at PPS

Purpose of the Job:

Reporting to the Best Practice Manager the incumbent will be responsible for providing the business with research insights and best practices to enable decision making and enhance business efficiencies.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Leverage data and reporting to generate key insights into ongoing business performance
• Identify and understand problems through forecasting, gap analysis, quantitative reporting, research, and statistical analysis
• Provide detailed analyses of data to provide trends and information for the use of management information (MI) and client trends
• Analyse habits and data available from competitors
• Use findings to assist in the development and implementation of advice frameworks
• Research market and industry trends and patterns
• Create detailed reports of findings
• Organise and store data for future research projects
• Document all data and research procedures
• Organise and conduct focus groups of project users
• Implement tests of processes, policies, and protocols
• Recommend changes and improvements based on research findings
• Write reports, white papers, and other published documents
• Keep up to date on industry developments and best practices
• Make decisions and solve problems involving varied levels of complexity, ambiguity and risk

Formal Qualifications:

• Matric
• Relevant tertiary qualification involving extensive research, ideally involving statistical analysis

Experience and Knowledge:

• 3 to 5 years’ experience in a same or similar role preferably in the Financial Services industry
• Project management and data analytics or applied research experience in financial services and or insurance industry
• Proven track record in researching, development and designing of protocols
• Strong data analytics experience essential
• Skilled in generating process documentation
• Knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of the graduate professional market
• Knowledge of best practise in financial advisory services
• Knowledge and understanding of the financial drivers of a sales and distribution model
• Knowledge of life insurance products
• A strong and consistent academic profile

Strategic Orientation:

• Knowledge and understanding of the PPS vision, strategy and member value proposition
• Understanding of the PPS Advisory Services and Enablement strategic objectives
• Acts with confidence and works independently most of the time

Communication:

• Articulate and communicates in a logical way and structures information to meet the needs and understanding of intended audiences
• Expresses opinions, information and key points of view clearly and assertively
• Confident in conceptualising, building and presenting concepts and plans.
• Anticipates and responds appropriately to the needs, reactions and feedback of an audience
• Exceptional networker and collaborator
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentation) with technical writing skills

Commercial Acumen:

• Demonstrates awareness of market trends and opportunities and keeps up to date with competitor developments impacting areas of responsibility
• Proven ability to maximise impact of stakeholder initiatives

Commercial Acumen:

• MS Office tools (e.g. MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Visio, etc).
• Data driven thinking, SQL
• Adept in the use of the latest Adobe Design suite.
• Adept in the use of Agile toolkits (e.g. JIRA, Trello, etc)

Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills:

• The establishment of a good network and collaborative relationships with the Advisory and Enablement environment
• Attention to detail and high levels of accuracy
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to multitask
• High level of cognitive ability and learning agility
• Capacity to take initiative and be self-directed
• Able to work in self-directed, fast-paced environment
• Sense of urgency and a self -starter
• Excellent at problem solving
• Conflict resolution skills
• Excellent relationship building skills
• Strong time management skills
• Excellent communicator