Jobs at Allan Gray Proprietary Limitedc

Job Summary

• We are looking for a self-motivated individual to join the Institutional IT team as a test analyst in delivering quality software that will create an exceptional user experience for our end-users. 
• Allan Gray Institutional IT team consists of appr. 65 members, covering a range of skills and responsibilities including Domain Owners, Development Manager, Architect, Business Analysts, Developers (.NET and SQL) and IT Operations. The team operates with four business-aligned domains (Front Office, Middle Office, Fund Operations and Client Servicing). 
• Additionally, the Tech domain and IT Operations teams support the business-aligned domains.
• What you can expect: You will work predominantly within the Client Services Domain performing functional and regression testing as well as resolving production defects. 

Please note: This is a Cape Town based role and you will be required to be in office for a minimum of 3 days / week, with a Monday and Thursday as compulsory.  

Job Responsibilities

• Extracting test requirements for user stories,
• Designing and creating test cases,
• Estimating effort for testing tasks,
• Manual testing of applications, which includes front-end, system integration, regression, and end-to-end as well as exploratory testing,
• Managing and maintaining manual regression test suites,
• Product risk mitigation, thereby limiting defects in production,
• Collaborating closely with developers and business analysts in identifying, logging, and verifying defects in a defect tracking system,
• Collaborating with other teams in INST IT for integration testing.
• Assist in production support issues and queries.
• Liaise with IT Ops and other Domains for support to resolve or assist with fixes.
• Continuous improvement initiatives specifically with regard to quality and performance

Skills and experience required

• 4 years test experience
• Basic SQL skills
• Attention to detail
• Data analysis and reporting skills
• Good verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills

Ability to: 

• Manage own time and get tasks done
• Grasp concepts and understand the systems being tested
• Deal with complexity
• Deal with high variability of work and context switching
• Be comfortable with a fair amount of unpredictability in daily tasks
• Resolve issues and overcome obstacles
• Able to engage with others to gather information

Nice to have:

• Knowledge on asset management

Education

• Relevant Business/ Commerce/ IT degree.
• Testing fundamentals training / Test certification
• Exposure to Agile methodologies (e.g. SCRUM) would be advantageous

go to method of application »

Purpose of the role

• Our Client Service Centre is integral to our service offering for clients and independent financial advisers. As an Investment Service Consultant, your purpose will be to build clients’ and advisers’ trust and confidence through providing world-class service.
• Our consultants do impactful work by empowering our clients on their investment journey. You will gain in-depth knowledge of Allan Gray's range of products and develop the necessary skills to confidently communicate with and educate our clients.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide excellent service to investors, potential investors and independent financial advisers via our various servicing channels, i.e. inbound calls and emails, face-to-face interactions.
• Build trust and confidence by explaining our investment philosophy and long-term approach to investing.
• Educate clients by sharing product and fund knowledge and empower them to make informed investment decisions.
• Take end-to-end ownership of transactions and ensure accurate record-keeping.
• Actively participate in the organisation’s drive towards continuous improvement by contributing to solutions to client problems.
• Skills and Competencies
• This role is suited to individuals who are highly performance driven and seek new challenges.
• A growth mindset and resilience are key attributes to successfully navigate the ever-changing needs of clients and the financial services industry.
• The role requires high adaptability, vigour and agility.
• Our consultants need to be empathetic and client focused.  
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• The ability to deal with complexity in a high-pressure environment, analytical thinking, attention to detail and problem-solving ability are crucial to ensure we always do what is best for clients.
• A genuine passion for people and a commitment to service excellence are vital to building long-term and meaningful relationships with our clients.
• Consistently strong academic record. 

Qualifications

• A completed or currently completing a Bachelors of Commerce or Business Science degree
• Specialisations in Finance, Economics, Investment Management, Statistics and related fields will be considered

go to method of application »

Job Description

• As a Business Development Manager (BDM), you will report to the Regional Manager and be responsible for maintaining and growing a panel of Financial Advisers in the Pretoria region. Through marketing, service delivery and product knowledge, the BDM is expected to achieve certain sales targets as determined by the Regional Manager.

Responsibilities
Sales, Marketing and Relationship Building 

• Manage and develop relationships with IFAs and their support staff that will lead to mutually beneficial outcomes
• Maintain and grow business flows from designated IFA panels for both the Allan Gray Manco and Platform
• Deliver against determined sales targets
• Ensure IFAs have a deep understanding of the Allan Gray investment philosophy, platform value proposition and long-term goals of Allan Gray
• Promote Allan Gray, its products, funds and services
• Ensure IFAs and support staff are trained on Allan Gray systems and processes
• Manage distribution of marketing collateral
• Conduct presentations to IFAs and clients when required
• Coordinate and oversee IFA presentations and events
• Ensure the highest standard of service excellence
• Identify industry trends and conduct competitor analysis

Operations and Administration

• Maintain records of IFA practice information including structure and plans
• Develop and execute annual strategic and business plans
• Manage IFA / client queries on an ongoing basis
• Track new business, assets under management, and outstanding requirements
• Report progress against targets to the Regional Manager
• Escalate incidents that may compromise Allan Gray values
• Arrange Regional Manager visits to IFAs
• Ensure cost-effective panel operations
• Liaise with Allan Gray head office divisions
• Maintain a portfolio of evidence for annual assessment

Experience and competencies

• Experience in financial services, client service or distribution
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
• Self-motivated, resilient, and action-oriented
• High integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to manage stress and shifting priorities

Education

• Relevant business degree
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification advantageous

go to method of application »

• We believe our Test Analysts play a vital role not just in ensuring the quality of the software we develop, but in making it better, all the way from backend to frontend.
• As a Test Analyst in our team, you will play a critical role in the design of our software to ensure it is developed with quality in mind from the very beginning and solving the many complex challenges along the way, using some of the industry’s latest technologies. Technical testing is a key part of what we do, so we expect our Test Analysts to have a strong technical background to help design, develop, and support the systems that enable us to deliver world class software rapidly.
• Our ideal candidate is very detail oriented, experienced, passionate, innovative, self-driven, curious, is a critical thinker, and willing to both learn and share knowledge. Our space will provide the chosen candidate plenty of opportunities to learn about the asset management industry and our technologies, give space for creativity, and an opportunity to provide tremendous value.

Job Responsibilities

• Take ownership of testing activities within your team across the SDLC.
• Apply and promote best testing practices within the team.
• Participate in defining the testing approach for each sprint:
• Work closely with Business Analysts to derive clear, testable user stories. 
• Collaborate closely with Developers, in identifying, logging, prioritizing, and verifying defects. 
• Contribute meaningfully to team ceremonies and quality discussions.
• Estimate testing effort and manage expectations around scope, risks, and timelines.
• Manage and maintain test data. 
• Contribute to manuCal and automated tests in-sprint.
• Actively contribute to increasing measurable manual and automation coverage at all levels.
• Maintain existing test packs.
• Document and execute manual tests.
• Create, debug, verify, and maintain automated scripts.
• Review others' Merge requests.
• Keep pipelines healthy and current.
•  
• Report on test execution, risks, and issues.
• Debug test results.
• Follow and drive root cause analysis to prevent future defects, both in Prod and In-sprint.
• Contribute to the use of available tools and technology.
• Implement quality improvement initiatives (supported by Senior testing leadership).
• Actively manage risk. 
• Provide first‑ and second‑line support for production issues when required.

Competencies

•   You have strong analytical thinking with the ability to break down complex problems into clear, test artifacts. 
• You have proven experience in API testing.
• You understand microservice architecture.
• You know how to read and write SQL, with experience testing within databases, reports, and applications.
• You have a practical understanding of CI/CD.
• You know where automation adds value (Unit, Integration, Acceptance Testing, E2E). 
• You understand the benefits and costs of manual vs automated testing.
• You are continually trying to improve your testing skills.  
• You have and can work under pressure and manage competing priorities. 
• You have solved complex testing issues. 
• You can drive testing tasks and manage expectations around them.
• You can understand requirements to come up with sufficient and measurable testing coverage.
• You can quickly learn new technologies and apply them effectively in testing.
• You can program.
• You have working knowledge JavaScript.
• You have experience in other scripting languages.

Education

• Degree in Computer Science or Information Systems ideal.