Senior Manager: Pensions and Benefits at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• This role is accountable for the execution and operationalisation of the approved Absa Group Pensions and Employee Benefits strategy, policy and related practices and services.
• This includes tactical design and delivery plans, formulation of associated practice/s and ensuring operational implementation and adoption.
• The role will also support the effective implementation of technological solutions to enhance/improve employee engagement with their pension and benefit arrangements and strengthen management of these arrangements.

Job Description

Strategic Development and Partnering:

• Specialist advice to the Group’s various operating entities on pensions and employee benefits.
• Lead and/or oversee specific approved pension and benefits projects across the various parts of the Absa landscape as required.
• Ensure effective pension and benefits governance.
• Support local (entity-level) pension and benefit arrangements by providing technical/specialist assistance to local Human Capital teams in specific African and International Operations locations.
• Technical Research and delivery of pensions and employee benefits policy: 
• Remain abreast of international, African and local International Office pension and benefits developments and trends (including legislative and regulatory change) and review these for the impact for implementation.
• Support Group Reward initiatives that impact on Absa’s pensions and benefits e.g. organisation restructuring, employee benefit improvements.
• Support the delivery of Absa pension and benefits projects e.g. mergers, acquisitions and disposals, plan design changes, operational change.
• Contribute to Absa’s pension communications across the enterprise to ensure that the content is appropriate.
• Respond to complex pension and benefits cases.
• Application of employee pensions and employee benefits policy and delivery: 
• Be a subject matter expert/technical point of reference for business units, providing technical support/advice to assist their commercial and human capital objectives and pension & benefits education strategy.
• Support due diligence and implementation planning for acquisitions, disposals, out-sourcing, etc. that assists the Group’s commercial negotiations.
• Support and operationalise the management of the relationship with the various Trustee and other internal governance bodies across the Absa pensions and benefits landscape.
• Support the optimisation of the working relationship with third party providers to ensure efficiency and ‘best in class’ practice.
• Enhance pension and benefits education/upskilling.

Business Management:

• Agree and manage service offerings and SLAs with internal customers (agree annually and measure on a monthly basis).

Risk and Compliance: 

• Ensure that processes, control requirements and risk management frameworks that have been reviewed and implemented for the area are understood by all members of the team.
• For audit findings that have an impact on the Centre of Expertise, work with the Head of Pensions and Benefits to close out findings and implement required actions.     
• During scheduled audits and management assurance reviews, ensure that all information required by the auditors are provided timeously.
• Support the management of all risk and compliance matters relating to pension and benefits issues, both internally and externally.

Education and Experience Required:

• Minimum of 5 years+ direct international employee benefits advisory, management and implementation experience (ideally in more than one industry/environment, but preferably including financial services).  This could be either as an internal pensions and benefits specialist, or as a pensions and benefits consultant advising external clients.  The incumbent is able to operate as an independent contributor.
• Experience of leading/participating in cross-border projects in delivering pensions and employee benefits solutions.
• Experience of working within a large corporate or within a reputable pensions/employee benefits consulting/advisory firm preferred.
• Degree in commerce, management or finance on NQF 7 equivalent.
• Professional Body Registration (e.g. Actuarial Society, Institute of Chartered Accountants) is not required, but will be an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills: 

• Stakeholder Management – business-level executive committees, Human Capital Leads, cross functional teams.
• Cross-functional delivery.
• Strong understanding of Employee Benefits/Pension Funds practices (including technical requirements), legislation, regulation and governance.
• External liaison – Employee Benefits/Pension Funds (regulators, governance structures, third-party suppliers) in all Absa locations.

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

End Date: October 31, 2025