Payments SME

Line of Service Industry/Sector Specialism Management Level Manager Job Description & Summary At PwC, our people in finance consulting specialise in providing consulting services related to financial management and strategy. These individuals analyse client needs, develop financial solutions, and offer guidance and support to help clients optimise their financial performance, improve decision-making, and achieve their financial goals. As a finance consulting generalist at PwC, you will possess a broad understanding of various aspects of finance consulting. Your work will involve providing comprehensive guidance and support to clients in optimising their financial performance, improving decision-making, and achieving their financial goals. You will be responsible for analysing client needs, developing financial solutions, and offering recommendations tailored to specific business requirements. Enhancing your leadership style, you motivate, develop and inspire others to deliver quality. You are responsible for coaching, leveraging team member’s unique strengths, and managing performance to deliver on client expectations. With your growing knowledge of how business works, you play an important role in identifying opportunities that contribute to the success of our Firm. You are expected to lead with integrity and authenticity, articulating our purpose and values in a meaningful way. You embrace technology and innovation to enhance your delivery and encourage others to do the same. Examples of the skills, knowledge, and experiences you need to lead and deliver value at this level include but are not limited to: Analyse and identify the linkages and interactions between the component parts of an entire system. Take ownership of projects, ensuring their successful planning, budgeting, execution, and completion. Partner with team leadership to ensure collective ownership of quality, timelines, and deliverables. Develop skills outside your comfort zone, and encourage others to do the same. Effectively mentor others. Use the review of work as an opportunity to deepen the expertise of team members. Address conflicts or issues, engaging in difficult conversations with clients, team members and other stakeholders, escalating where appropriate. Uphold and reinforce professional and technical standards (e.g. refer to specific PwC tax and audit guidance), the Firm's code of conduct, and independence requirements. 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  Data protection notice:   By applying for this position, you consent to the collection, use, and storage of your personal information in accordance with PwC’s data protection policy. Your information will be used solely for recruitment purposes and will not be shared with third parties without your written consent.  Equal opportunity employer statement:  PwC is committed to transformation and employment equity, in alignment with the Employment Equity Act of South Africa. We strive to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the demographics of our country. Our goal is to foster an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute to our shared success.  Education (if blank, degree and/or field of study not specified) Degrees/Field of Study required: Degrees/Field of Study preferred: Certifications (if blank, certifications not specified) Required Skills Optional Skills Accepting Feedback, Accepting Feedback, Accounting Consulting, Accounting Policies, Active Listening, Analytical Thinking, Coaching and Feedback, Communication, Compliance With Accounting Standards, Complying With Regulations, Creativity, Economic Forecasting, Embracing Change, Emotional Regulation, Empathy, Financial Accounting, Financial Economics, Financial Management, Financial Market, Financial Modeling, Financial Regulation, Financial Reporting, Financial Risk Management, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statement Preparation {+ 16 more} Desired Languages (If blank, desired languages not specified) Travel Requirements Up to 20% Available for Work Visa Sponsorship? No Government Clearance Required? Yes Job Posting End Date October 30, 2026