Senior Manager: Financial Planning & Operations

Senior Manager: Financial Planning & Operations

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.
About Vitality

About Vitality

Vitality, a subsidiary of Discovery Group, is at the forefront of transforming lives through its innovative behavioural change programme. Vitality inspires and empowers members to embrace healthier habits—whether it’s getting active, practising safe driving, or making sound financial choices. By rewarding positive actions, Vitality not only motivates members to achieve their wellness goals but also offers a wide range of exciting rewards, making the journey to a healthier lifestyle both fun and truly rewarding.

Job Purpose

The position of Senior Manager: Financial Planning & Operations is a dynamic and pivotal role, reporting directly to the Vitality RSA CFO. This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious professional who thrives on challenge and is passionate about making a meaningful impact. This role requires someone with strong business acumen, a focus on risk, and the ability to proactively solve complex problems with innovation. More than just a numbers expert, the Senior Manager: Financial Planning & Operations acts as a trusted financial advisor to the CFO, Finance Heads of Department, and other Vitality Executives. You will be at the heart of shaping the financial future of the organisation, providing visionary planning, insightful analysis, and forward-thinking financial modelling. Your expertise will guide strategic decisions that directly influence the success and growth of Discovery Vitality.

In this role, you have the unique opportunity to deeply immerse yourself in the vibrant world of both Vitality and the broader Discovery Group. By understanding our partner relationships, commercial arrangements, and the intricacies of both local and international markets, you will develop a holistic perspective that empowers you to drive real change. Your efforts will be supported by close collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders—both within Vitality and Discovery, as well as with external partners.This role is highly collaborative, engaging with teams across Financial Reporting, Member Benefit Payments, Data Operations, Actuarial, and Product Research and Development. You will work alongside people at all levels, and your technical competence and attention to detail will allow you to uncover critical insights within data and financial models.

Most importantly, you will have the ability to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable insights, making a tangible difference in how we achieve our purpose to make people healthier and enhance lives.
If you are ready to embrace a role where your expertise, curiosity, and passion can ignite positive change—not just for Discovery Vitality, but for the wellbeing of our members and communities—this is your chance to shine.

Areas of responsibility includes but is not limited to:

1. Oversight of financial planning and analysis (FP&A) process, specifically:

• Drive the delivery of value-added analysis and modelling of revenue, benefits, overheads, CAPEX and cash flow for the company.
• Lead the creation and management of monthly forecasts and annual budgets, ensuring they align with financial reporting and data integrity
• Coordinate with finance teams to utilise financial planning platforms for robust forecasting.
• Oversee forecasting and modelling for ring-fenced businesses to ensure financial stability and compliance.
• Monitor and report accurate business KPIs and performance metrics.
• Drive the production of additional financial insights and ad hoc reports to support strategic decision-making as and when required.

2. Building for the future:

• Required to drive system design, implementation and process optimisation processes impacting Finance Planning & Operations team in collaboration with other teams (systems, business analysts, project managers etc).
• Collaborate with data specialists to optimise processes and develop dashboards for KPI monitoring.
• Drive and implement AI and innovate for process improvements.

3. Required to form and maintain good relationships with external as well as internal partners and stakeholders.
4. Required to foster collaboration across various Vitality teams (Financial Reporting, Member Benefit Payments, Data Operations, Actuarial, and Product Research and Development, etc.) and other Discovery businesses to support business growth and operational excellence.
5. Oversight of Partner Payments and Receivables team and ensure efficient working capital process.
6. Responsible to tax management which includes tax risk assessments, VAT reconciliations and payments, reporting to and liaising with the tax team with regards to income tax payments.
7. Review, approve, and present reports and analyses to senior leadership, stakeholders and forums (e.g. EXCO).
8. Provides good leadership and coaching to Finance Planning & Operations team.

Personal Attributes and Skills

• Impeccable attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong financial and commercial acumen
• Passionate about investing time to analyse, understand and report on data, products and processes
• Confident people person eager to create and maintain and build relations and manager stakeholders
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to work and manage a team under pressure to meet strict deadlines
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Flexible with an ability to deal with ambiguity and continuous change
• The ability to understand and work with undefined parameters
• Ability to provide strategic insights based on partner and market activity
• Ability to deal with complex issues and migrate between detail and high-level requirements
• Modelling and data analysis experience or an interest in basic financial modelling and data analysis
• Market awareness (locally & internationally)
• Must have integrity and be ethical in decision-making
• A strong desire for professional development and a high learning potential 

Minimum Education & Work Experience

Minimum requirements: 

• Minimum professional qualification required: CA (SA)
• At least 6 - 8 years’ plus post-qualification experience of which 3 - 4 years must be with management experience
• Previous experience in a similar Financial Planning role of at least 3 years
• Extensive experience working with MS Office packages, including Excel, Word & PowerPoint with a keen interest and/or experience with the application of AI
• Financial Services experience

Advantageous:

• Consultancy experience post articles, especially in valuations or other areas requiring forecasting and analytics skills
• Advanced experience with data analytics and financial modelling experience and/or qualifications

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY   
                             
The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.