Management Level
Senior Associate
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.
Focused on relationships, you are building meaningful client connections, and learning how to manage and inspire others. Navigating increasingly complex situations, you are growing your personal brand, deepening technical expertise and awareness of your strengths. You are expected to anticipate the needs of your teams and clients, and to deliver quality. Embracing increased ambiguity, you are comfortable when the path forward isn’t clear, you ask questions, and you use these moments as opportunities to grow.
Examples of the skills, knowledge, and experiences you need to lead and deliver value at this level include but are not limited to:
- Respond effectively to the diverse perspectives, needs, and feelings of others.
- Use a broad range of tools, methodologies and techniques to generate new ideas and solve problems.
- Use critical thinking to break down complex concepts.
- Understand the broader objectives of your project or role and how your work fits into the overall strategy.
- Develop a deeper understanding of the business context and how it is changing.
- Use reflection to develop self awareness, enhance strengths and address development areas.
- Interpret data to inform insights and recommendations.
- 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.
Travel Requirements
Up to 20%
Available for Work Visa Sponsorship?
No
Job Posting End Date
May 8, 2026