Senior Manager - Private Equity (Fund Accounting&Administration), Johannesburg

The Apex Group was established in Bermuda in 2003 and is now one of the world's largest fund administration and middle office solutions providers. Our business is unique in its ability to reach globally, service locally and provide cross-jurisdictional services. With our clients at the heart of everything we do, our hard‑working team has successfully delivered on an unprecedented growth and transformation journey, and we are now represented by over circa 13,000 employees across 112 offices worldwide.

Job Title Senior Manager - Private Equity Fund Accounting and Administration

Location Cape Town, South Africa

Employment Type Permanent

Reporting To Locally to Head of Private Equity Operations (South Africa) and internationally to the Client Director

Role Summary The Senior Manager is accountable for end-to-end delivery of Private Equity fund administration for one or more strategic clients. You will provide hands‑on operational oversight and senior client engagement, acting as the escalation point for complex delivery, technical and risk matters. Working across Fund Administration and adjacent service lines (e.g., ManCo/AIFM support, Depositary), you will coordinate stakeholders to deliver accurate, on‑time outputs, strengthen controls, drive process improvement, and coach VPs and Managers.

Key Deliverables (KPIs)

On-time, accurate delivery of agreed outputs (NAV/financial packs, capital activity, investor reporting, and other scoped deliverables).

Own escalations end-to-end (root cause, remediation, and prevention).

Audit-ready delivery and strong control outcomes (timely closure of queries; adherence to governance standards).

Proactive operational risk management for assigned clients (identify, mitigate, monitor).

Lead and develop the Manager / Assistant Manager (coaching, delegation, performance, retention).

Deliver measurable process improvements (reduced defects/rework, shorter cycle times, lower risk).

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Client Engagement (Hands‑On)

Own delivery for one or more strategic/complex clients, staying close to day‑to‑day execution where required.

Build deep knowledge of the client's strategy, governance, operating model, and priorities.

Be the client's trusted operational partner; support Manager / Assistant Manager on communications while remaining visibly engaged on key topics.

Operational Escalation&Problem Solving

Primary escalation point for complex operational, technical, and delivery issues.

Lead cross‑team resolution across jurisdictions/service lines with clear ownership and deadlines.

Balance priorities, client impact, and operational risk; drive root‑cause fixes (not workarounds).

Cross‑Service&Internal Navigation

Navigate the organisation on behalf of clients across Fund Accounting and Administration and adjacent areas (ManCo/AIFM support, Depositary, Onboarding, Compliance and Risk).

Align internal teams and messaging; ensure issues are owned and not handled in silos.

Set clear ways of working and expectations for both clients and internal stakeholders.

Technical&Delivery Oversight

Interpret LPAs/side letters and ensure terms are correctly operationalised (fees, waterfalls, reporting).

Perform senior reviews of key deliverables and strengthen review frameworks across the team.

Maintain oversight across the broader portfolio while staying close to delivery detail.

Team Leadership&Capability

Lead, coach and develop VPs/Managers in escalations, prioritisation and senior client engagement.

Set standards for operational excellence, accountability and quality across the team.

Risk, Control&Quality

Own operational risk for assigned clients; ensure adherence to control frameworks, governance and internal policies.

Lead responses to audits, due diligence requests and internal quality reviews for strategic clients.

Continuous Improvement

Identify recurring issues and drive scalable improvements in process, controls and ways of working.

Support change initiatives including fund launches, migrations, transitions and system enhancements.

Required Experience, Qualifications&Skills

8+ years' PE Fund accounting and administration experience, including 3+ years at managerial level.

Experience preparing/reviewing fund financial statements and reporting under IFRS or relevant GAAP framework, including audit support.

Proven escalation management for complex funds/clients with strong judgement and prioritisation.

Strong working knowledge of LPAs/side letters and translating terms into operations (fees, waterfalls, reporting).

Experience coordinating delivery across multiple service lines and stakeholders.

Private equity systems exposure preferably eFront or Allvue. Demonstrated strong Excel skills and familiarity with GL/investor reporting and workflow tools advantageous.

Strong communication and problem‑solving skills; able to drive process improvement.

Proven people leadership (coaching, performance management, developing teams).

Detail‑oriented and effective under pressure and deadlines.

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