PROJECT MANAGER - FINANCE

### **Job Advert Summary** Rand Water is currently looking for a Project Manager \- Finance to engage in a strategic and results\-oriented role responsible for the successful planning, execution, and delivery of complex projects within the Finance Business Unit (FBU). This role will leverage extensive project management experience to lead cross\-functional teams, manage budgets and resources, and ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and to a high standard of quality. ### **Minimum Requirements** * BCom Degree or equivalent PM Diploma preferably in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Project Management * PEMBOK/PRINCE 2/ Waterfall/ Agile PM qualification * Master's Degree (Preferred): An MBA or a Master's degree in Finance or Project Management can be highly advantageous, demonstrating advanced knowledge and leadership potential. Experience * A minimum of 5\-7 years of experience in project management, with a proven track record of success in leading complex projects. * 3 – 5 years’ experience in Monitoring \& Evaluation ### **Primary Duties** * Project Delivery Excellence: Plan, execute, and deliver projects on time, within approved scope and budget, and in line with defined quality standards. * Team Leadership and Collaboration: Lead and motivate cross\-functional project teams by setting clear expectations, providing guidance and mentorship, and proactively resolving issues and conflicts. * Budget and Resource Management: Manage project budgets and resources effectively, including cost tracking, forecasting, risk mitigation, and ensuring optimal utilization of financial and human resources. * Stakeholder and Quality Management: Ensure all project deliverables meet agreed specifications and quality requirements through ongoing engagement with stakeholders to align expectations and outcomes. * Project Monitoring and Evaluation (M\&E): Develop and implement robust M\&E frameworks, including defining measurable KPIs, tracking progress, analysing performance data, and reporting on project outcomes and value realization. * Data\-Driven Decision Support: Use M\&E insights and project performance data to inform decision\-making, improve delivery efficiency, and ensure alignment with organizational and financial objectives. * Cross\-Functional Integration: Collaborate closely with Finance and other business units to integrate project reporting with broader organizational performance and financial metrics. ### **Knowledge** **Project Management:** * Project Management Methodologies: Understanding various project management methodologies like Waterfall, Agile, and Scrum, and the ability to choose the most appropriate approach for the specific financial project. * Project Planning and Scheduling: Expertise in developing comprehensive project plans, including breaking down work into tasks, estimating timelines, and defining resource requirements. * Risk Management: Proactive skills in identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential project risks that could impact timelines, costs, or project success. * Budget Management: Ability to manage project budgets effectively, track expenditures, and identify areas for cost optimization. * Stakeholder Management: Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively manage stakeholder expectations, address concerns, and keep everyone informed throughout the project lifecycle. * Project Management Software: Proficiency in using project management software tools like MS Project to manage tasks, track progress, and collaborate with team members. Financial Knowledge: * Financial Processes and Regulations: A solid understanding of core financial processes relevant to the ### **Skills** **Technical Skills:** * Project Management Methodologies: The ability to understand and apply various project management methodologies like Waterfall, Agile, and Scrum to choose the best fit for the financial project at hand. * Project Management Software: Proficiency in using project management software tools like MS Project to manage tasks, track progress, collaborate with teams, and generate reports. * Data Analysis: Basic skills in analysing financial data, interpreting reports, and understanding key financial metrics to make informed project decisions. * **Soft Skills:** * Leadership: The ability to motivate, inspire, and guide project teams towards achieving common goals. This includes setting clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a collaborative work environment. * Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to clearly articulate project plans, progress updates, and * challenges to stakeholders at all levels. Active listening is also key to understand stakeholder needs and concerns. * Negotiation: Skilled negotiation is essential for securing resources, managing contracts with vendors, and resolving conflicts that may arise during the project lifecycle. * Interpersonal Skills: The ability to build strong relationships with team members, stakeholders, and external partners. This involves fostering trust, transparency, and open communication. Problem\-Solving: Strong analytical and problem\-solving skills to identify and overcome challenges that may arise throughout the project. * **M\&E Skills** * M\&E Plan Development: The ability to design and develop comprehensive M\&E plans tailored to financial projects. This includes defining data collection methods, KPIs, reporting structures, and integrating M\&E with overall project management. * Results Orientation * Leadership and Influence * Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management * Analytical and Critical Thinking * Planning, Organisation, and Discipline * Adaptability and Resilience * Communication and Collaboration * Data Analysis and Interpretation: The ability to analyze project data using appropriate tools and methodologies. This includes identifying trends, assessing project performance against KPIs, and drawing insights to inform decision\-making. * Reporting and Communication: Excellent communication and reporting skills to present M\&E findings in a clear, concise, and compelling way. M\&E reports should cater to different audiences (technical and non\-technical) and effectively communicate project progress, challenges, lessons learned, and the project's financial impact. * Ethical Conduct and Professional Integrity * Data Management: Strong skills in managing project data throughout the lifecycle. This involves ensuring data quality, identifying and addressing data collection challenges, and overseeing data storage and security measures. ### **Attitude** * Results Orientation * Leadership and Influence * Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management * Analytical and Critical Thinking * Planning, Organisation, and Discipline * Adaptability and Resilience * Communication and Collaboration * Ethical Conduct and Professional Integrity