AI Systems & Implementations Operational Manager

ABOUT THE POSITION

This is a newly created role designed to sit at the operational and technological core of the The Company business. The Systems & AI Implementation Manager will own the integrity and effectiveness of our core business systems, lead the integration of AI tools across the firm, and drive implementation across finance, operations, and client-facing functions.

The role carries genuine authority and accountability — this person will be a key decision-maker on how the business runs, and will be expected to create order, build capability, and deliver measurable improvement.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This is a newly created role designed to sit at the operational and technological core of the The Company business. The Systems & AI Implementation Manager will own the integrity and effectiveness of our core business systems, lead the integration of AI tools across the firm, and drive implementation across finance, operations, and client-facing functions.

The role carries genuine authority and accountability — this person will be a key decision-maker on how the business runs, and will be expected to create order, build capability, and deliver measurable improvement.

ABOUT THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT

We are looking for a rare blend: someone who is commercially sharp, deeply curious about technology, and structured enough to actually get things done. This person sits at the intersection of operations, systems, and AI — they are not purely technical, nor purely strategic. They are a hands-on implementer who can think at a senior level, engage credibly with executives, manage a team, and then roll up their sleeves to build a process, write an SOP, or configure a system.

The ideal candidate is self-directed and thrives without a detailed brief. They ask the right questions, spot inefficiencies others miss, and bring both rigour and creativity to solving problems. They are excited by AI and new technology — not as a spectator, but as someone who actively experiments, evaluates, and integrates tools into the business.

It is a hands-on programme owner who understands business, is AI-native, drives systems adoption with genuine follow-through, and earns the respect of senior people through delivery.

• Accelo, HubSpot, ClickUp & UpSlide running correctly. Time & billing accurate. Data clean. Users trained and compliant.
• Utilising Teams recordings to prepare minutes next steps and project plans
• Live dashboards in place. Project profitability visible. Adoption >90%. Finance freed from manual reporting.Systems on autopilot. FM owns the finance-Accelo interface.
• New staff onboarded in under one week via documented SOPs. AI Enablement (All Businesses)
• AI tool audit complete. First use cases identified per business unit. Teams trained on Claude basics. At least one quick win live and measured.
• 2–3 embedded AI workflows per business. Measurable time savings documented and shared. Teams actively pulling for more.
• AI-native ways of working the norm. 30–50% productivity leverage achieved and evidenced. Operations Manager established as internal AI authority. The Company Capital (Corp Finance)
• UpSlide implemented.
• Claude teams linked to PowerPoints and word templates Accelo monthly profitability reporting
• Claude teams best practice, skills and artifacts in full utilisation
• Claude Upslide integration fully enabled. Claude a working teammate on all projects TCA Learnerships
• CV screening rubric built. Claude pre-scoring top 40 from 200 applications.
• Placement tracking live. Historical placement data patterns identified.
• Full pipeline visibility from application to post-placement outcome.
• AI Assessment process fully documented.
• Longitudinal success model in place.
• handling 60%+ of routine screening and assessment admin. TCA General Consulting UpSlide implemented.
• Value stream mapping and workflows understood. Current state and Strategy draft framework built in Claude.
• Standard deliverable sections produced by AI and reviewed — not written from scratch. Research time cut by 50%.
• Consulting team producing higher quality work faster. Claude or other relevant AI systems embedded in client delivery as standard practice across the team. ESD
• Internal efficiency confirmed. Content production AI workflow scoped and first cohort of beneficiaries tested.
• Course content produced 3x faster. First cohort customisation live and validated.
• Mentor capacity is augmented by Claude-powered tools
• ESD content library built at scale. If product play approved: first external AI tool prototype delivered to small business clients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES – WHAT THE MANAGER OWNS

The core objective of this role is to support the executive and management team to drive measurable efficiency and effectiveness across the business through AI integration, systems optimisation, and process improvement. Beyond efficiency, the role exists to improve the quality of what we deliver to our clients, the experience our clients have working with us, and the experience our people have doing the work. The responsibilities below are the levers through which these outcomes are delivered.

1. Systems Ownership & Optimisation

• The core systems must run properly before anything else is possible. You own the plan to get them there and keep them there.

• End-to-end ownership of Accelo, HubSpot, ClickUp, and UpSlide — implementation, adoption, hygiene, and ongoing improvement across both businesses

• Dashboards and reports that give leadership real visibility: project profitability, utilisation, pipeline, and delivery status

• User compliance through training, accountability structures, and documented SOPs

• Resolution of data integrity issues, elimination of workarounds, continuous system improvement

• Management of external system provider relationships as required

• Orchestration of Marketing manager (HubSpot), FM (Finance-Accelo), and Other systems agents (UpSlide/BI) toward agreed outcomes

2. AI Integration & Technology Management

Systems hygiene is the foundation that makes AI transformation possible. Once that foundation is credible, your mission is to make The Company genuinely AI-native.

• Lead the practical integration of AI tools across the business, including Claude, ChatGPT, Gamma, UpSlide, and others

• Utilised Teams and MS365 optimally -AI enablement with Teams and Claude

• Design and embed Claude-powered workflows across each business unit

• Manage and improve internally built Excel toolkits and digital tools

• Measure the impact of every workflow: time saved, quality improved, capacity freed

• Expand adoption to the next workflow once the previous one is properly embedded

• Develop internal use cases, prompts, workflows, SOPs, training and best practise that make AI adoption sustainable — not dependent on you

• Stay current with the rapidly evolving AI landscape and proactively bring relevant innovations to the attention of leadership before they ask

3. Process Design & Operational Excellence

• Design, write, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across business functions

• Map and improve existing workflows — identifying bottlenecks and implementing practical fixes

• Ensure processes are documented, followed, and continuously improved

• Own the operating rhythm: weekly and monthly cadence with both MDs, agendas set, progress tracked, decisions surfaced

• Support onboarding of new staff by building structured process guides and system training materials so new staff are productive within one week

4. Finance & Operations Support

• Work with the FM to make project profitability visible in Accelo — a priority in the first quarter

• Work closely with the finance function to ensure systems, processes, and reporting are operating effectively

• Support operational oversight across the business, including project tracking, capacity management, and resource planning

• Assist in building financial and operational reports that that gives both MDs real-time business insight

• Identify and flag operational risks or inefficiencies and propose solutions

5. People & Stakeholder Management

• Manage a small team or cross-functional workstreams to deliver on implementation projects

• With assistance from leadership, drive adoption across 45 people — including senior people who may not naturally welcome changing how they work

• Engage and influence senior stakeholders, including C-suite, to drive adoption of new systems and processes

• Report progress to Manco and Exco on a regular cadence

• Hold people accountable to deadlines, system usage, and process compliance — diplomatically but firmly

• Act as a translator between technical systems and business needs across both organisations

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field

• 5–8 years of experience in operations, management consulting, systems implementation, or a similar environment

• Demonstrated experience implementing or managing business systems, not just administering one (CRM, PSA, ERP, or similar)

• Proven track record of writing SOPs, designing processes, and driving operational improvement

• Hands-on experience with AI tools and a clear ability to evaluate and apply them practically

• Numerically literate — reads a utilisation report and immediately understands what it means; does not need to be a CA

• Experience working across finance and operational functions is advantageous

• An MBA or postgraduate qualification is a plus but not required

CORE COMPETENCIES AND WHO YOU ARE Technical & Systems Commercial & Leadership

• System implementation & administration
• Commercial judgement & business acumen
• AI tools: evaluation, integration & prompt design
• Stakeholder management (incl. exec level)
• Data analysis & reporting
• People management & accountability
• Excel & digital toolkit management
• Project management & delivery
• SOP writing & process documentation

Company Office: Johannesburg, Hybrid, 1 day in the office, 4 days from home.

Salary: R1,2mil per annum, plus incentive structures

If you are interested in the position, please send your updated CV to ***email_hidden*** and copy the job title in the email subject line.

Application closing date is the 17th of July 2026.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field

• 5–8 years of experience in operations, management consulting, systems implementation, or a similar environment

• Demonstrated experience implementing or managing business systems, not just administering one (CRM, PSA, ERP, or similar)

• Proven track record of writing SOPs, designing processes, and driving operational improvement

• Hands-on experience with AI tools and a clear ability to evaluate and apply them practically

• Numerically literate — reads a utilisation report and immediately understands what it means; does not need to be a CA

• Experience working across finance and operational functions is advantageous

• An MBA or postgraduate qualification is a plus but not required

CORE COMPETENCIES AND WHO YOU ARE Technical & Systems Commercial & Leadership

• System implementation & administration
• Commercial judgement & business acumen
• AI tools: evaluation, integration & prompt design
• Stakeholder management (incl. exec level)
• Data analysis & reporting
• People management & accountability
• Excel & digital toolkit management
• Project management & delivery
• SOP writing & process documentation

R1,200 000.00 per annum

plus performance incentives