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Sustainability CFA Operations - Senior Associate

PricewaterhouseCoopers • Full-time • Johannesburg • 1w ago

Line of Service

Industry/Sector

Specialism

Management Level

Senior Associate

Job Description & Summary

At PwC, our people in sustainability focus on integrating environmental, social, economic, and governance considerations into business strategies and operations. They provide guidance and support to organisations by managing sustainability risks, identifying opportunities, and driving positive social and environmental impact.

Those in sustainability reporting at PwC will focus on increasing the capability of clients' reporting function to meet regulation and stakeholder need for trusted transparent reporting, performance measurement and value-creation. You will analyse client needs (scoping, materiality and gap assessments), offer technical interpretation of respective (regulatory or voluntary standards) and use technology to design and embed data and reporting systems, processes and controls in a target operating model.

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.

The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a £20 million UK Government-funded programme supporting climate-smart projects across ten emerging markets to become investment-ready and attract private finance.

The Operations Manager plays a critical role at the centre of programme delivery, ensuring that programme operations are efficient, compliant, and of consistently high quality across a complex global model involving multiple countries, subcontractors, and stakeholders. The role supports contracting, reporting,riskand compliance processes, ensuring full alignment with contractual requirements,PwCand CFA policies.

Operating at the intersection of operations, governance and risk, the role requires strong execution discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities under tight timelines. It directly underpins CFA’s ability to deliver at scale whilemaintainingrobust governance, fiduciary oversight, and credibility with DESNZ and key stakeholders.

What Success Looks Like (Senior Associate Level)

Success in this role is defined by reliability, ownership, and precision:

Operational processes run smoothly with limited oversight, even under pressure.

Reporting is consistently high quality,accurate, and delivered on time.

Risks, issues, and compliance gaps areidentifiedearly and proactively managed.

Contracting processes areaccurateandtimely.

Stakeholders (internal and external) experience the operations function as responsive, organised, and dependable.

Improvements to systems and processes are activelyidentifiedand implemented, not justmaintained.

Responsibilities of role

1. Programme Operations & Delivery

Support day-to-day programme operations across contractingand delivery processes.

Ensure operational processes align with the CFA Operations Manual and evolving programme needs.

Coordinate across global and country teams to resolve issues andmaintaindelivery momentum.

Maintain operational trackers and ensuretimelyfollow-up on actions.

2. Reporting & Governance

Coordinate and inputs intoweekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.

Support production of: Quarterly performance reports;Portfolio overviews;Operational updates.

Ensure reporting isaccurate,timely, and aligned with governance requirements.

3. Data Management & Record Keeping

Ensure data is managed in line with CFA data handling policy.

Maintain secure,accurate, and up-to-date programme records.

Support use of systems (e.g. SharePoint, CRM) to enable effective delivery.

4. Risk & Compliance

Maintain and update the programme risk register.

Support implementation of risk mitigation and monitoring processes.

Maintain theCFAConflict-of-Interest register and track disclosures.

Ensure compliance withand support implementationofcore programme policies,including:Anti-bribery and fraud;Conflict of Interest;Data handling and confidentiality; and Safeguarding.

5. SubcontractorContracting&Onboarding

Support development and issuance of contracts fordelivery partners, subcontractors, and experts, coordinatingwith legal and contracting teams as.

Support onboarding of delivery partners, subcontractors, and experts.

Ensure completion of due diligence and policy compliance requirements.

Maintain onboarding trackers and support contract management processes.

4. Financial Management

Support budgeting, forecasting, and expenditure tracking in coordination with the Finance Manager.

Contribute to value-for-money tracking and financial reporting tracking in coordination with the Finance Manager.

5. Continuous Improvement

Identifyinefficiencies and propose improvements to processes and tools.

Support implementation of updated policies and operational frameworks.

Contribute to strengthening programme-wide systems and controls.

Experience and competencies

Qualifications /Certifications required:

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, Sustainability, Environmental Management, or a related discipline

Essential Experience

4+ years’ experience in project management, consulting, or development programmes.

Experience supporting operationalandreporting processes.

Familiarity with risk managementandcompliance environments.

Core Skills & Competencies

Operational Excellence

Highly organised with strong attention to detail.

Ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines.

Analytical & Financial Acumen

Strong numerical and analytical capability.

Comfortable working with budgetsand financial data.

Governance & Compliance

Strong understanding of risk, controls, and compliance frameworks.

Ability to apply policies in practice.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

Clear, concise written and verbal communication.

Ability to coordinate across diverse and senior stakeholders.

Strong organisational communication, ensuring actions, decisions, and follow-ups are clear.

Judgement & Accountability

High integrity and discretion.

Ability to escalate issues proactively and appropriately.

Desirable

Experience in multi-country or multi-stakeholder environments.

Experience with ODA-funded or public sector programmes.

Exposure to climate finance, sustainability, or international development.

Role related attributes

Strategic and critical thinker.

Organised and detail orientated.

Problem solver.

Results-orientated.

Collaborative team player.

Clear and confident communicator.

Adaptable and resilient in complex environments.

Strong commitment to ethics and compliance.

Education (if blank, degree and/or field of study not specified)

Degrees/Field of Study required:Degrees/Field of Study preferred:

Certifications (if blank, certifications not specified)

Required Skills

Optional Skills

Accepting Feedback, Accepting Feedback, Active Listening, Analytical Thinking, Climate Finance, Climate Reporting, Communication, Creativity, Data Analysis, Data Modeling, Economic Impact Valuation, Embracing Change, Emotional Regulation, Empathy, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Reporting, Environmental Impact Valuation, Inclusion, Intellectual Curiosity, Internal Controls, Learning Agility, Materiality Analysis, Maturity Assessments, Nature Finance, Nature Reporting, Optimism {+ 8 more}

Desired Languages (If blank, desired languages not specified)

Travel Requirements

Not Specified

Available for Work Visa Sponsorship?

Government Clearance Required?

Yes

Job Posting End Date

May 7, 2026