Assistant Manager – Family Office, South Africa

Role summary

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Assistant Manager to join our Family Office Administration team in Cape Town. This key management role offers the opportunity to work within a dynamic and professional environment, reporting to senior leadership based in Jersey and South Africa.

​The ideal candidate would have an LLB degree, be an Admitted Attorney and have at least four years of relevant experience in family office, private client fiduciary or complex corporate and trust administration in a similar organization.

​The candidate should demonstrate strong leadership capabilities and stakeholder management. The ability to operate independently is essential, as the role involves the supervision and development of junior staff in the South African and Jersey office.

​​​Key responsibilities

• Building a detailed understanding of client portfolios, company, trust and entity specific requirements;
• Work with the wider Jersey/South Africa Family Office team to plan, coordinate and complete all regulatory obligations and client agreed deliverables;
• Establish, build and maintain strong relationships and networks with both internal, cross jurisdictional and external contacts;
• Report any identified issues and risks, including legal/regulatory matters and client complaints, to senior management promptly;
• Prepare and maintain accurate company and entity information profiles;
• Act as point of contact for clients, directors and intermediaries such as lawyers, auditors, bankers and investment managers as required;
• Facilitate various company, trust and entity transactions, including payments; investments, asset acquisitions, restructurings and share transfers, ensuring all actions comply with relevant legal and internal policies;
• Obtaining client, investor and third-party due diligence and KYC;
• Deal with the liquidation/termination of companies and other corporate entities;
• Assist with arranging distributions to shareholders and documenting the same;
• Ensure service delivered meets company policy and/or service level agreement;
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and contribute to the development of best practices within the team;
• Participate and provide support to all new business activities;
• Contribute to any relevant tasks arising out of on-going projects;
• Manage and supervise several Senior Administrators and Administrators, overseeing and reviewing team adherence to internal policies, controls and systems, including meeting any internal deadlines;
• Act as a source of guidance to other team members;
• Maintain and monitor team workflows;
• Provide accurate and timely monthly reports of key management information to Management or as required;
• Coordinate client and board meetings and ensuring that company secretarial duties are fulfilled;
• Review minutes/records prepared by Senior Administrators and Administrators;
• Manage performance of direct reports through structured reviews, feedback sessions and objective setting in line with company policy;
• Ensure that all compliance and mandatory training is completed within required timeframe;
• Accurate daily time recording and reviewing team timesheets;
• Ensure strict adherence to data protection regulations and internal confidentiality policies, safeguarding all client information and sensitive data; and
• To act in accordance with all legal and regulatory requirements affecting the company or entity and ensuring that Altum’s Policy and Procedure is always adhered to.

Skills and experience

• Hold a professional qualification – LLB and Admitted Attorney;4 years of relevant industry/specialist experience in family office, private client fiduciary or complex corporate and trust administration in a similar organization;
• Excellent attention to detail and high levels of accuracy;
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines;
• Undertake the administration of complex structures with minimal supervision;
• Ability to motivate and influence a team;
• Manage and supervise several Senior Administrators and Administrators, overseeing and reviewing team adherence to internal policies, controls and systems, including meeting any internal deadlines;
• Excellent communication, organization and managerial skills;
• Working knowledge of various jurisdictions’ legal and regulatory requirements;
• Experience acting as a point of contact with internal and external stakeholders;
• Experience attending to company/entity updates on the Jersey Financial Services Commission and equivalent regulatory bodies;
• Combination of accounting, taxation, legal, investment, corporate and commercial experience;
• Should be fluent in English and attend to all correspondence in English;
• Experience keeping accurate record of time and reviewing team timesheets to ensure alignment with fee arrangements; and
• Excellent technical and computer literacy, especially utilizing various software to maintain internal and statutory company/entity information.