Overview
Operations Manager Jobs in Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa at Allocator
Title: Operations Manager
Company: Allocator
Location: Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa
Allocator:
Allocator is a data technology company that provides an intelligence platform for institutional investors (LPs) in private markets. We help pension funds, endowments, foundations, family offices, and fund-of-funds transform how they manage and analyse their alternative investment portfolios across Hedge Funds, Private Equity, Venture Capital, Real Estate, and Private Debt.
Using AI and other data automation systems, we collect, extract, digitise, standardise, and harmonise investment data from fund managers (GPs) across all formats and sources, including fund portals, email, and direct uploads. Our clients access unified portfolio views through our software platform, APIs, and Excel add-ins.
We are an AI-forward business. AI assistants, automations, and modern data tooling are everyday parts of how we work, and we look for people who use them fluently as core tools rather than novelties.
At Allocator, our people and culture are at the heart of our success. We strive for excellence through innovation in a collaborative and agile environment and are always looking for great people to join us in building the next generation of data management and analytics solutions for the alternative investment industry.
About the Role:
As Operations Manager at Allocator, you will partner with our COO to run the operational and financial backbone of the business. This is a senior, tenured role for an experienced operator with a strong finance background who can take ownership of finance, accounting, vendor and contract management, and broader business operations across our UK and South African entities. You will lead day-to-day execution while contributing to financial planning, budgeting, and operational strategy at a leadership level. You will work cross-functionally with Technology, Sales, Customer Success, and HR to ensure the company runs efficiently as it scales. AI assistants and automation tooling are everyday parts of how we work, and we expect you to use them fluently to accelerate financial analysis, contract review, drafting, and reporting.
Primary Job Responsibilities:
- Own end-to-end finance and accounting operations including bookkeeping oversight, supplier payments, expense management, VAT, and Xero integrity
- Lead monthly close, management accounts preparation, cash flow forecasting, and variance analysis in partnership with the COO and external accountants
- Drive annual budgeting and quarterly reforecasting cycles, including departmental planning, scenario modelling, and runway analysis
- Own vendor and contract management at a strategic level, negotiating renewals, managing supplier relationships, and tracking commercial obligations
- Manage commercial review and execution of legal documents (NDAs, vendor agreements, partnership contracts) in partnership with external counsel
- Support the COO on board reporting, investor updates, and senior management reporting cycles
- Maintain compliance posture across ISO 27001, GDPR, POPIA, and South African and UK company law obligations
- Use AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot) and automation tooling as core daily tools to accelerate financial analysis, contract review, drafting, and reporting
- Identify and lead operational improvement initiatives across finance, procurement, and back-office processes
- Partner with Engineering and Product teams to scope automations that remove operational toil from finance and operations workflows
- Coordinate insurance, banking relationships, statutory filings, and broader corporate administration
Skills and Qualifications:
- 6 to 10 years of professional experience in finance, accounting, FP&A, corporate finance, or finance operations, ideally with exposure to a SaaS, technology, or fund administration environment
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Investment Management, Business Science, or a related discipline; CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA, or CFA strongly preferred
- Strong commercial sense, with the ability to build budgets, model scenarios, read and challenge financial statements, and engage with senior stakeholders on commercial decisions
- Demonstrated ownership of a finance or operations function in a growing business, with a track record of building processes from scratch and refining them as the business scales
- Daily working fluency with AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot); comfortable using them for analysis, drafting, reporting, and contract review
- Proficient with accounting platforms (Xero or equivalent), advanced Excel and financial modelling, and modern SaaS operational tooling
- Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to produce board-quality reports, internal memos, and clear stakeholder communications
- Mature, discreet, and proactive, with comfort handling confidential financial and personnel matters
- Comfortable operating across multiple functions in a fast-moving environment with limited oversight
Desirable:
- Big 4 articles, audit experience, or a background in transaction services or corporate finance
- Prior experience in private markets, fund administration, asset management, or institutional finance
- Exposure to ISO 27001, GDPR, POPIA, or other compliance frameworks
- Experience operating across UK and South African corporate structures
- Familiarity with investor reporting, board reporting, or supporting capital raises
Other Benefits:
- Professional development budget for relevant qualifications and training (CFA, CA, CIMA, ACCA, etc.)
- Private medical cover
- Pension plan contributions
- Flexible working with regular team socials and events
Allocator is committed to continuing to make diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do, from how we build our products to how we build our workforce.