Product Specialist Lead

Product Specialist Lead

Location: Cape Town

Job Type: Full-time

Reports To: Product Manager

RPO is currently seeking a highly motivated and experienced Product Specialist Lead to join our clients team. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for technology and be responsible for leading a team of product specialists to drive the development and launch of innovative products. The Product Specialist Lead will work closely with cross‑functional teams to identify market trends, conduct competitive analysis, and develop strategies to meet product goals.

• Ongoing management of retail discretionary participation business, including but not limited to the oversight, evaluation and projection of assets and liabilities;
• Identifying improvements to the discretionary participation book or the management thereof, including obtaining approval for the changes from the various governance forums;
• Assisting in the development of corporate structured and/or guaranteed investments including conducting the necessary quantitative analysis, solution research, stakeholder engagement, compiling detailed product specifications and preparation of product approval documents for the various governance forums;
• Reviewing and proposing changes to discretionary participation business management actions;
• Recommendation of bonus rates (interim, final, claim, reversionary or terminal where applicable) for discretionary participation business;
• Review and update of the bonus philosophy which may require creating new bonus smoothing formulae;
• Building, updating or reviewing appropriate models in order to quantify financial impacts appropriately;
• Reviewing and proposing changes to the segment Principles and Practices of Financial Management (PPFM);
• Managing the implementation of statutory and contractual requirements for retail discretionary participation business;
• Mitigating financial, legal, reputational and other pertinent retail discretionary participation business risks by ensuring administration systems are continuously rigorously tested for adherence to contractual obligations;
• Mitigating operational risks by adding a layer of governance to manual processes inherent within retail discretionary participation business;
• Reviewing legal documentation (for example, client contracts, counter party agreements, etc.);
• Actuarial, compliance and performance reporting for retail discretionary participation business;
• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with various internal and external stakeholders and assisting them in analysing, supplying and translating information on retail discretionary participation business;
• Driving projects to completion within stipulated timelines;
• Undertaking ad‑hoc actuarial tasks including the resolution of technical queries; and
• Managing a small team. This requires delegation, review and analysis of work, and ensuring appropriate development opportunities for staff

• Qualified or nearly qualified actuary;
• At least five (5) years’ relevant experience preferred;
• Experience with Risk Agility Financial Modeller will be advantageous;
• Good knowledge of discretionary participation business as well as structured and/or guarantee investments;
• Ability to work accurately under pressure;
• High attention to detail and quality orientation;
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills;
• Good written and verbal communication skills;
• Good time management skills; and
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently.

• Market Related Salary

RPO is a Specialist Recruitment Agency that provides candidates and clients with unique recruitment solutions tailored to their needs. We focus on helping you reach your personal and professional goals by connecting you to your perfect career path.

Apply for this role today, contact Morne Gaven at RPO Recruitment or on Linked In.

You can also visit the RPO Recruitment website: rporecruitment.us or email us your CV: financ

We will contact you telephonically in 3 days should you be suitable for this vacancy. If you are not suitable, we will put your CV on file and contact you regarding any future vacancies that arise.