Snr Manager: Finance Projects Support

Transnet is the largest and most crucial part of the freight logistics chain that delivers goods to each and every South African. Transnet freight rail has approximately 38 000 employees, who are spread throughout the country. Transnet Limited, operating and controlling South Africa’s major transport infrastructure, is also responsible for ensuring that the country’s transport industries operate according to world-class standards. Transnet forms an integral part of the Southern African economy. Position Purpose To provide strategic project management and financial analytical support for the CFO's office, specifically driving the execution of high-impact finance initiatives that enable TRIM's financial sustainability and rail reform mandate. The role is accountable for: Private Sector Participation (PSP) Transactions - Leading financial modelling, scenario analysis, and deal structuring for corridor concessions and public-private partnerships. Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) Funding - Managing the end to-end lifecycle of BFI applications to National Treasury, including post approval tracking, expenditure monitoring, and compliance reporting. Cost Optimisation and Revenue Enhancement - Driving initiatives to reduce operating costs, improve efficiency, and maximise revenue across TRIM's operations. Special Projects - Providing execution capacity for ad-hoc strategic finance projects as directed by the CFO. The role works in close collaboration with the Senior Manager: Finance Systems (who reports to the Head: Strategic Finance Projects) but remains focused on financial analysis, deal structuring, and project execution rather than systems implementation. This is a permanent role required to support TRIM's continuous evolution, including the PSP pipeline, ongoing BFI cycles, and the sustained focus on cost competitiveness as open access develops. Position Outputs Private Sector Participation (PSP) Financial Analysis and Structuring Lead the financial modelling and scenario analysis for PSP transactions, including corridor concessions, PPPs, and other private-sector partnership structures. Develop and maintain complex financial models to evaluate PSP proposals, including discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, NPV, IRR, payback periods, and risk-adjusted returns. Conduct sensitivity and scenario analysis to assess the impact of key variables (tariff levels, volume forecasts, capital costs, interest rates) on PSP viability. Prepare business cases and investment memoranda for PSP transactions, presenting findings to TRIM Exco, Group Investment Committee (GIC), and Board. Support the negotiation of PSP agreements, providing financial analysis and modelling expertise to the commercial and legal teams. Coordinate with external advisors, lenders, and potential bidders during the PSP procurement process. Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) Funding Management Lead the preparation and submission of BFI funding applications to National Treasury, ensuring alignment with TRIM's strategic priorities and infrastructure requirements. Develop comprehensive business cases and motivation documents for BFI funding, including cost-benefit analysis, economic impact assessments, and project implementation plans. Track and monitor approved BFI funding to ensure expenditure aligns with approved budgets, milestones, and Treasury reporting requirements. Prepare quarterly and annual BFI progress reports for National Treasury, including financial expenditure, project progress, and outcomes achieved. Ensure compliance with all BFI conditions, including procurement requirements, audit provisions, and performance targets. Liaise with National Treasury officials on BFI applications, amendments, and reporting, maintaining a professional and responsive relationship. Manage the drawdown process for BFI funds, ensuring timely submission of drawdown requests against verified expenditure. Cost Optimisation and Revenue Enhancement Initiatives Lead the identification, evaluation, and implementation of cost optimisation initiatives across TRIM's operations, working with regional finance heads and operational teams. Develop financial models to quantify potential cost savings and track actual savings realised against targets. Lead revenue enhancement initiatives, including pricing reviews, commercial opportunity assessments, and new revenue stream identification. Prepare business cases for cost and revenue initiatives, presenting to TRIM Exco and Group Exco for approval. Establish and maintain a cost and revenue initiative tracker, reporting progress monthly to the CFO and Head: Strategic Finance Projects. Benchmark TRIM's cost structure against industry peers (local and international) to identify improvement opportunities. Drive the implementation of approved initiatives, ensuring accountability, timelines, and measurable outcomes. Strategic Finance Project Management Manage the end-to-end execution of strategic finance projects as directed by the CFO, including project planning, stakeholder coordination, risk management, and reporting. Develop detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets for finance projects, ensuring alignment with TRIM's strategic objectives. Coordinate cross-functional project teams (finance, operations, commercial, legal, ICTM) to deliver project outcomes on time and within budget. Prepare project status reports, presentations, and Board submissions as required. Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies, escalating material risks to the Head: Strategic Finance Projects and CFO. Ensure proper documentation and handover of completed projects to business-as-usual owners. Financial Modelling and Analytical Support Develop and maintain sophisticated financial models to support decision-making across a range of strategic initiatives (tariff scenarios, funding options, investment proposals). Conduct ad-hoc financial analysis as requested by the CFO, including scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and commercial viability assessments. Prepare high-quality presentation materials (PowerPoint, Excel models) for Exco, Board, Treasury, and Regulator submissions. Perform data analysis using tools such as Power BI, Excel (advanced), and other analytics platforms to derive insights and support recommendations. Stakeholder Management and Collaboration Build and maintain strong working relationships with National Treasury (BFI unit), DBSA, IDC, and other funding partners. Collaborate with the Senior Manager: Finance Systems to ensure project requirements are translated into systems enhancements where applicable. Work closely with TRIM's regional finance heads to understand operational cost drivers and identify optimisation opportunities. Engage with external advisors, consultants, and PSP bidders as required for project execution. Reporting and Governance Prepare and present monthly project status reports to the Head: Strategic Finance Projects and CFO. Track and report on cost savings and revenue enhancement performance against approved targets. Maintain a BFI funding register tracking all applications, approvals, drawdowns, expenditure, and reporting deadlines. Support internal and external audits (AGSA) by providing required documentation and evidence for PSP transactions, BFI funding, and cost initiatives. Ensure all project documentation is maintained in a central, auditable repository. Qualifications and Experience Bachelor's degree (BCom, Business Science, Financial Management) and an Honours or postgraduate degree or Diploma in Accounting or Financial Management. Project management Certificate/diploma added advantage. 8-10 years of experience in a financial environment, with at least 5 years at a management level. Demonstrated experience in financial modelling, business case development, and project management. Experience with PSP/PPP transactions, infrastructure finance, or project finance is highly advantageous. Experience with government funding processes (BFI, Treasury submissions) is highly advantageous. Experience in rail, infrastructure, or logistics is highly advantageous, but not essential. Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) is strongly preferred, or with completed articles at a reputable firm. Alternatively, a CIMA (ACMA, CGMA) or MBA with strong corporate finance experience may be considered. Requirement of trust and honesty in the handling of finances as per the National Credit Act Amendment. Must undergo Lifestyle Audit. Standard Job Requirements Driver's license code 08 Travel as required and approved