Payments Strategy Analyst (Manager Grade)

About the role

PwC is seeking a highly motivated Strategy Analyst at Manager grade to support and lead strategic initiatives across its Payments business in Johannesburg. The role combines hands-on strategic analysis with team leadership and stakeholder management, and suits someone with a strong background in payments and experience at manager or engagement-lead level. It involves working closely with senior leaders to define strategy, assess growth opportunities and drive execution across complex, cross-functional initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead strategic assessments across payments (cards, digital wallets, real-time payments, acquiring, issuing, cross-border, billing or embedded finance)
• Develop market, competitor and ecosystem analyses, and build financial and commercial models for new products, partnerships and investments
• Support the definition of medium- and long-term payments strategy, including growth, pricing and operating model considerations
• Translate strategy into actionable initiatives with milestones, KPIs and success measures, and drive projects from hypothesis to executive-level recommendations
• Identify risks and dependencies and partner with Product, Technology, Risk, Compliance and Operations teams
• Manage and coach junior analysts, and act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, facilitating workshops and steering committees
• Stay current on payments trends and regulations, and contribute to thought leadership on the future of payments

Required profile

• 6-10+ years' experience in strategy, consulting, corporate strategy or commercial roles, with significant exposure to payments
• Demonstrated people-management or team-lead experience
• Proven ability to lead complex, ambiguous workstreams and deliver high-quality strategic outputs
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with experience presenting to senior audiences
• Desirable: experience in banking, fintech, payment networks or payments-focused consulting; exposure to digital transformation, platform strategy or product-led growth; MBA or postgraduate qualification in Business, Finance or Strategy

Required skills

• Strong understanding of the payments value chain and economics
• Advanced analytical and financial modelling skills
• Ability to lead complex, ambiguous workstreams