Assistant Manager – Business Transformation (Business Design and Delivery) in Energy, Power and Utilities industry

Are you a growth accelerator? Are you passionate about helping some of the world’s largest and most successful companies achieve purposeful growth?
EY is helping our clients solve difficult problems and achieve their growth ambitions. We believe that our value doesn’t stop at strategy development; we help our clients implement our recommendations to transform the way they do business.


Around the world, the biggest challenge faced by utilities right now is transitioning to a digitally transformed world. But the radical changes and new capabilities required to transform successfully are simply overwhelming for many companies. EY has focused on our Digital Grid Services and solutions for the water and energy industry.


Utilities are in the process of ramping up their investments in water and energy grid connectivity for improved operating economics, efficiency, customer satisfaction and reliability. Utilities are looking to embark on the journey of implementing smart/digital metering and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technologies and are aspiring to become a world class digital utility provider by leveraging the latest and progressive smart metering, grid and AMI trends and technologies within the water and utilities space.
Southern Africa faces several challenges as a result of climate change, such as resource scarcity, degradation of infrastructure and resources, urbanisation, and the increasing demand which must meet the growing demands of an increasing population. These stressors require innovative transformative solutions that ensure the sustainability of these natural resources.
This is an opportunity to bring real meaning to your career by being involved in some of the most important transformative initiatives in our market. It is an opportunity to bring your strategic vision, your entrepreneurial and innovative spirit and your ability to reinvent business to our clients and contribute to building a better working world.


Our Business Transformation team are seeking growth minded and solutions focused people who are passionate about truly making a difference. Based in South Africa, you will be working on high-profile engagements, with the brightest and best minds from across EY, finding innovative strategic solutions to some of the most complex and demanding problems.
You will be part of a high performing team who leads the way in conversations with the clients and the account teams who support them, leading EY’s approach to the market.

The Role Description

As a manager in our Business Transformation team you will work across our Business Consulting teams to redesign businesses, design processes and solutions to transform how our clients manage water, energy and other precious resources on our planet. You will support business development, creating proposals and participating in solution development and helping delivering market leading ideas and proposals to clients.
You will manage high performing teams, coach junior team members and develop the careers of colleagues.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Assist leading organisations to prepare and respond to the transformation required in building a modernised grid infrastructure and enable digital utilities marketplace.
• Design, reinvent and innovate business models that will create long term value and disrupt markets.
• Design and build operating models, including process, governance, organisation, technology and the supporting ecosystem.
• Develop the technical specifications of innovative technology, determine the communications, networks and infrastructure of the technical solution architecture.
• Design, establish and operate the implementation programs, including agile or lean approaches to design, build and launch new products, service, experiences and business models.
• Analyse data and provide recommendations to client executives on strategic initiatives and transformations.
• Lead the development of proposals – from understanding the client’s requirements, defining the approach, methods and timeline to determine the team and commercials to deliver the engagement.
• Follow the appropriate quality and risk management processes in EY to protect the reputation of the firm and manage risks of engagements and clients proactively.
• Manage project teams, project financials budgeting and invoicing process.
• Responsible for quality deliverables and leveraging EY thought leadership, delivery methods and tools to deliver products and outcomes.
• Build client relationships and establish the team as a trusted advisor in the market place.
• Collaborate across EY service lines to increase value for our clients, contributing to building a better working world.

Skills and attributes for success

We are looking for passionate leaders with strong vision and collaborative commitment to teamwork to bring deep transformation and design expertise to our clients. If you have a genuine desire to help businesses achieve their full potential and to make a positive impact, then this role is for you.

• A passion for people — our people are our greatest asset. We need you to be able to lead project teams to bring out the best in our people and help them to develop and grow.
• Ability to build exceptional client relationships — our clients are at the centre of what we do. Through the delivery of engagements, you will be responsible for managing key client relationships to make sure that we deliver quality and value.
• Ability to think strategically and to solve complex problems. You will demonstrate strong critical thinking skills focused on developing solutions, creating logical arguments or analysis, assimilating complex information, identifying or anticipating issues or challenges.
• Ability to communicate, making complex systems and situations simple to understand. You’ll communicate visually, verbally and in written reports.
• Ability to manage projects –we help our client solve their complex business challenges. Experience in managing transformation or innovation programs.
• Ability to learn new ideas and capabilities rapidly through self–driven learning and research. You’ll need to be able to assimilate new ideas and information rapidly, making sense of the world around you and at clients.

• Leadership capabilities that accept responsibility, build high performing teams, scale through appropriate delegation and teamwork, share clear direction, gain support and commitment from others, provide feedback openly and learn from feedback from others whilst admitting mistakes in order to learn.
• Strong commercial awareness and proven ability to present technical information in a meaningful manner to executive stakeholders.
• Experience working across multiple functions in an organisation or at clients to better understand the inter-related nature of solving complex challenges in an organisation.
• Intellectual curiosity and passionate. Purpose-driven and able to ask better questions to seek better answers.
• A keen traveller to travel within South Africa, other African countries as well as globally for exciting project opportunities.
• An entrepreneurial and growth-oriented mindset.

• Enthusiasm and ability to collaborate well in teams. We are looking for inclusive people who value differences and have a real desire to both learn and coach others

Technical Requirements

• Minimum 5 years management consulting experience
• 5-10 years working experience
• Bachelor degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Civil or Chemical preferred)
• A post graduate degree will be considered beneficial but not a pre-requisite.
• Relevant certification from recognised institutions in project or program management, such as PMP, Pg MP, Agile and Prince II is beneficial but not a pre-requisite
• Lean six sigma qualifications will be beneficial
• Valid passport needed for travelling

Your career at EY

At EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. And we’re counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

What we offer

• Success as defined by you: we’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
• Build a business and develop teams: an empowering, entrepreneurial working environment in which you will be rapidly building and growing a Business Transformation business that make a real impact in the market. You will inspire, coach and develop other team members to create a high performing business.
• Continuous learning: personalised career development including coaching, experiences and formal learning so you’ll develop the mindset and skills you’ll need to thrive in the future.
• Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

EY | Building a better working world

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and to build trust in the market.
Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries help clients reimagine the future, reframe their strategies, grow, transform and operate. EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.


As a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy and transactions and consulting services, we’re focused on building a better working world. That starts with a culture that believes in giving you the training, opportunities and creative freedom to make things better. Whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime. And with a commitment to hiring and developing the most passionate people, feedback is an essential part of what we do and this will be forthcoming in order for you to maximize your potential and be part of a dynamic team.
If you can confidently demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible.