Head of Managed Services

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Head of Managed Services to lead the establishment, growth and operational management of a regional Managed Services division for RSMEA. The role is responsible for building a scalable, technology-enabled managed services platform that delivers outsourced accounting, payroll, statutory compliance, financial analysis, due diligence support and business process services to clients across multiple jurisdictions.

The successful candidate will drive the digitization and automation of processes through the implementation of integrated systems, secure workflows, data processing capabilities and client service platforms. The role requires both strategic leadership and strong operational execution capabilities. The individual must be capable of creating a regional delivery centre with repeatable, high-quality and secure processes that support cross-border clients efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Managed Services strategy aligned with the firm’s regional growth objectives 
• Build a scalable operating model capable of serving clients across East Africa and other international markets
• Identify opportunities for automation, AI-enabled workflows and process optimization
• Position the firm as a leading provider of outsourced finance and compliance services
• Design and implement a secure and integrated technology environment for managed services operations
• Lead the deployment of cloud-based systems, workflow tools, ERP integrations and client collaboration platforms
• Drive digitization of accounting, payroll, compliance and reporting processes
• Establish dashboards, reporting tools and operational analytics capabilities 
• Ensure strong cybersecurity, business continuity and data protection standards
• Establish service delivery standards, SLAs and quality assurance procedures 
• Build standard operating procedures for all managed service functions
• Oversee daily operations of the shared services/data processing centre 
• Ensure efficient resource allocation and utilization across multiple service lines
• Manage regional delivery teams and service managers
• Build long-term client relationships with regional and international clients 
• Lead onboarding and transition of managed service engagements
• Ensure timely delivery, accuracy and client satisfaction
• Support cross-border coordination for multinational clients
• Develop budgets, pricing models and profitability targets
• Drive revenue growth and operational efficiency
• Monitor utilization, margins and productivity metrics
• Support proposal development and business development initiatives
• Ensure compliance with local statutory and regulatory requirements across jurisdictions
• Maintain strong internal controls and risk management processes
• Ensure confidentiality and protection of client data 

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in professional services, outsourcing, managed services, finance operations or shared services environments
• At least 3 years in a senior leadership role managing multi-functional operational teams
• Proven experience establishing or scaling managed services/shared services operations
• Strong experience implementing digitized finance or operational processes
• Experience managing regional or cross-border service delivery
• Experience working within accounting firms, consulting firms, BPOs or financial shared services centres
• Demonstrated success in process automation and operational transformation

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Business, Technology or related field
• Master’s degree (MBA, Finance, Technology or Operations) is preferred
• One or more of the following certifications  is preferred: CPA, ACCA, CA, CISA, PMP, ITIL, Certified Data Analytics or Digital Transformation

Skills and Competencies

We are looking for an individual who is highly organized and process-oriented with strong communication and relationship management skills, an entrepreneurial and growth-oriented mindset, strong problem-solving capability and the ability to operate in a fast-changing environment.

Key competencies include:

• Strategic thinking 
• Strong execution capability 
• Change management leadership
• Regional stakeholder management 
• Commercial and business development skills
• Managed services operations 
• Finance and accounting processes 
• Payroll and compliance systems ERP and workflow implementation 
• Process automation 
• Data analytics and reporting 
• Cybersecurity awareness 
• Cross-border operational management