SAP Controlling Specialist

Who are we?

Sanlam’s technology and data capability enables the Group’s transformation into a modern, digital-first and AI-powered financial services organisation. Our teams build, run and scale the platforms that power Sanlam, including cloud, data, AI and digital engagement capabilities, while delivering the change needed to grow Africa’s largest insurance group towards its 2030 ambition.

We reimagine how work gets done, using technology, data and AI to help Sanlam grow, protect clients’ financial outcomes and enable them to live with confidence.

Purpose of the Role

As a team player in the SGT SAP CoE team, you will deliver SAP S/4HANA system configuration, functional support, testing, documentation, business engagement, and process improvement services across Management Accounting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), and Controlling (CO).

This role is positioned as a full-process Management Accounting and FP&A functional specialist, combining hands-on system configuration capabilities with practical support for controlling master data governance, strategic budgeting, forecasting cycles, allocation rules, cost summarizations, and integrated financial planning within the SAP S/4HANA operating environment.

The role requires strong functional configuration and operational understanding of SAP CO processes, with working knowledge of Finance (FI) integration touchpoints relevant to General Ledger, cost allocations, profit center accounting, period-end close alignment, management reporting, and transport change management.

Responsibilities

• SAP S/4HANA Controlling System Configuration & Support: Perform functional system configuration, maintenance, and support across Cost Center Accounting (CO-CCA), Profit Center Accounting (CO-PCA), Internal Orders (CO-IO), and Profitability Analysis (CO-PA).
• Management Accounting & Allocation Configuration: Configure and maintain cost allocations, distribution/assessment cycles, overhead management structures, cost element hierarchies, and statistical key figures.
• FP&A Integration & Model Configuration: Support and configure strategic budgeting workflows, rolling forecasts, variance calculations, and integrated financial planning models within SAP S/4HANA.
• Finance Integration Alignment: Ensure seamless configuration alignment with FI/CO reconciliation, General Ledger posting impacts, intercompany allocations, sub-ledger touchpoints, and period-end close governance.
• Continuous Improvement & Tooling: Utilize SAP Fiori applications, JIRA incident analysis, functional specification preparation, hands-on system configuration, unit and integration testing, documentation, and leverage SAP Joule for Consultants (where available) as an enablement tool for SAP knowledge research and functional analysis against Sanlam SAP design standards.

Qualification

Matric

Bachelor’s degree in commerce, Accounting, Financial Management, or Information Systems/Information Technology.

SAP CO (Controlling), SAP S/4HANA Financial Accounting, or CIMA/ACCA functional certification is preferred, but not required where candidate has sufficient practical CO configuration or FP&A experience.

Knowledge Requirements

• Good working knowledge and hands-on configuration experience in SAP S/4HANA Controlling (CO), Management Accounting, and integrated financial planning.
• Strong understanding of cost center accounting, profit center accounting, internal orders, allocation cycle configuration, variance analysis, and cost element hierarchies.
• Working knowledge of strategic budgeting workflows, rolling forecasts, and integrated financial planning model configuration.
• Understanding of SAP FI integration points (GL, intercompany allocations, sub-ledger postings, period-end close).
• Understanding of Master Data Governance (MDG) or controlling master data and configuration dependencies is mandatory.
• Ability to interpret written requirements, write functional specifications, execute system configuration, and create test evidence and process documentation.
• Ability to prioritize tasks based on operational needs, closing timelines, configuration effort, business risk, month-end impact, and support urgency.
• Strong hands-on experience in SAP CO allocation runs, cost summarizations, planning layouts, and period-end close exception support.
• Practical exposure to automated allocation tools, management reporting solutions, backlog reduction, or CO/FP&A process configuration improvement will be strongly advantageous.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, Visio) with working experience in Solution Manager, JIRA, and Confluence.

General Experience

• 3 to 6 years of experience as an SAP CO, Management Accounting, FP&A, or related functional specialist with hands-on SAP S/4HANA configuration and support exposure.
• Hands-on system configuration and testing experience across SAP CO (CO-CCA, CO-PCA, CO-IO, CO-PA), allocation cycles, budgeting, forecasting, and month-end close support.
• Experience in controlling master data maintenance, system configuration, planning integration, or management reporting support.
• CO configuration or FP&A experience.
• Practical exposure to SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), BPC, SAP Joule for Consultants, SAP Business AI, or AI-assisted SAP delivery practices will be advantageous.
• Proven ability to operate within a Business-as-Usual (BAU) Run environment using JIRA for incident resolution and SOLMAN transport change management.

Required Behavioural Competencies

• Organisational and prioritising skills with a performance-orientated, continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong problem-solving, configuration debugging, and analytical thinking skills.
• Process improvement, system configuration, and change adoption capability, especially in Controlling, Management Accounting, and FP&A processes.
• Resilient, self-motivated, and capable of delivering effectively under pressure against tight operational deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong client focus to engage constructively with Finance, FP&A operational teams, and SAP CoE stakeholders.

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.