Our well established client in Johannesburg is seeking a Business Analyst — Office of the Group Managing Director.

What the role entails:

• 60–70% analysis, reporting and project follow-through — branch and category performance, margin and mix analysis, lead-time and process diagnostics & exco commitments to closure.

• 20–30% agenda and governance

• 10–20% classic PA work — diary, travel, etc.

• Executive Reporting: Prepare, consolidate and quality-assure monthly Group reporting. Manage the reporting calendar, coordinate inputs and ensure all information is accurate, concise and delivered within agreed deadlines.

• Business & Performance Analysis: Analyse branch, category and representative-level performance across sales, gross margin, product mix and expenses. Identify key variances, trends and underlying drivers, and translate findings into clear, actionable insights for the Group Managing Director.

• Operational & Process Diagnostics: Investigate operational performance and identify root causes across the end-to-end process, including quote-to-invoice, open-order ageing, lead times, order flow and manufacturing throughput. Develop practical, quantified recommendations to improve performance.

• Project & Action Follow-Through: Maintain visibility of commitments arising from EXCO, management and Group MD meetings. Track actions against clear owners and deadlines, follow up on outstanding items and escalate potential delays or risks before they become issues.

• Commercial Analysis & Support: Provide analytical support for pricing decisions, campaigns, tenders, customer profitability and other key commercial initiatives. Develop the financial and operational analysis required to support sound business decisions.

• Executive Governance & Preparation: Ensure the Group Managing Director is fully prepared for key meetings, customer engagements, discussions and leadership forums by providing the relevant information, analysis, briefing material and key questions in advance.

• Executive Administration: Manage the Group MD's diary, travel arrangements, inbox, meeting coordination with a high level of professionalism, discretion and efficiency, ensuring administrative matters are handled proactively.

• Cross-Functional Engagement: Work closely with finance, sales, operations, manufacturing, branches and other business functions to gather information, understand issues and drive initiatives through to completion.

• Confidentiality & Discretion: Handle commercially sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion and maintain a high standard of professional judgement at all times.

• Numerate to a professional standard

• Advanced Excel as a working tool: Pivot tables, lookups, and enough Power Query or SQL & able to handle a system extract

• Self-starting: Can take a three-line brief, come back with a one-paragraph interpretation and a checkpoint date, and then deliver.

• Willing to be on a branch floor and in a factory

  Qualification

  Essential

  • A completed three- or four-year degree in a numerate discipline — BCom, BSc, Engineering, Actuarial Science, Statistics or Economics.

  Preferred

  • Honours degree.

  • CA(SA).

  • CIMA.

  • Industrial Engineering qualification.

  • Part-time MBA or postgraduate diploma in progress.

  Experience

  Essential

  • Three to five years' post-graduation experience in an analytical, commercial, consulting or finance role.

  Preferred

  • Exposure to a multi-branch, multi-site or distribution business.

  Technical Skills

  Essential

  • Advanced Excel.

  • Confident in building an executive slide pack.

  • Able to work effectively with raw system extracts.

  Preferred

  • Power BI or Tableau.

  • SQL.

  • Power Query.

  • ERP reporting experience.

  Behavioural Competencies

  Essential

  • Self-starting.

  • Resilient under pressure.

  • Absolutely discreet.

  Preferred

  • Prior experience working directly with an executive or partner.

  Practical Requirements

  Essential

  • Valid driver's licence and own transport.

  • Willingness to travel domestically.

  • Valid passport.

  • Willingness to travel to Eswatini and Zambia.

  Language

  Essential

  • Business-level English, written and spoken, to an executive standard.

  Preferred

  • A second South African language.