Available vacancies
Allan Gray Roles
We are constantly on the lookout for talented individuals to fill the diverse roles we have available. Here’s a quick overview of key roles within the business and a brief description of their purpose.
- Client Services Consultant
Deliver excellent service to clients and financial advisers.
- Operations Consultant
Process and authorise transactions from clients.
- Business Analyst
Perform internal and external research, as well as analysis on products, systems or client portfolios.
- IT Operations Analyst
Support, maintain and enhance IT applications and environments in the business.
- Product Development
Maintain and enhance our existing product range, as well as the research and development of new products and initiatives.
- People Operations
Enhance staff engagement and performance by focusing on the environment, culture, diversity and administration.
- Software Testers
Ensure that the software implemented meets the needs of the business.
- Software Developer
Support and maintain IT applications within the business.
People at Allan Gray
Our employees are our most important differentiator; we invest in our people for the long term. Read the stories of the people who work at Allan Gray to get a sense about the culture of the business, and to learn a bit about your potential future colleagues.
Katherine Burger
Team Leader, Client Service Centre
For someone as experienced as myself, there is still so much help along the way and I really appreciate that.
In just a year and a half of starting at Allan Gray, Katherine was promoted to lead a team of client servicing consultants. Katherine says the value that the company places on performance, has motivated her to work hard and persevere when faced with challenging situations. The positive track record she’s built over this time, she says, was made possible by the positive input and support she continues to receive from the company. And she is aiming to pay it forward: giving her team the same support she enjoys.
“I first engaged with Allan Gray through the Academic Achievement Awards in my third year at Rhodes University. From there I did a three-week internship during my Honours year, which was in many ways like a three-week interview.
“After the internship, one of the managers invited me for coffee to discuss my career. It felt as though I was talking to my future manager about my development.
Soon after that cup of coffee, she joined Allan Gray as a consultant in the client service centre. As a top performer and tenacious team player, she was promoted to team leader of the Academy at Allan Gray, (the team responsible for training consultants in their first three months on the job) before moving into her current role.
“I have really appreciated the personal investment I received from the company, like the Leadership Development Programme that I began attending in the first few weeks of my role. It is as though everyone wants me to grow into the best version of myself.
“Allan Gray hires a lot of graduates, so the support system is well developed, but even for someone as experienced as myself, there is still so much help along the way and I really appreciate that.”
Steven Motloung
Assistant Manager, Business Operations
All in all, I would say that Allan Gray for me has been special. They have invested in my development and I genuinely feel like an asset to the business.
Steven is currently assistant manager in the group savings operations team. He started his journey as an operations consultant, before moving to senior consultant and later, a team leader.
“Everyone I have met at Allan Gray from the moment I walked in – dressed in my suit which I had to quickly change into at the bus station – has been really friendly,” says Steven. “This is my first job, so I was not sure what to expect.”
Steven, who started as an operations consultant, credits his first mentor as an important part of his development. “He just took me under his wing and started opening my mind to how my future could play out at Allan Gray. Since then, I have been very deliberate about finding mentors.”
What constantly surprises him is how much people are willing to share of themselves and what they know. “I believe that people learn from other people. A lot of institutional knowledge is not written down and all of that latent information is easy to get by talking to someone. Even if they can’t help you, they might know someone who can.”
“I have also been lucky enough to go on many leadership courses and to study further - doing a postgraduate degree and now my MBA with the help of Allan Gray. They have invested in my development and I genuinely feel like an asset to the business.”
Lorato Kalipa
Receptionist, Client Service Centre
Being here has been unique and I am
grateful for it.
A lunch box.
This is what it took for Lorato to get a job at Allan Gray. After matriculating in 1991, she was encouraged to look for a job in order to take care of her siblings, like her grandparents did for her. She heard about an opportunity at a small company called Allan Gray.
“My friend Mabel recommended me for a role at Allan Gray. When they called they mentioned that Mabel spoke highly of me as a kind and good person as I used to share everything with her, even my lunch box, in primary school. They told me that they want people like that, who have character, so that is how a lunch box and sharing got me the job.”
As a long-serving employee, Lorato has seen the business grow exponentially which has also changed the role she plays. “When we moved into our new building, Allan Gray sent us on hospitality courses and Excel training to prepare us for the way reception was going to run. Now it is very different, but I am still very happy to be working here after more than 27 years.”
She continues: “Allan Gray helped me to take care of my siblings, who are now graduates. I am very family-orientated and love working for the community as well."
“Being here has been unique and I am grateful for it,” she concludes.
Allen Huang
Data Scientist, Information Technology
I have worked for pure software companies and thought a finance company could not compare in terms of technology, but I was wrong.
Allen has recently taken on the role of data scientist, under a newly created data science team.
“I have worked for pure software companies and thought a finance company could not compare in terms of technology, but I was wrong. My current role allows me to solve real business problems using data, machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Unlike typical developer roles that require the developer to get stuck into the code only, this role allows me to really engage with the business as a whole.”
The best, and worst part, about the experience is working in unchartered terrain. We are constantly exploring and engaging with business problems and solutions that are new and challenging. To put it into context: My manager told me that the sky is the limit and it truly is – everything is fair game. This space [the IT department] allows us to be really innovative and cutting edge.
Shaheed Mohamed
Manager, Product Development
You work for the right stakeholder – the client – not shareholders. If you look after your clients then they become loyal to you which means all stakeholders will benefit.
Shaheed joined Allan Gray when the business had about 400 employees. He has progressed through the business as it has grown and is currently a manager in product development.
“I started in the distribution team, rolling out the platform business. From there I went to a more specialised role representing the unit trust management company. That allowed me to engage with my passion, which is investment management, but also still allowed me to deal with clients.”
With his recent move into product development his role has evolved. “What I do daily is solve problems: product problems, process problems, regulatory problems – anything that leads to a better client outcome – be it enhancing our existing offering or establishing a new product to cater for a specific need.
When asked what keeps him at Allan Gray, he answers: “A sense of fulfilment and purpose. You work for the right stakeholder – the client – not shareholders. If you look after your clients then they become loyal to you which means all stakeholders will benefit."
“You also sleep with a clear conscience. I’ve worked in places where you don’t really see the fruits of your work or there is misalignment between what you believe is right and what the company may focus on. At Allan Gray, you see the difference you make and feel fulfilled doing so.”
Tarryn Mushfieldt
Manager, People Operations
I always believed you couldn’t grow in your career if you stayed at one company, however, it feels like all I have been doing at Allan Gray is growing!
Tarryn is a manager in people operations. She previously spent time in IT and operational analytics.
Tarryn surprised herself when she recently celebrated 10 years at Allan Gray.
“I always believed you couldn’t grow in your career if you stayed at one company, however, it feels like all I have been doing at Allan Gray is growing!”
The mother of one joined Allan Gray as an IT business analyst. Over the years, she has worked as a scrum master and also managed the operational analytics team. It was in the latter role that she became interested in people development. When an opportunity opened up in people operations, she jumped at it.
“I was pregnant as I was going through the selection process. As a woman, you are constantly told that having kids will slow down your career, but there I was with my pregnant belly interviewing for a position that was completely unrelated to what I studied.”
She worked in her new role for one month before going on maternity leave. When she came back, she decided to start studying towards an MBA.
“It’s a tough task: doing an MBA and working a full-time job while raising a toddler, but I managed thanks to the support I received from my family, the company and my colleagues. I won’t lie and say it wasn’t hectic but because Allan Gray encourages studying, everyone is very supportive.”
Matthew Broadley
Tester, Information Technology
I’ve changed careers three times at Allan Gray…there is space for you to grow and find your niche if you have initiative.
Matthew began his career as a client service consultant, moving into operational analytics before finding he was interested in IT.
“In the beginning of your career you’re just struggling to fit in and do your best,” says Matthew. “But over time you realise that the job must fit you too. I’ve changed careers three times at Allan Gray to find my place, so I really believe that there is space for you to grow and find your niche if you have initiative."
”I started out as a consultant and moved into operational analytics after a few years. There I found a little nugget that I enjoyed: patching inefficiencies and creating solutions using Excel and macros. This was my first introduction to anything technical.” From there, a colleague who recognised his aptitude, recommended he apply for a position in IT.
“At first I was sceptical, but it turned out to be everything I wanted.” His role combines his finance background with IT and helps him give context to developers who don’t have that insight.
“Allan Gray has given me the opportunity to travel and meet people who are as passionate about my field as I am. I went to Germany for a testers' conference and it really brought home to me how on par we are with best practices. I can’t say enough about how mature the department’s processes are and the quality of the people I work with. Some days it feels like I am just learning through osmosis.”
Anja Gregori
Specialist, Client Service Centre
There is a perception that being a consultant is like a call centre agent, but it’s actually quite a knowledge-intensive role. You need to know a lot about investments…
Anja began her journey at Allan Gray as a client service consultant and she is now a specialist in the client service centre.
As a graduate recruit, what most surprised Anja about Allan Gray was the amount of support she has received. Starting out as a client service centre consultant she went through a few months of training to prepare for the role. “There is a perception that being a consultant is like a call centre agent, but it’s actually quite a knowledge-intensive role. You need to know a lot about investments so that you can handle anything a client throws at you.”
Anja was recently promoted to specialist and is finding that her training has prepared her well for the transition, although her new role is much less structured.
“As a consultant you are busy, in a good way, every day with calls to manage, emails to write and other things. I now have to think hard about how I can be most effective. But the transition has been easier than I expected. People are so approachable; there is always someone willing to help you out and be a sounding board for your ideas. On the whole Allan Gray has really sold me on its culture and people.”