Only 6% of South Africans are able to retire comfortably. My fulfilment comes from the knowledge that I am making a positive impact on those whom I engage with.
Allan Gray is a university for investment thinking. Alumni have done very well in their careers, both in South Africa and all around the world.
It’s so much more than the job that’s in front of you, it’s about your development, what you want to do and how the business can help you get there.
One of the special things about our culture is that we trust young people who show talent and are willing to put in the work.
At Allan Gray, we are always pushing each other to reach the pinnacle – in our careers and our lives.
I have been fortunate enough to work for some really great companies in the industry, but none are as passionate about delivering a great client experience as Allan Gray is.
Allan Gray as a whole is not a sink or swim environment; as much as you might have the talent, you also need people supporting your development.
Within six months of joining Allan Gray, management approached me and had conversations about what my long-term career goals would look like within the business.
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.
- Investment service consultant
As an investment service consultant, you will engage in meaningful work by empowering our clients on their investment journey. You are the primary touchpoint for clients interacting and transacting with us via telephone, email, webchat and face-to-face interactions, while building trust and confidence through your interactions.
- Operations consultant
As an Operations consultant, you will process transactions from clients while maintaining a high level of service throughout. You will be responsible for attending to all incoming work and following up with clients on any pending transactions.
- 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 tester
Ensures the delivery of high-quality software for our clients through development and optimisation of advanced testing systems.
- Software developer
Research, design and develop software applications that support the operational and strategic goals of 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 of the culture of the business, and to learn a bit about your potential future colleagues.
Mthobisi Mthimkhulu
Manager, Direct Clients
Only 6% of South Africans are able to retire comfortably. My fulfilment comes from the knowledge that I am making a positive impact on those whom I engage with.
Mthobisi joined Allan Gray in 2011 as an operations consultant. When he realised that he could build a long-term career at the firm, he sought advice from the head of a department he wanted to join. Their conversation inspired him to expand his horizons. He pursued roles in the Client Service Centre and Retail Distribution teams, where he improved his investment knowledge and developed a real understanding of the business.
Through these roles, he discovered that he had a real passion for client service and his managers quickly noticed his efforts. “I was always willing to go the extra mile, and I think I was clear about what I was looking to learn. From there, I grew into the space,” he says. True to his passion for people, Mthobisi spent five years leading the Private Clients team before moving into a management role within the Direct Clients team.
Having lived all over the country, Mthobisi is determined to improve financial literacy. He says his role at Allan Gray helps him make a difference. “The majority of South Africans struggle to save for retirement. Only 6% of South Africans are able to retire comfortably,” he says. “My fulfilment comes from the knowledge that I am making a positive impact on those whom I engage with.”
Siphesihle Zwane
Analyst, Investment team
Allan Gray is a university for investment thinking. Alumni have done very well in their careers, both in South Africa and all around the world.
Siphesihle started his journey with Allan Gray when the Allan Gray Obis Foundation identified his leadership potential and awarded him a high school scholarship. He then went on to complete an Honours degree in Economics and Finance as a member of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation’s programme for university students. After completing his studies, he joined Allan Gray as an investment analyst.
Likening the role of an investment analyst to that of an investigative journalist, Siphesihle says that becoming a leading stockpicker requires you to dig deep into the crux of an investment opportunity to understand it better than your competitors. Allan Gray’s long-term focus and proven track record have contributed to the firm producing generations of talented investment minds who stand out in the industry.
“Allan Gray is a university for investment thinking. Alumni have done very well in their careers, both in South Africa and all around the world,” he says. “It offers a space where people are given opportunities to learn and develop investment thinking, with resources and research that span almost 50 years of investing.”
Siphesihle says that Allan Gray’s dedication to philanthropy through various impactful activities gives him a greater sense of purpose and fuels his passion for the work that he does. “The idea that you work for a business that gives a reasonable portion of its profits to charity and the development of South Africa is an intriguing one.”
Zikhona Ngumbela
Business development manager, IFA Distribution
It’s so much more than the job that’s in front of you, it’s about your development, what you want to do and how the business can help you get there.
Shortly after completing Allan Gray’s internship programme in 2015, Zikhona joined the Life and Retirement Operations team. The transition from university to the world of full-time work is seldom easy, but Zikhona felt supported and was glad to see that the organisation valued independent thinking and taking initiative with problem-solving. “It is a culture of excellence,” she says.
After a year and a half in Life and Retirement Operations, Zikhona joined the Key Accounts Operations team where she gained exposure to a different area of the business and expanded her learning journey. “What I appreciate about Allan Gray is the opportunity to be involved in different parts of the business. It’s so much more than the job that’s in front of you, it’s about your development, what you want to do and how the business can help you get there,” she explains.
As a Fellow of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, the business’s dedication to philanthropy resonates with Zikhona. The Philanthropy Initiative with employees of Allan Gray provided her with a platform to nominate the non-profit business school that played a role in her own career for funding support – ensuring that many others receive the same opportunities that she did. “Being able to help the business school in this way has been, for me, the greatest reward,” she says.
Zikhona is currently a business development manager based in Allan Gray’s Durban office. In this role, she interacts with independent financial advisers. “I enjoy being able to work closely with advisers to help their clients make the right investment decisions and reap the rewards of staying invested for the long term,” she says.
Martine Damonse
Investment specialist, Manco Distribution
One of the special things about our culture is that we trust young people who show talent and are willing to put in the work.
Martine joined Allan Gray as a graduate recruit immediately after completing a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She was introduced to the world of work in the Unit Trust Administration department before becoming a consultant in the Key Accounts team. In the latter role, she discovered that she really enjoyed working with financial advisers.
This led her to move to IFA Distribution, where she worked closely with financial advisers as a business development manager for a number of years. During this time, she was able to study part-time and become a Certified Financial Planner® – improving her knowledge of the investment landscape.
In her current role, one of Martine’s key responsibilities is ensuring that advisers, consultants and clients are well-informed so that they can achieve the best possible investment outcomes. “Every single day, you see clients, you interact with clients or you are thinking about interacting with clients.” She finds working in a client-centric environment extremely stimulating and rewarding.
Martine says that she has stayed at Allan Gray for well over a decade because there have been so many opportunities for her to grow, explore and develop her passions. “One of the special things about our culture is that we trust young people who show talent and are willing to put in the work.” We aren’t fearful of promoting young talent.”
Bongani Sibande
Team leader, Retail Operations
At Allan Gray, we are always pushing each other to reach the pinnacle – in our careers and our lives.
After starting his career at another firm, Bongani joined Allan Gray as an operations consultant at the end of 2017 and is currently a team leader in the same department.
The company’s warm, open-plan environment and focus on client service helped him settle in. “My love for interacting with people is my ‘why’. It keeps me going and it’s the reason I get up in the morning.”
Bongani says he is privileged to work with some of the best and brightest people in the industry on a daily basis. “At Allan Gray, we are always pushing each other to reach the pinnacle – in our careers and our lives.” This has enabled him to stretch himself in a challenging but supportive environment.
Working with high-performance teams meant that there have been many opportunities for Bongani to learn and invest in the progression of his career. “Allan Gray has provided pivotal support to help me reach the goals I want to reach.”
Bongani says that resonating with Allan Gray’s core principles has been key to his professional fulfilment. “Find a company with values that align with your own values as a person. Once you find that match, it’s easy to wake up in the morning and come to work.”
Amrisha Sadien
Manager, Client Service Solutions
I have been fortunate enough to work for some really great companies in the industry, but none are as passionate about delivering a great client experience as Allan Gray is.
Amrisha joined the investment industry as an equity analyst but developed a deep interest in business strategy and customer value proposition.
In her current role, she is responsible for ensuring that our clients receive the best possible service interactions and enhancing our client experience. Amrisha says that Allan Gray’s desire to provide clients with “service alpha” in addition to “investment alpha” really sets Allan Gray apart. “I have been fortunate enough to work for some really great companies in the industry, but none are as passionate about delivering a great client experience as Allan Gray is.”
In addition to investing on behalf of clients, Amrisha highlights the investments Allan Gray makes in employees by supporting their growth, ongoing education and career development. As a manager, she takes an active role in mentoring and coaching. “Helping the people around us grow and develop and being invested in their careers is really important.”
Amrisha is passionate about improving the access that ordinary South Africans have to financial services and resonates with Allan Gray’s values-based, client-centric approach. “I believe in doing right by our clients, right by the average South African and right by our staff. To do that, you have to be individually accountable – and that is expected at Allan Gray.”
Nokuthaba Ngwenya
Domain owner, Information Technology
Allan Gray as a whole is not a sink or swim environment; as much as you might have the talent, you also need people supporting your development.
Hailing from Hwange in Zimbabwe, Nokuthaba started at Allan Gray as a trainee business analyst. As she puts it the opportunity came through a series of lucky events: falling into IT as a student, declining what seemed to be a good position in Johannesburg and, finally, having a friend who worked at Allan Gray. “My friend told me about working at Allan Gray, because I did not know much about it. It seemed like a distant, unreachable brand, but I could not be more wrong…”
“That first interview really set me straight on the type of place it was. It felt like the people interviewing me were most concerned with who I am as a person and how I would fit into the business. The following interviews did get tougher though, but looking back I think it was necessary.”
And that theme continued as she started her career at Allan Gray. “When I started I had an issue with being heard, especially in meetings, having just come out of university. My mentor at the time really helped me learn to stand my ground and argue my point. Having someone who has your back like that has been very valuable to me…In fact, she has pushed me to develop myself from the moment we met. Allan Gray as a whole is not a sink or swim environment; as much as you might have the talent, you also need people supporting your development.”
Nokuthuba has gone on to be a senior business analyst and is now a domain owner. “As great as it has been to grow in the business, I think the thing I most enjoy is being able to get outside the box of IT. When we recently launched Umbrella Funds I got to be involved in strategic and business conversations – it really opened my eyes to how the business works from the inside,” she ends.
Enrico de Nobrega
Business development consultant, IFA Distribution
Within six months of joining Allan Gray, management approached me and had conversations about what my long-term career goals would look like within the business.
In a relatively short space of time, Enrico has managed to gain professional experience through a number of stimulating roles. He joined Allan Gray’s Work Coordination team, before becoming an operations consultant and then a client relationship manager. He is currently a business development consultant within the IFA Distribution team.
Enrico believes that being given room to work independently in Allan Gray’s performance-driven environment has allowed him to thrive and gain recognition for his efforts. “We are individually accountable for the work that we do, and we are responsible for resolving any matter that is allocated to us.”
Enrico’s driven nature has been matched by the company’s focus on developing its people. “Within six months of joining Allan Gray, management approached me and had conversations about what my long-term career goals would look like within the business,” he says. His managers have partnered with him to create a career plan and help him gain the necessary experience and exposure he needs to achieve his career goals. In an effort to develop himself, Enrico decided to study further and complete some investment-related professional qualifications.
“The learning opportunities are endless. The management teams are compassionate and care about the people who work here. They really support your journey. They have ensured that I have mentors and they have paid for my studies,” Enrico says.