Senior Employee Benefits Consultant | Sandton at The Recruitment Council

Our client, a leading, highly respected national financial services and wealth management group, seeks an experienced Senior Employee Benefits Consultant to join its Corporate Benefits division. Known for their award-winning advisory services, our client partners with a diverse portfolio of enterprise businesses to deliver holistic, top-tier financial and employee benefit solutions.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior professional to step into a high-impact role, driving strategic consulting and complex negotiations within a premium brand, while mentoring a high-performing team.


Responsibilities:


Lead the strategic design, restructuring, and ongoing management of comprehensive employee benefit programs (retirement, risk, health, and wellness) for key corporate accounts.
Conduct annual strategic reviews to evaluate plan competitiveness, claims performance, and alignment with employer talent goals.
Facilitate and direct client management committees, trustee meetings, and executive-level presentations.
Spearhead complex market tenders, benchmarking analyses, and annual renewal negotiations across insurers and fund administrators.
Negotiate optimal premium pricing, underwriting concessions, fee structures, and service level agreements (SLAs) on behalf of clients.
Analyze claims loss ratios and fund investment returns to design bespoke risk-mitigation and cost-containment strategies.
Ensure all client schemes strictly adhere to statutory regulations, tax laws, and industry governance codes.
Review scheme rules and proactively advise clients on legislative amendments and compliance obligations.
Mentor and review the technical work of junior and mid-level consultants, account managers, and support staff.
Drive commercial growth by identifying organic expansion opportunities (e.g., executive risk, gap cover) and assisting in high-value new business pitches.


Requirements:


Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Actuarial Science, Human Resource Management, or a related discipline.
Recognized regulatory licenses (e.g., FAIS RE5 and RE1) and active Continuous Professional Development (CPD) standing.
7 to 10+ years of progressive consulting experience within corporate employee benefits, institutional brokerage, or corporate underwriting.
Proven track record of managing large, complex corporate client portfolios and leading high-value renewal and tender cycles.
In-depth technical mastery of defined contribution/benefit retirement arrangements, corporate healthcare schemes, and group risk insurance products.
Advanced financial numeracy with a proven ability to interpret actuarial valuations, claims ratios, and complex underwriting metrics.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and executive-level PowerPoint presentation design.
Demonstrated ability to build trust and confidently advise C-suite executives, HR Directors, and Boards of Trustees.
Exceptional commercial negotiation skills with a proven history of securing favorable terms from product providers.
Outstanding written communication and oral presentation skills, capable of translating complex concepts into actionable corporate strategies.
Strong project management and organizational skills to deliver high-stakes renewals under tight deadlines.