VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position: Strategy Manager

Company: Centenary Bank

Location: Malawi

About the Role

Applications are invited from suitably qualified, experienced, and competent individuals for the post of Strategy Manager at Centenary Bank.

The Strategy Manager is responsible for leading the Bank's strategic planning, formulation, and execution processes to reposition the Bank for sustainable growth. Given the Bank's current vision and aspiration, the Strategy Manager will play a pivotal role in driving efficiency, identifying new growth opportunities, and ensuring that the Bank's strategy is translated into measurable actions across all departments.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning for the Bank

• Support in the development of Bank-wide strategies that address profitability challenges, cost optimization, and market share growth, utilizing competitive intelligence, industry benchmarks, and data-driven insights
• Lead implementation of diverse portfolios of initiatives, ensuring cross-functional alignment and synergies that reduce duplication, streamline processes, and maximize resource utilization
• Monitor implementation of strategic objectives and advise management on shortfalls, with a focus on improving cost-to-income ratio and enhancing revenue streams
• Drive Bank-wide initiatives on service quality, ensuring customer experience improvements that differentiate the Bank in a competitive market
• Identify, analyze, and monitor risks (financial, operational, reputational) that may prevent achievement of strategic objectives; propose mitigation plans that safeguard profitability and efficiency
• Provide thorough and objective assessments of strategic opportunities, including new markets, products, and digital innovations, with recommendations aligned to the Bank's overall strategy, business model, and risk appetite

Leadership and Drive of Detailed Implementation / Operating Plan

• Translate the Bank's strategy into detailed implementation plans, with clear milestones, KPIs, and accountability frameworks
• Ensure departmental operating plans are aligned with strategic objectives, particularly around cost reduction, revenue diversification, and operational efficiency
• Monitor execution of these plans across departments, ensuring progress is tracked, measured, and reported transparently
• Report on implementation effectiveness, highlighting successes, bottlenecks, and recommending corrective actions to keep the Bank on track toward profitability and market growth
• Champion a culture of accountability and performance discipline, ensuring that strategy is not only designed but actively lived across the organization

Resource Management (Finances and/or Assets)

• Support the Head of Strategy in preparing annual budgets and forecasts, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities of cost containment and revenue growth
• Monitor monthly performance against budget, identifying variances early and recommending corrective measures to maintain financial discipline
• Advocate for efficient resource allocation, ensuring investments are directed toward initiatives that deliver measurable returns and strengthen competitive positioning

Staff Management

• Deliver recruitment, selection, induction, training, and development for direct reports, ensuring the team has the right skills to drive strategic execution
• Manage performance of all direct reports by setting clear performance goals linked to strategic priorities, delivering performance analysis, coaching and mentoring staff, recognizing outstanding performance, and managing performance improvement plans for underperformers
• Foster a culture of innovation and efficiency, encouraging staff to contribute ideas that reduce costs, improve processes, and enhance customer value

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Banking and Finance, Accounting, Commerce, or Business Administration from a recognized university
• Postgraduate qualifications (e.g., MBA, MSc in Strategic Management, Economics, or Finance) is an added advantage
• Professional certifications in strategy, risk management, or project management (e.g., PMP, Balanced Scorecard, CFA) are desirable
• Strong grounding in quantitative analysis, financial modeling, and business planning
• Demonstrated ability to translate theory into practice by designing and executing corporate strategies in a financial services environment

Experience and Skills

• Minimum 5 years' experience at manager or senior officer level in a busy financial services organization, with exposure to strategy formulation, business planning, and performance management
• Excellent analytical skills – ability to analyze complex financial and operational data, design management information dashboards, and draw insights that inform strategic decisions
• Strong organizational and management skills, including problem solving, prioritization, and the ability to coordinate cross-functional initiatives
• Proven track record in cost optimization and efficiency improvement, ideally in a commercial bank environment
• Strong business acumen with the ability to contribute to long-term strategic decisions, balancing growth ambitions with risk appetite
• Experience in program management and monitoring execution, ensuring departmental alignment with corporate strategy
• Ability to translate strategy into measurable actions, with clear KPIs and accountability frameworks
• Competent market analysis skills

How to Apply

Applications with Curriculum Vitae (both cover letter and CV should be saved in one PDF file) should be emailed to:

recruitment@centenarybank.co.zw

Please indicate on the email subject line the position you are applying for.

Example subject line: Strategy Manager Application

Deadline

Friday, 5th June 2026

Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged.