Johannesburg: Senior Designer (PKF SA) posted by PKF Octogon

Job Purpose

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Designer to join our creative team at head office. This role demands an exceptional designer who thrives under pressure, delivers rapid turnaround without compromising quality, and has a proven track record of working with large, reputable brands. The Senior Designer will play a key role in elevating the firms visual identity across all channels, campaigns, and offices.

This is a fast-paced, high-impact role suited to a highly skilled professional who combines creativity, precision, and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

1. Creative Design & Production

• Lead the design and production of high-quality visual content for campaigns, presentations, digital platforms, and marketing materials.
• Maintain the highest standard of design excellence across all outputs, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines.
• Work under tight deadlines without compromising quality, managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Innovate and push creative boundaries while maintaining brand consistency.

2. Brand & Visual Identity

• Ensure all designs are consistent with the firms brand identity, tone, and positioning.
• Collaborate with the Senior Marketing Manager to adapt global or national campaigns for local office use.
• Maintain templates, visual assets, and style guides for regional offices to ensure consistency.

3. Digital & Email Marketing

• Create and design visually compelling emails within email marketing systems.
• Update and maintain design content in Canva, and create high-quality layouts in Adobe InDesign and Illustrator.
• Ensure designs are optimized for digital channels while maintaining professional quality and brand consistency.

4. Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with marketing, communications, and digital teams to translate strategy into compelling visuals.
• Provide guidance and support to junior designers or interns where applicable.
• Collaborate with external agencies and vendors as needed to maintain quality and efficiency.

5. Digital & Print Expertise

• Design visuals for both digital (web, social media, email campaigns) and print (brochures, branding, reports, signage, presentations).
• Ensure all outputs are polished, professional, and consistent with the firms brand.
• Stay up-to-date with design trends, tools, and emerging technologies.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional design skills with a strong portfolio demonstrating work for large, reputable brands.
• Ability to produce top-quality work quickly under pressure.
• Deep understanding of typography, colour theory, layout, and visual storytelling.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, able to receive and act on feedback quickly.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Canva, and email marketing platforms.
• Experience with motion graphics or interactive media is a plus.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelors degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field.
• 7+ years experience in design, ideally in professional services, corporate, or high-profile brand environments.
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality designs under tight deadlines.
• Experience working on large-scale campaigns and with multiple stakeholders.

Success Indicators

• High-quality, visually striking design outputs delivered on time and within briefs.
• Strong alignment with the firms brand identity across all materials and platforms.
• Positive feedback from internal teams, leadership, and external partners.
• Ability to handle high-pressure situations while maintaining creativity and precision.
• Competence in designing emails, updating Canva, and producing InDesign/Illustrator layouts efficiently.