Retirement Annuities Program Management Case Study
Project Management Services
Engagement Overview
AJQ Technology was engaged by an ASX-listed, Australian-based wealth management company to manage a full end-to-end program of work for a new retirement annuities product. This included, among other activities, managing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for technology platforms, overseeing the subsequent technology rollouts, coordinating product approval with APRA, delivering marketing updates, and leading all change management activities through to the end of the warranty periods.
Because the client’s technology team was primarily geared toward BAU activities, AJQ Technology played a critical role by providing Program Management services, Business Analysts, Automation and Testing resources under a long term partner agreement. These resources worked alongside internal teams and platform technology vendors.
Following the successful RFP process and agreement to proceed, AJQ initiated the program and established a structured set of delivery streams spanning Technology, Finance, Marketing, Product, Investment Strategy, and Operations. This structure was stood up within two months of engagement. Daily status meetings and weekly steering committees were implemented and managed by AJQ Technology for the duration of the program.
AJQ Approach
To ensure the program’s success, AJQ facilitated a series of workshops to define the delivery pipeline, along with detailed plans and milestones that formed the program delivery roadmap. With core team members based Australia and technology partners located in Singapore, South Africa, and Ireland, collaboration tools and supporting technologies were introduced to improve communication and reduce risks associated with delayed decision-making.
The rollout included two new platforms for the Investments and Operations teams, a new online portal enabling advisers to track client progress, new marketing materials and roadshows to promote the product, and all compliance documentation and submissions required to obtain timely APRA approval. Updates to existing platforms were also delivered to support product changes, along with ongoing financial and budget monitoring of the program. AJQ-managed streams were supported by Business Analysts and Testers who delivered software changes and assisted with process updates and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approvals.
Results & Benefits
The delivery stream structure and management approach were critical in maintaining timelines and budget adherence. This structure has since been adopted by the client internally for other multi-stream, dependency-heavy projects and is still in practice. The operating model encouraged visibility, clear stream ownership, accountability, and efficiency—reducing lengthy meetings through daily stand-ups, roadmap-driven planning, and concise status reporting within steering packs.