Role Purpose: 

We’re looking for 10 ambitious individuals who are ready to take the first step in their careers by joining our ARISE Programme — an exciting full-time, permanent opportunity across Cape Town and Johannesburg designed to accelerate your career at Merchant West! 

This rotational journey will give you hands-on experience across our Lending businesses, equipping you with essential skills in credit analysis, operations, legal, compliance and ultimately sales. You'll gain invaluable insights, setting the stage for you to become a top-tier Portfolio Manager within one of our dynamic lending solutions. 

By the end of the programme, you'll step into a full-time Portfolio Manager role, specialising in the product area that fuels your passion and aligns with your strengths. If you're ready to kickstart a rewarding career with us, this is your opportunity! 

Main Accountabilities:

• Play a crucial role in expanding our business, enhancing profitability, and building robust client relationships through proactive new business development, meticulous financial analysis, and strategic cross-selling
• Identify and pursue fresh business prospects within your chosen product area 
• Develop and sustain a dynamic pipeline of potential clients and deals, ensuring a steady flow of opportunities 
• Analyse market dynamics to seize emerging opportunities and stay ahead of the curve 
• Conduct in-depth assessments of client needs and propose customised financial solutions that align with their goals 
• Work closely with internal teams to craft deals that meet both client needs and company objectives 
• Engage in negotiations to secure terms and conditions that are advantageous for both clients and Merchant West 
• Assess the financial feasibility of proposed deals and their potential impact on overall profitability 
• Oversee the smooth and timely execution of new business transactions from start to finish 
• Cultivate strong connections with existing clients to uncover additional business needs and promote complementary products and services from the Merchant West Group
• Focus on delivering high-quality leads to other business units within the Merchant West Group, prioritising quality over quantity 

Qualifications:

•  Bachelor’s degree in commerce, with a preference for Accounting, Economics, or Finance 

Experience: 

• No prior work experience required – we’re looking for motivated individuals eager to learn and grow within a dynamic environment
• Clear criminal and credit record 

Skills: 

• Demonstrated enthusiasm for selling financial products and engaging in client-facing roles 
• A strong interest in financial services and a drive to develop a career in sales within this sector
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain client relationships 
• Strong analytical skills to understand and interpret financial data and market trends 
• Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new processes and financial products 
• Collaborative mindset with a readiness to work closely with internal teams and stakeholders 
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in all tasks and responsibilities 
• Demonstrated willingness and eagerness to continuously learn and grow in a fast-paced environment 

Competencies: 

• Stakeholder management 
• Communication
• Problem-solving 
• Collaboration 
• Attention to detail