ARISE Programme

About the role

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 Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban 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!

Responsibilities

• Drive Business Growth: 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
• Explore New Opportunities: Identify and pursue fresh business prospects within your chosen product area
• Build and Maintain a Strong Pipeline: Develop and sustain a dynamic pipeline of potential clients and deals, ensuring a steady flow of opportunities
• Capitalise on Market Trends: Analyse market dynamics to seize emerging opportunities and stay ahead of the curve
• Tailor Financial Solutions: Conduct in-depth assessments of client needs and propose customised financial solutions that align with their goals
• Collaborate for Success: Work closely with internal teams to craft deals that meet both client needs and company objectives
• Negotiate Effectively: Engage in negotiations to secure terms and conditions that are advantageous for both clients and Merchant West
• Evaluate Deal Viability: Assess the financial feasibility of proposed deals and their potential impact on overall profitability
• Ensure Efficient Execution: Oversee the smooth and timely execution of new business transactions from start to finish
• Strengthen Client Relationships: Cultivate strong connections with existing clients to uncover additional business needs and promote complementary products and services from the Merchant West Group
• Quality Lead Management: 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

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