Merchant Acquisition Executive

the ENTERTAINER; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 450 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading digital company in Paarl is seeking a Merchant Acquisition Executive to manage and expand its network of partner merchants. The role involves building relationships, achieving sales targets, and ensuring merchant satisfaction. Ideal candidates will have a background in sales or account management, with strong negotiation and analytical skills. Experience in hospitality or retail is advantageous, and local market knowledge is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in sales or account management.
• Proven track record of exceeding sales targets.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and access to own transport.

Responsibilities

• Acquire new merchants and strengthen existing partnerships.
• Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting to closure.
• Track and report daily activities and progress against KPIs.

Skills

Sales expertise

Negotiation skills

Relationship management

Analytical skills

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Marketing

Tools

MS Office

CRM tools (Salesforce)

Job description

About Us

The ENTERTAINER is a leading digital company whose main goal is to add value to consumers by bringing them the best incentive offers globally. We are a data-driven, 100% digital, tech company. Providing first-rate offers across renowned dining, leisure, entertainment and hotel brands worldwide, the ENTERTAINER has grown with the aim of creating unbeatable value and loyalty everywhere we go. We believe that “experience is everything”, resulting in our passion for creating unforgettable experiences for both our customers, partners and employees.

Overview of the Role

As a Merchant Acquisition Executive, you will play a key role in expanding and managing our network of merchant partners across South Africa. This includes identifying new opportunities, building strong relationships, and ensuring long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships that deliver value to both our merchants and our users. This role is fast-paced, target-driven, and ideal for someone who loves being out in the market — meeting people, pitching creative ideas, and bringing businesses on board.

Responsibilities

• Acquire new merchants and strengthen existing partnerships across multiple categories, including dining, leisure, beauty, fitness, and entertainment.
• Proactively identify potential merchants through market visits, networking, and outreach.
• Manage the full sales cycle — from prospecting and pitching to negotiation and closure.
• Verify, collect, and process all required documentation related to merchant agreements and offers.
• Onboard and train merchants to ensure they understand how to use the platform effectively.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (content, operations, marketing, finance) to ensure smooth onboarding and ongoing merchant satisfaction.
• Monitor merchant performance, feedback, and redemptions to ensure retention and engagement.
• Support merchants throughout the year with tactical campaigns and promotional initiatives.
• Track and report daily activities, progress against KPIs, and deal status updates.
• Conduct in-trade compliance checks and maintain up-to-date market knowledge, including competitor activities and trends.

Success Factors

• You are persistent – you don’t take “no” for an answer and easily come up with a solid argument and negotiate professionally; you go above and beyond to get what you need.
• You are customer focused – you listen, you understand, and are able to determine your clients’ needs and deliver speedy and quality results that will benefit both parties.
• You demonstrate initiative – you don’t have to be told to get your ‘feet on the street’ and start signing new merchants; you are able to work independently without a close supervision from your manager and do not have to be chased for results.
• You are highly organized – you are detail oriented and excellent at prioritizing to get things done in a fast-paced environment; you’re not easily overwhelmed and able to look after multiple accounts at the same time.
• You are data driven – you love using data to create case studies & make projections and present them to the clients.
• You are a great communicator – you love meeting new people and building relationships with them; you can start a conversation with anyone at any time, you know how to communicate tactfully, whatever the situation and adapt accordingly.
• You are highly adaptable – you welcome change and have the ability to problem solve, prioritise and execute within short time frames.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in sales, merchant acquisition, or account management.
• Proven track record of achieving and exceeding sales targets.
• Experience in hospitality, lifestyle, retail, or FMCG industries is highly advantageous.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and relationship management skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office and CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce).
• Excellent communication skills in English; other local languages are an advantage.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and access to own transport.
• Deep knowledge of the local business environment and trends in your territory.