Portfolio Manager: Agriculture

Merchant West; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Merchant West is seeking a Junior Portfolio Manager to oversee a client facilities portfolio, ensure strong performance, and manage risk with rigorous governance. The role focuses on monitoring exposures, maintaining client relationships, and enabling deal execution within approved credit policies.

The position requires 1+ years in a client-facing financial role and a relevant BCom/BSc Agri Finance background. A strong analytical mindset and proficiency in portfolio reporting are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level finance degree or equivalent.
• 1+ years’ client-facing experience in finance or agriculture.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills.
• Experience with portfolio management and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of client facilities to drive strong financial performance and asset quality.
• Maintain and nurture client relationships to ensure service delivery and opportunities.
• Monitor portfolio risk, exposures, covenants and compliance with credit terms.
• Support deal structuring and execution within the portfolio to enable growth.
• Prepare regular portfolio reports and maintain accurate records and data.

Skills

Portfolio management

Credit risk analysis

Deal structuring

Client relationship

Portfolio reporting

Credit policy

Cash flow analysis

Portfolio systems

Education

BCom or BSc Agri Finance

Job description

Role Purpose

The Junior Portfolio Manager is responsible for managing and maintaining a portfolio of client facilities by ensuring strong portfolio performance, effective risk management, and high levels of client service. The role involves monitoring client exposures, maintaining ongoing client relationships, and ensuring compliance with Merchant West credit policies and governance frameworks. The Portfolio Manager works closely with business units to support deal execution, manage risk, and identify opportunities for portfolio growth and optimisation.

The Junior Portfolio Manager is responsible for managing and maintaining a portfolio of client facilities by ensuring strong portfolio performance, effective risk management, and high levels of client service. The role involves monitoring client exposures, maintaining ongoing client relationships, and ensuring compliance with Merchant West credit policies and governance frameworks. The Portfolio Manager works closely with business units to support deal execution, manage risk, and identify opportunities for portfolio growth and optimisation.

Main Accountabilities

• Portfolio Management and Performance
• Manage and monitor a portfolio of client facilities to ensure strong financial performance and asset quality.
• Track client exposures, repayment behaviour, and overall portfolio health.
• Ensure portfolio performance aligns with Merchant West risk and profitability targets.
• Client Relationship Management
• Maintain strong relationships with clients to ensure ongoing service delivery and satisfaction.
• Engage with clients to understand business needs and identify additional opportunities.
• Resolve client queries and manage relationship issues in a timely manner.
• Portfolio Risk Monitoring
• Monitor client financial performance and identify potential credit risks.
• Ensure compliance with approved credit terms, covenants, and facility conditions.
• Escalate risk concerns and recommend corrective actions where required.
• Deal Support and Portfolio Growth
• Support business units with deal structuring and execution within the portfolio.
• Assess financial impact of restructuring or additional funding requests.
• Identify opportunities to grow and optimise the portfolio.
• Reporting and Portfolio Administration
• Prepare and maintain accurate portfolio reports and documentation.
• Ensure all client records and portfolio data are up to date and compliant.
• Provide regular updates on portfolio performance to management.
• Credit Governance and Compliance
• Ensure adherence to credit policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Maintain proper documentation and audit trails for portfolio activities.
• Support audit and compliance processes related to portfolio management.

Qualifications

• BCom degree or BSc (Agri) with Finance and/or Mathematics, Accounting as a subject(s)

Experience

• 1+ years’ experience in a client facing role with a financial background or agricultural background
• Relationships and client/ dealer base within the sector

Skills

• Portfolio management and performance monitoring
• Financial statement analysis and credit risk evaluation
• Deal structuring and transaction assessment
• Client relationship and stakeholder management
• Portfolio reporting and financial analysis
• Credit policy interpretation and application
• Financial modelling and cash flow analysis
• Portfolio systems and financial software utilisation.

Competencies

• Commercial judgement and financial acumen
• Analytical thinking and problem solving
• Decision making and sound risk judgement
• Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
• Negotiation and influencing capability
• Accountability and ownership
• Results orientation and performance focus
• Integrity and governance discipline