Portfolio Manager: General

Merchant West; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Merchant West is seeking a Portfolio Manager to oversee a client facilities portfolio, ensuring strong performance and governance. The role focuses on monitoring exposures, maintaining client relationships, and supporting deal execution within the portfolio.

Responsibilities include risk monitoring, compliance with credit terms, and identifying growth opportunities while delivering regular portfolio reporting to management.

Qualifications

• BCom degree with Finance and/or Mathematics; Accounting as a subject(s)
• 4+ years’ experience in a client-facing financial role or solution selling
• Experience managing a portfolio of facilities or client exposures desired

Responsibilities

• 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 risk and profitability targets.
• Maintain strong client relationships to ensure ongoing service delivery and satisfaction.
• Engage with clients to understand business needs and identify opportunities.
• Resolve client queries and manage relationship issues promptly.
• Monitor client financial performance and identify potential credit risks.
• Escalate risk concerns and recommend corrective actions where required.
• Support deal structuring and execution within the portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to grow and optimise the portfolio.
• Prepare and maintain accurate portfolio reports and documentation.
• Ensure client records and portfolio data are up to date and compliant.

Skills

Portfolio management

Credit risk evaluation

Deal structuring

Client relationship

Reporting & analytics

Governance & compliance

Financial modelling

Education

BCom Finance/Mathematics

Tools

Financial software

Job description

Role Purpose:

The 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 with Finance and/or Mathematics, Accounting as a subject(s)

Experience:

• 4+ years’ experience in a client facing role with a financial background/ solution selling
• 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