Portfolio Manager: Manufacturing

Merchant West; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Merchant West in Cape Town seeks a Portfolio Manager to originate, structure, and close asset finance transactions for the manufacturing sector, leveraging supplier relationships and sector knowledge to generate consistent deal flow.

This role involves credit approvals, portfolio monitoring, and growth driven by client and supplier engagements, with a BCom and 5+ years in asset or structured lending preferred.

Qualifications

• BCom degree required.
• Experience in asset/structured lending or related fields.
• Strong network and relationships within the manufacturing sector in Cape Town.

Responsibilities

• Originate, structure, and close asset finance transactions in the manufacturing sector.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline through suppliers, dealers, and industry networks.
• Monitor portfolio performance, risk, and credit quality; manage client relationships.
• Collaborate with credit teams to ensure timely approvals and payouts.
• Drive finance volume, asset growth and profitability targets.
• Ensure compliance with credit policies and governance frameworks.

Skills

Business development

Pipeline management

Relationship building

Negotiation

Financial modelling

Cash flow analysis

Credit risk evaluation

Deal structuring

Credit policy interpretation

Networking

Education

BCom degree

Job description

Role Purpose

The Portfolio Manager is responsible for originating, structuring, and closing asset finance transactions within the manufacturing sector by leveraging strong supplier/vendor relationships and a deep understanding of the sector. The role focuses on generating consistent finance volumes through equipment suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and production businesses, while ensuring that transactions are credit-approved, commercially viable, and aligned with Merchant West's strategic objectives.

The Portfolio Manager is responsible for originating, structuring, and closing asset finance transactions within the manufacturing sector by leveraging strong supplier/vendor relationships and a deep understanding of the sector. The role focuses on generating consistent finance volumes through equipment suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and production businesses, while ensuring that transactions are credit-approved, commercially viable, and aligned with Merchant West's strategic objectives.

Main Accountabilities

• New Business Origination
• Develop and execute a targeted manufacturing sector origination strategy across industries such as plastics, packaging, food processing, engineering, industrial equipment, and related sectors.
• Identify, establish, and onboard equipment suppliers, OEMs, manufacturers, distributors, and strategic partners within manufacturing value chains.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of opportunities through supplier partnerships, direct client engagement, and industry networks.
• Engage with production businesses to understand capital expenditure cycles, production expansion requirements, and equipment replacement needs.
• Position Merchant West as a solutions-driven finance partner for machinery, plant, equipment, and production assets.
• Convert opportunities into structured finance transactions from initial engagement through credit approval and payout.
• Maintain disciplined pipeline management and activity levels to support new business growth targets.
• Portfolio Management and Performance
• Drive client retention, repeat business, and wallet share growth through proactive portfolio management.
• Maintain a strong understanding of clients' production cycles, capital expenditure requirements, and funding triggers to identify future opportunities
• Track client exposures, repayment behaviour, and overall portfolio health.
• Ensure portfolio performance aligns with Merchant West risk and profitability targets.
• Client Relationship Management
• Maintain regular engagement with key clients and supplier partners to identify repeat funding opportunities.
• Ensure a high-quality client experience throughout the client lifecycle.
• Build deep networks across equipment suppliers, production businesses, manufacturers, distributors, industry associations, and other key stakeholders.
• Conduct meaningful client and supplier engagements and maintain strong market visibility within the sector.
• 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.
• Monitor the financial health and operational performance of manufacturing clients and supplier relationships.
• Assess business and sector-specific risks that may impact portfolio quality and client performance.
• 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.
• Work closely with credit teams to ensure transactions are appropriately structured and supported.
• Support the achievement of finance volume, asset growth, and profitability targets
• Reporting and Portfolio Administration
• Provide regular updates on portfolio performance to management.
• Work closely with credit teams to ensure transactions are appropriately structured and supported.
• Support the achievement of finance volume, asset growth, and profitability targets
• Credit Governance and Compliance
• Ensure adherence to credit policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Prepare and submit high-quality credit applications and transaction motivations.
• Ensure transactions are appropriately structured, well-supported, and aligned with Merchant West's credit appetite.
• Maintain strong conversion ratios from pipeline to credit submission, approval, and payout.
• Ensure all transaction documentation and governance requirements are completed in accordance with policy.

Qualifications

• BCom degree

Experience

• Relationships and client/ dealer base within the sector
• Cape Town Base of customers and supplier relationships
• 5 years + Experience in business development, asset finance, commercial finance, equipment finance, or structured lending environments.
• Proven track record of originating and closing new business transactions.

Skills

• Business development and pipeline management.
• Supplier, dealer, and partner relationship development.
• Origination and conversion of asset finance opportunities.
• Strong networking and relationship-building capability.
• Commercial negotiation and solution-selling skills.
• Financial statement analysis and credit risk evaluation
• Deal structuring and transaction assessment
• Credit policy interpretation and application
• Financial modelling and cash flow analysis

Competencies

• Strong hunter mentality with consistent deal origination capability.
• Ability to build and leverage supplier-led origination channels.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing business models, production environments, and capital investment drivers.
• Ability to structure and close complex asset-backed transactions.
• Highly network-driven and relationship-oriented.
• Disciplined in activity management, pipeline management, and execution.
• Comfortable operating in a flexible, entrepreneurial, non-bank credit environment.
• Strong ownership mindset with a focus on delivery, growth, and client outcomes.