Senior Credit Analyst

Smart4Energy; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 750,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment firm is looking for a Senior Investment Analyst to join their Diversified Credit team. This role involves assessing and monitoring credit transactions, requiring strong analytical skills and a finance qualification. Successful candidates will work in a collaborative environment, contributing to significant investment decisions.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Exposure to complex credit transactions

Collaborative work culture

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in credit risk or structured finance.
• Proficiency in financial modelling and valuation techniques.
• Knowledge of South African and international fixed income markets.

Responsibilities

• Conduct credit analysis and risk assessments across sectors.
• Prepare investment proposals for submission to committees.
• Structure transactions using financial modelling techniques.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

CA(SA) or CFA Charterholder

Tools

Financial modelling

Excel

Job description

Smart4Energy is partnered with one of South Africa’s foremost alternative investment businesses. This organization is a market leader in fixed income and credit investments, with more than ZAR 21 billion in assets under management and a proven track record spanning over 30 years.

Within their Diversified Credit division, the team focuses on building well-structured, risk-adjusted investment portfolios across both listed and unlisted credit instruments. These include corporate debt, structured finance, real estate investment trusts (REITs), municipal debt, and state-owned entities.

This opportunity offers the successful candidate the chance to work alongside highly experienced professionals in a performance-driven, yet collaborative and inclusive environment that values long-term thinking, integrity, and development.

Role Overview

We are seeking a skilled and driven Senior Investment Analyst to join the Diversified Credit team. The primary focus of this role is to assess, structure, and monitor a wide variety of credit transactions, ensuring sound risk management and investment performance across the portfolio. This is a critical role that supports the Head of Credit and works closely with various internal and external stakeholders to originate, evaluate, and manage investment-grade credit assets.

This is an exciting opportunity for a finance professional with strong analytical skills, structured finance experience, and deep knowledge of credit markets to join a high-performing investment team and contribute to impactful credit investment decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough credit analysis and risk assessments on both new and existing investments across diverse sectors including corporates, real estate, SOEs, municipalities, and structured products.
• Prepare detailed investment proposals for submission to internal Credit and Investment Committees, clearly articulating risks, mitigants, and expected returns.
• Structure and price transactions using financial modelling and scenario testing, ensuring alignment with portfolio strategy and risk appetite.
• Review and negotiate legal documentation for credit transactions, including facility agreements, security documents, and legal opinions.
• Monitor investment positions, assess emerging risks, and make informed recommendations for risk mitigation or portfolio adjustments.
• Provide analytical input to support sector views, macroeconomic assessments, and strategic investment decisions.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with internal teams (legal, deal origination, portfolio management) and external stakeholders (counterparties, advisors, credit market participants).
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of the internal credit risk management framework, policies, and risk rating methodologies.
• Support the Head of Credit with strategic and operational initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience:

• CA(SA), CFA Charter holder, or an equivalent finance-related professional qualification.
• Minimum 5 years of post-articles experience in credit risk, debt capital markets, or structured finance.
• Prior experience in corporate or structured credit transactions at an investment firm, asset manager, or major financial institution.
• Familiarity with legal documentation for credit and structured products.
• Proficiency in financial modelling and Excel-based valuation techniques.
• Sound understanding of South African and international fixed income markets.
• Supervisory or mentoring experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Competencies and Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• High level of professional integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting complex information clearly and confidently.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Commercially minded with an appreciation for long-term value creation.
• Passionate about investment markets, with a natural curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.

What’s on Offer

• Join a highly respected, well-established credit investment team with deep sector expertise.
• Exposure to a wide range of complex credit transactions across the African and global markets.
• Opportunity to contribute meaningfully to investment outcomes in a performance-oriented, collaborative culture.
• Career development in a leading institution committed to transformation, diversity, and professional growth.