About the position
?? About the Opportunity A leading South African development finance institution operating within the agricultural and commercial banking sector is seeking to appoint an experienced Relationship Manager based in Worcester. This role is ideal for a commercially driven banking professional with strong credit acumen and relationship management expertise, passionate about supporting commercial and developing farmers while driving sustainable portfolio growth. ?? Main Purpose of the Role The Relationship Manager assumes single-client ownership across the full client lifecycle and is responsible for: End-to-end Client Relationship Management Client Experience Management Growing and managing a profitable lending portfolio Structuring viable credit solutions Supporting development and transformation objectives The role combines sales, credit analysis, stakeholder engagement and portfolio management within a specialised agricultural banking environment. ?? Key Performance Areas Development & Sector Support Represent the institution at farmer unions, industry forums and community engagements Market lending and insurance solutions to new and existing clients Educate clients on available products and application requirements Identify and onboard new commercial and development farming clients Growth, Profitability & Portfolio Health Drive loan book growth aligned to segmentation strategy Achieve onboarding targets (minimum 6 new-to-bank clients annually) Price facilities appropriately to protect net interest margin Generate cross-sell opportunities, including insurance referrals Client Relationship Management Conduct regular farm visits and client engagements Review existing facilities and identify expansion opportunities Resolve client queries and escalations efficiently Deliver a personalised and professional client experience Deal Structuring & Credit Assessment On receipt of client interest: Guide clients through application requirements Conduct on-site due diligence and business analysis Evaluate: Shareholding and management structures Governance frameworks Competitive positioning Collaborate with: Agricultural Specialists Credit Managers & Analysts Risk and Legal teams Structure commercially sound lending solutions Provide well-motivated credit recommendations Stakeholder Collaboration Work closely with Client Analysts to manage portfolio performance Align with Credit and Legal teams on approvals and agreements Support complex transaction reviews to mitigate risk Governance & Compliance Ensure compliance with policies and lending frameworks Escalate risks and potential concerns proactively Track application progress and provide feedback to line management Maintain accurate documentation and audit readiness ?? Preferred Minimum Education & Experience Relevant 3-year qualification in Commerce, Business, Banking or equivalent 3-5 years' experience in client relationship management within a financial services environment 1-2 years' experience analysing agricultural business cases and financial statements 3 years' knowledge of credit principles, practices and relevant legislation ?? Additional Requirements Valid South African driver's license Willingness to travel extensively (client visits essential)
Assess historical performance and transaction viability.
Desired Skills:
- Microsoft Office (Advanced)
- Strong analytical capability
- Financial and business acumen
- Credit risk assessment
- Agricultural industry knowledge
- Governance and strategy analysis
About The Employer:
Commercially Sharp. Developmentally Driven.
Our client operates at the intersection of commercial banking and economic development.
With a mandate to support sustainable growth across the agricultural value chain, this institution provides tailored financial solutions to businesses operating in primary production, processing and agri-related sectors.
They are governance-driven, credit-focused and impact-aware - balancing profitability with purpose.
For professionals who want exposure to complex lending environments while contributing to sector transformation, this is a rare and rewarding space.
