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 1?? 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. 2?? Growth, Profitability & Portfolio Health Drive loan book growth aligned to segmentation strategy. Achieve onboarding targets (minimum 6 new-to-bank clients annually). Manage and monitor NPL ratios (Stage 1 & 2). Price facilities appropriately to protect net interest margin. Generate cross-sell opportunities, including insurance referrals. 3?? 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. 4?? Deal Structuring & Credit Assessment On receipt of client interest: Assess historical performance and transaction viability. 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. 5?? Stakeholder Collaboration Work closely with Client Analysts to manage portfolio performance. Support complex transaction reviews to mitigate risk. 6?? Governance & Compliance Ensure compliance with policies and lending frameworks. Escalate risks and potential concerns proactively. Track application progress and provide feedback to line management. ??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)
Desired Skills:
- Stakeholder Relationship
About The Employer:
The Bank That Understands Seasons"
In most banks, performance is measured quarter by quarter.
Our client understands that in agriculture, success is measured in seasons.
This specialised financial institution operates exclusively within the agricultural and agribusiness space - funding everything from primary production to value-added enterprises. Their environment combines structured credit discipline, strong governance and sophisticated risk management with deep sector insight.
Here, relationship banking means walking the land, understanding commodity cycles, navigating climate risk and structuring solutions that make long-term commercial sense.
If you're looking to apply your financial, legal or commercial expertise in a space where strategy meets sustainability - and where your decisions have visible, real-world impact - this is an opportunity worth exploring.
