Agribusiness Banking Manager - Worcester, Western Cape

Location: Worcester

A leading specialist agricultural financial institution is seeking an experienced Relationship Manager – Agricultural & Commercial Banking to drive loan book growth, manage strategic client relationships, and support sustainable agricultural development in the Worcester, Western Cape region.

This role is ideal for a commercially astute banking professional with strong agricultural sector exposure, credit assessment expertise, and a proven ability to structure and manage complex lending transactions.

Key Responsibilities:

- Client Relationship & Portfolio Management

- Take full ownership of the client lifecycle from origination to ongoing portfolio management.

- Build and maintain strong relationships with commercial and development farmers.

- Conduct regular client visits and proactively identify growth opportunities.

- Resolve client queries and escalations effectively.

- Loan Origination & Deal Structuring

- Assess client viability, past performance, and transaction potential.

- Structure and motivate credit applications in collaboration with Credit, Risk, Legal, and Agricultural Specialists.

- Analyse financial statements, governance structures, competitive positioning, and business models.

- Ensure all documentation is obtained and transactions are properly structured.

- Portfolio Growth & Financial Performance

- Drive growth of the lending loan book.

- Manage non-performing loans (NPLs) and monitor portfolio health.

- Ensure appropriate pricing to maintain positive net interest margins.

- Onboard new-to-bank clients and generate cross-sell opportunities, including insurance.

- Agricultural Sector Development

- Promote financial solutions to support transformation and sustainability in the agricultural sector.

- Present products and services to farmer groups and industry stakeholders.

- Identify emerging farming enterprises and support commercially viable development initiatives.

- Stakeholder & Risk Management

- Collaborate closely with Credit, Risk, Legal and Agricultural Advisory teams.

- Ensure compliance with governance, policies, and regulatory requirements.

- Escalate risks appropriately and maintain oversight of application progress.

- People & Process Management

- Support and guide Client Analysts.

- Contribute to continuous process improvement and efficiency initiatives.

Minimum Requirements:

- Relevant 3-year qualification in Commerce, Business, Banking or related field.
- 3–5 years' experience in client relationship management within banking or financial services.
- Experience assessing agricultural business cases and interpreting financial statements.
- Sound knowledge of credit principles, risk assessment, and commercial transaction structuring.
- Strong financial and business acumen.
- Valid driver's license and willingness to travel extensively.

This opportunity suits a driven Relationship Manager – Agricultural & Commercial Banking who combines strong credit skills with deep relationship management capability and a passion for supporting growth within the agricultural sector.