Are you a recent graduate with a passion for financial services and a hunger to grow? Merchant West Holdings is offering 10 ambitious individuals the chance to kick off their careers through the ARISE Programme — a full-time, permanent rotational experience based across Cape Town and Johannesburg.
This is not your typical graduate scheme. The ARISE Programme is a structured career accelerator designed to fast-track your development within one of South Africa’s leading financial services groups. From day one, you’ll be immersed in the real world of lending — rotating through credit analysis, operations, legal, compliance, and sales. By the time you complete the programme, you’ll step directly into a Portfolio Manager role, specialising in the product area that best matches your strengths and interests.
What the Programme Offers
The ARISE Programme gives you far more than a job title. You’ll gain hands-on exposure across Merchant West’s lending businesses, building a well-rounded understanding of how financial solutions are structured, assessed, and delivered to clients. You’ll work alongside experienced professionals, contribute to live deals, and develop the skills needed to thrive in a high-performance sales and credit environment.
Over the course of the programme, you’ll take on meaningful responsibilities — identifying new business opportunities, developing client pipelines, analysing market dynamics, and assessing the financial feasibility of proposed transactions. You’ll engage directly with clients, understand their needs, and propose customised financial solutions that align with their goals. Working closely with internal teams, you’ll help structure deals that work for both the client and the business.
This is a role that demands curiosity, analytical thinking, and a genuine enthusiasm for client engagement. If you’re someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to learn at every turn, the ARISE Programme was built for you.
What Merchant West is Looking For
Merchant West is seeking candidates who hold a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, with preference given to Accounting, Economics, or Finance graduates. No prior work experience is required — what matters most is your attitude, your appetite for growth, and your commitment to building a career in financial services.
You’ll need strong communication skills, both written and verbal, along with solid analytical ability and a collaborative mindset. Attention to detail is essential, as is a willingness to adapt quickly and embrace new challenges as they come.
Candidates must have a clear criminal and credit record.
Why Merchant West?
Merchant West Holdings is a diversified financial services group with a strong track record in lending, asset finance, and treasury solutions. Joining the ARISE Programme means joining a business that invests in its people — giving you the tools, mentorship, and exposure needed to build a meaningful and rewarding career from the ground up.
Closing Date: 22 May 2026
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Submit your application today and take the first step toward becoming a Portfolio Manager at Merchant West Holdings.
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