Associate: Property Finance at Sanlam Group

Sanlam Alternative Investments (SAI) 

• The purpose Sanlam Alternative Investments (SAI) business is to help build the African continent and make a real sustainable difference in the emerging economies in which we operate in, aligning to the Sanlam Group’s mission of financial inclusion.
• The SAI business has a broad range of capabilities that include Private Equity, Specialised Finance, Property, Infrastructure and Partnerships. Sanlam is the biggest non-banking financial institution on the continent, operating in Africa for over 100 years. 

What will you do?

• The Associate for Property Finance will be responsible for originating and structuring property-related debt, including both vanilla and structured transactions, for investment by SAI and third-party funds.
• The role further entails structuring finance solutions, including transactions with upside participation, as well as driving the growth of the existing business through innovation and the development of new products. In addition, the Associate will be responsible for managing and optimising the property credit assets book.

What will make you successful in this role?

Deal Making - Origination/ Relationship Building, including:  

• Introducing personal network to the SAI brand as well as cold calling property investors and developers to source deal flow
• Compile written proposals to clients/ syndication partners of specific products (including commentary on compliance with enactments, tax and accounting treatments), funding proposals including making marketing presentations to clients/ syndication partners and replying to client "RFP's"
• Preparation of term sheets to clients that form the basis of legal agreements to be drafted
• Financial modelling of deals and preparing deal cashflows
• Ongoing client relationships in respect of concluded deals
• Maintaining relationships within the Sanlam Group

Negotiation

• Negotiation with client of funding terms including loan amount, interest margin, fees and profit participation.
• Negotiation with syndication partners on fee sharing arrangements and deal structures to maximise SAI's role in the deal.

Credit Approval

• Preparation of credit applications and credit updates to the credit department and attendance at credit meetings to support deals.
• Preparation of deal committee applications for new products which entail, amongst others, a description of the mechanics of the product and the relevant legislative implications requiring sign-off by taxation, legal, regulatory, accounting, etc. Such applications set out the credit risk, funding/liquidity risk, interest rate risk, currency risk, regulatory risk, operational risk, documentation risk and reputational risk in the product and how these risks are mitigated and/or managed.

Deal Execution

• Manage transactions from inception through execution with strong ownership and project discipline.
• Liaise with internal teams (legal, credit, treasury, regulatory and exchange control) and with external advisors (lawyers, accountants and tax specialists) to implement transactions.
• Review and comment on legal agreements to give effect to approved transactions.
• Coordinate with other financial institutions to implement and settle transactions.

Repackaging and placement

• Repackage and place debt transactions—potentially incorporating credit derivatives—to optimise distribution and broaden investor participation.

Profitability and Product Development

• Drive profitability through innovative product design, research‑led opportunity identification, and robust structuring.

Group interaction and functions

• Engage continuously with Sanlam Group stakeholders and act as a centre of expertise for property credit solutions.

Portfolio management of Credit Portfolio

• Assist in establishing, managing and optimising a credit portfolio aligned to mandate and risk appetite.
• Align client requirements with interest‑rate risk management parameters within the portfolios.
• Review and validate reporting accuracy, including daily P&L reports.

Structuring

• Evaluate tax, regulatory, legal and accounting considerations and engage relevant subject‑matter experts to ensure robust structuring.

Qualification and Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in the debt and structured property finance environment.
• CA (SA), CFA, MBA, B. Com, LLB or other relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Demonstrated deal‑making and debt‑origination capability, with the ability to conceive, structure and implement complex transactions.
• Strong negotiation skills, including contract negotiation.
• Strong interpersonal skills for client engagement and cross‑cluster collaboration within the Sanlam Group.
• Sound marketing skills and a strong network within the debt market.
• Tax knowledge and structuring expertise.
• Financial modelling proficiency and strong numerical skills.
• Solid knowledge of accounting standards—particularly those related to financial instruments and securitisation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deliver presentations to technical audiences, clients and internal committees.
• Hands‑on capital markets experience across debt and structured‑finance instruments, including corporate bonds, commercial paper, loans, asset‑backed finance, securitisation and credit derivatives.
• Strong understanding of derivatives and financial treasury products.
• Strong understanding of regulatory, tax, legal and exchange‑control issues related to property debt financing.

Knowledge and Skills

• Investment strategies and management of complex investments
• Responsible for originating and securing complex private equity investment transactions.
• Negotiates deals with third parties and will present proposed deals to the Credit Committee.
• Investment Industry Knowledge
• Reporting and Administration