eFinancialCareers

• Company

  Rand Merchant Bank

• Location

  South Africa-Johannesburg

• Compensation

  Competitive

• Position Type

  Employee

• Employment type

  Full time

• Updated

  26 Nov 2008

• eFC Ref no

  475097

The FICC Structuring division is expanding its derivative structuring capabilities with particular reference to the corporate client base. There is an opportunity for a motivated and experienced derivative deal maker to join the desk.

RAND MERCHANT BANK

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) is the investment banking arm of FirstRand, one of South Africa’s largest, listed financial services groups.

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) is the investment banking arm of FirstRand Bank; in 30 years RMB has grown from a small financial structuring house into a market-leading investment bank. RMB trades off FirstRand Banking Group's R547 billion balance sheet (2007), which gives them the best of both worlds - the agility of an investment bank backed by the muscle of a large financial services group.

For the year ended 30 June 2007, RMB delivered 81% growth off an already high base, with pre-tax profits nearly trebling in the past five years and have achieved an average annual compound growth rate of 31% since 1985.

In South Africa, RMB operates from offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. Internationally, RMB operates through its parent company, the FirstRand group, from offices in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, China, India, Australia, and North and South America as well as regional offices in Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique.

RMB is rated as “South Africa’s leading investment bank*” and is a full-service investment bank delivering the whole range of services including:                              * by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in the 2005 Peer rankings of financial institutions.

• Corporate finance
• Structured finance
• Private equity
• Trading and client solutions in
• currencies,
• credit,
• commodities
• equities and
• fixed income.

"As the employer of choice, we've built a solid reputation among clients as the investment bank of choice."

Michael Pfaff, CEO

Seeing profit growth of at least 20% every year since its formation, RMB has developed a reputation for combining innovation and entrepreneurship and has pioneered the introduction of many new financial instruments to the local and African markets in support of its philosophy of Traditional values, Innovative Ideas

OUR CULTURE

RMB’s expertise and approach to business, is neatly captured in the 21 year old payoff line “Traditional Values. Innovative Ideas.” At its most basic, this describes the bank’s ability to be bold and innovative whilst sticking to the principles of sound, prudent banking.

Employees thrive in RMB’s dynamic workplace culture, which is geared towards empowering the individual, making employees accountable and rewarding performance. Divisions are run as businesses in their own right. People are respected and rewarded for their contribution rather than their titles and positions.

As our aim is to to be continually recognised as the number one investment bank in Southern Africa, we are looking to recruit the best talent the markets have to offer - someone with extraordinary intellect, a business driver, significant market expertise and motivation. We also believe that it is vital to invest in the growth and future of our employees because it is integral to our own success.

The FICC Structuring division is expanding its derivative structuring capabilities with particular reference to the corporate client base. There is an opportunity for a motivated and experienced derivative deal maker to join the desk.

CRITICAL PERFORMANCE AREAS:

1. Marketing Performance Area.

The candidate will be pro-active in looking for and tenacious in identifying, acquiring and following up on potential transaction leads. This will include:

• Generate transaction opportunities,
• Pre-qualify prospects though analysis of financial risks,
• Co-ordinate his/her activities within DCM and within the Sales and Structuring enviroment of FICC,
• Arrange meetings with prospective clients,
• Prepare proposal documents and presentations for meetings,
• Know the South African corporate / institutional landscape,
• Have relationships with the decision makers in these corporations,
• Have a specific interest in structuring and marketing innovative solutions and building long term client relationships,
• Have a proven track record in derivative deal making with the domestic institutional and/or corporate clients,
• Be pro-active in looking for and tenacious in acquiring and following up on potential transaction leads.

2.Technical Performance Area.

The candidate will structure, price and implement complex derivative solutions using:

• Foreign Exchange Derivatives,
• And have the ability to grasp concepts and knowledge from the Interest Rate Derivative and Commodity Arena.

The candidate will demonstrate a working knowledge of the following:

• Accounting treatment of derivative instruments,
• ISDA agreements,
• SARB regulations with particular reference to Exchange Controls,
• Credit and capital implications of exposures to derivative transactions.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

The ideal candidate must have:

• An undergraduate degree (BCom/BSc),
• Post Graduate qualification,
• At least 3 years of derivative / banking related experience.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

The candidate will demonstrate a working knowledge of the following,

• A passion for clients,
• Being able to read, understand and apply information gleaned from annual reports and the financial press.
• A good general knowledge of the workings of financial markets and products offered by banks,
• An in-depth knowledge & understanding of Macro Economics and International Economics,
• The ability to apply this knowledge to clients in the form of appropriate derivative solutions,
• Ability to cope under pressure and have a positive attitude at all times,
• Strong interpersonal skills and a pro-active attitude,
• Excellent presentation skills and comfortable in front of large groups,
• A strong team player with the ability to work closely with all RMB trading desks, other internal divisions as well as clients,
• An “out of the box” thinker and problem solver that pro-actively seeks new client opportunities and innovative product solutions. 

S/he must maintain the highest degree of professionalism and client service ethics. Applying knowledge and experience in a creative manner to add sustainable value to the division.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

The person will be part of the FICC corporate sales & structuring team and there is a potential opportunity to head up the team in the future.  

We have exciting plans for the future of FICC. Therefore we believe that it is an excellent time to join this stimulating environment.