Position Internal Consultant
Location Cape Town, South Africa
Reports to Head of On-Balance Sheet Lending
Employment type Full-time / Permanent
About the Role
The Internal Consultant is the operational engine that drives deals from initial meeting through to funding. Working in close partnership with the External Consultants (ECs), you take a deal once the EC has met the client or referrer, request the information, work up the credit, submit it to the Credit Committee, and help drive the transaction through to closeout.
The EC owns the client relationship and makes the final calls on structure, terms, and pricing. You bring the analytical and execution strength that turns an opportunity into a funded deal. This role is what allows our ECs to keep originating and meeting clients without deals losing momentum, and a strong Internal Consultant is central to how quickly and reliably we convert.
External Consultant Pre-Submission ResponsibilitiesFor deals to be valuable and fundable, ECs must complete meaningful preliminary work before submission to the IC. The EC is responsible for:
Initial Qualification & Screening: Validate that the opportunity meets basic lending criteria (ticket size, sector, structure fit). Assess client credibility, responsiveness, and fit before formal submission. Confirm the client/referrer is genuinely ready to proceed, not exploratory.
Preliminary Due Diligence: Conduct first-pass background checks on borrower/principals. Understand the client's track record, reputation, and any red flags. Form a view on sector fundamentals and competitive position.
Feasibility & Structure Assessment: Form a preliminary view on deal structure, timing, and key risks. Identify obvious deal-breakers early. Document why you believe this is fundable, not just why it's interesting.
Client Relationship & Information Gatekeeping: Establish whether the client is organised and able to provide required documentation. Brief the client on Paragon's credit process upfront. Secure confidentiality agreements where needed. Set clear timelines.
Documented Handoff: Provide the IC with a brief (one-page) summary of the deal, your view on viability, key milestones, and client nuances. Be accountable for the quality of your initial assessment---not just the lead.
This ensures that:
ECs earn on deals they've genuinely qualified, not just on names
ICs spend time on deals with real merit, not dead-ends
Deals reaching Credit Committee have been stress-tested by someone with skin in the game
Pipeline discipline keeps both ECs and ICs focused on momentum
Key ResponsibilitiesDeal Intake and Document Management
Take on new deals from the EC once an initial client or referrer meeting has been held.
Request the full information pack from the client or referrer, including financials, management accounts, valuations, title deeds, and FICA documentation.
Follow up proactively to ensure outstanding items are received and the deal keeps moving.
Take ownership of getting each deal packaged and ready to work.
Credit Analysis and Deal Assessment
Work up the credit to establish whether an opportunity is a viable deal, and share your findings with the EC.
Assess affordability, security, and key risks, surfacing concerns and opportunities early.
Provide robust analysis and recommendations that inform and sharpen the EC's decisions, with the EC retaining the final say on structure, terms, and pricing.
Prepare a strong credit application and supporting pack to the standard required by the Credit Committee.
Intake Quality Gatekeeping
You have discretion to request additional EC due diligence or clarity before formally taking on a deal. If a deal lacks sufficient preliminary work, credibility, or clear EC perspective, flag this immediately.
Defer intake of poorly-prepared submissions until groundwork is complete. This protects your time and ensures credit quality.
Credit Committee Submission and Liaison
Submit deals to the Credit Committee once the credit pack is ready and the EC is aligned.
Consolidate committee feedback, conditions, and queries, and work through them with the EC.
Coordinate further information requests between the client or referrer and the committee.
Keep deals progressing through the credit process and keep the EC informed on status and turnaround.
Deal Closeout and Facility Documentation
Draft facility letters, term sheets, and related documentation reflecting the agreed structure and terms.
Manage conditions precedent, security requirements, and registration steps through to fulfilment.
Liaise with attorneys and internal stakeholders on documentation and security.
Drive the deal through to drawdown and funding, working with the EC on any decisions that arise.
Partnership and Pipeline Continuity
Act as the EC's right hand on live deals, providing continuity when the EC is out originating or in meetings.
Keep momentum intact so that opportunities are never lost to timing or capacity.
Support multiple ECs across their pipelines, prioritising time-sensitive transactions.
Free the EC to focus on origination and client engagement while collaborating closely on the direction of each deal.
Client and Referrer Communication
Maintain clear, professional communication with clients and referrers throughout the deal process.
Conduct timely follow-ups and keep all parties informed of deal status.
Strengthen the relationships the EC has established, working alongside them rather than in their place.
Data, Reporting and Collaboration
Keep the CRM and LMS updated with accurate, real-time deal progress.
Maintain pipeline hygiene so deal stages and outstanding items are always current.
Provide regular reporting on deal status, conversion through the credit process, and turnaround times.
Collaborate with credit, legal, and finance to resolve issues and remove delays, and feedback insights that improve our processes.
RequirementsQualifications
A relevant tertiary qualification, such as a BCom in Finance, Accounting, Investment Management, Banking, or Economics.
A postgraduate qualification or progress toward a professional designation is an advantage but not essential.
Experience
Two to four years in credit, lending, banking, or a private debt or finance environment, with exposure to credit assessment and deal processing.
Experience in property finance or bridging finance, and any familiarity with structuring or facility documentation, is a strong advantage.
Strong candidates with less experience but the right aptitude and drive will be considered.
Technical Knowledge
Financial statement and management account analysis, with the ability to assess affordability and serviceability.
A sound understanding of credit risk, security, and deal structuring fundamentals.
Familiarity with South African property finance structures, including bonds, leasehold security, tripartite arrangements, and Deeds Office registration requirements.
Competence in drafting and reviewing commercial and facility documentation, or the aptitude to learn it quickly.
Proficiency in Excel, CRM and LMS systems, and the standard MS Office suite.
Skills and Attributes
Highly organised, able to run multiple deals and support several ECs at once without letting anything slip.
Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accurate, complete documentation.
Proactive and self-driven, with the initiative to chase items down and keep deals moving.
Clear, professional written and verbal communication with clients, referrers, attorneys, and the Credit Committee.
Sound commercial judgement and the analytical ability to form a view on whether something is a deal.
Collaborative and team-oriented, comfortable working in close partnership with ECs while respecting that the EC owns the deal.
Calm and dependable under pressure, particularly on time-sensitive transactions.
A genuine interest in lending and a drive to keep learning and growing in the field.
