Senior Private Wealth Adviser - Private Banker - South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg or Pretoria

Senior Private Wealth Adviser / Private Banker

Multi-Family Office

Location: South Africa — Cape Town, Johannesburg or Pretoria

Remuneration: Annually 2,000,000R PA
Recruiter: James & Partners Talent

The opportunity

James & Partners Talent is representing a specialist private wealth and multi-family office business seeking an experienced Senior Private Wealth Adviser / Private Banker to help develop its next phase of growth.

The business combines established fiduciary expertise with investment management, succession planning and family governance. Supported by a wider financial services group, it provides integrated advice to wealthy families, entrepreneurs and business owners whose needs extend beyond managing an investment portfolio.

This is an opportunity to work directly with experienced investment and fiduciary leaders, develop meaningful client relationships and contribute to the growth of a specialist business.

A broader approach to private wealth

The successful individual will help clients understand how their wealth is owned, invested, protected and ultimately passed to future generations.

Conversations may involve personal investments, business interests, trusts, pensions, international assets, liquidity events and the changing needs of different family members. The role requires someone who can understand that wider picture, lead the client relationship and bring the appropriate specialists together.

This is a client-facing, commercially active position. It is not a purely technical investment role, a trust administration position or a relationship management role dependent entirely on an existing allocation of clients.

The opportunity would particularly suit an established wealth adviser, private banker or independent practice principal who wants a more entrepreneurial environment, deeper specialist support and greater involvement in building a business.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and grow client relationships. Originate new business through personal networks, referrals, professional introducers and market engagement. Build trusted relationships with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs and business owners.
• Lead comprehensive wealth planning conversations. Understand clients’ objectives, financial positions, ownership structures, liquidity needs and family circumstances. Identify where investment, fiduciary, succession and risk considerations need to be addressed together.
• Coordinate investment advice and implementation. Work with investment specialists on asset allocation, portfolio construction, local and offshore solutions, custody arrangements and discretionary management. Explain recommendations clearly and connect investment decisions to each family’s wider objectives.
• Support succession planning and family governance. Work alongside legal, tax and fiduciary professionals on estate planning, trusts, business continuity and intergenerational wealth transfer. Help families navigate sensitive discussions and develop relationships with the next generation.
• Oversee onboarding and ongoing servicing. Coordinate client information, mandates, documentation and implementation with operational and specialist teams. Maintain clear communication, regular reviews and reliable follow-through on agreed actions.
• Contribute to business development and service quality. Help refine the client proposition, strengthen professional referral relationships and identify opportunities to improve the client experience. Contribute to commercial growth while maintaining high standards of discretion, professional judgement and ethical conduct.

The person we are looking for

You will be an experienced private wealth professional with the credibility to lead sophisticated client conversations and the commercial ability to develop lasting relationships.

Relevant backgrounds include independent wealth management, private banking, multi-family offices, financial planning and private client advisory. Independent advisers and practice principals who have built their own relationships are particularly relevant. Private bankers are equally welcome where they can demonstrate personal responsibility for business development and client retention.

You should bring:

• A proven client-facing track record, including developing, advising and retaining wealthy individuals, families or business owners.
• Strong investment knowledge, with confidence discussing portfolio strategy, diversification, liquidity, local and offshore investments and the rationale behind recommendations.
• Practical understanding of fiduciary and succession matters, including trusts, estate planning and ownership structures, together with the judgement to involve specialist expertise.
• Commercial initiative and relationship skills, with the ability to generate opportunities, lead discovery meetings and convert suitable prospects into long-term clients.
• A collaborative, professional approach, combining discretion, attention to detail and the ability to work effectively with investment, legal, fiduciary and operational colleagues.

Relevant financial planning, investment, accounting, legal or fiduciary qualifications will be valued alongside demonstrable experience. Appropriate professional standing and authorisations will be considered against the responsibilities of the appointment.

Existing relationships and client books

An established client base, credible referral network or potentially transferable book would be a significant advantage.

Assessment will focus on the quality and durability of relationships, recurring revenue, personal origination capability and realistic transition prospects—not headline assets under management alone.

Any existing contractual restrictions, confidentiality obligations and client transition requirements will be considered carefully. A delayed transition does not automatically rule out a strong individual, but any proposed move must be commercially realistic and handled properly.

Why consider this opportunity?

This appointment offers the opportunity to help shape a growing specialist business while benefiting from the resources and capabilities of an established wider financial services group.

You would work closely with senior investment and fiduciary professionals, giving you access to complementary expertise and the ability to offer clients a more comprehensive service.

For an independent adviser, the appeal is the opportunity to focus more closely on clients and business development within a multidisciplinary team. For a private banker, it is the opportunity to build relationships in an entrepreneurial environment where investment advice forms part of a much wider family wealth conversation.

The business’s emphasis is on ongoing advice, enduring relationships and preserving wealth across generations.

Remuneration

The remuneration structure will be discussed individually, taking account of experience, existing relationships, revenue potential and any transition requirements.

Fixed remuneration and revenue participation may form part of a tailored arrangement. The objective is to establish a commercially sustainable package that recognises both the individual’s contribution and the longer-term growth of the business.

Apply confidentially

For a confidential discussion, please apply through James & Partners Talent, including your CV and a brief outline of your private client experience, business development track record and reasons for considering a move.