Regional Manager – Wealth Management - Durban (South Africa)

Regional Manager – Wealth Management

Location: Durban, South Africa
Sector: Wealth Management / Financial Services
Reports to: Managing Director
Package: Competitive monthly salary, regional performance override and personal production commission structure

About the opportunity

Our client is an established international wealth management business with a strong presence across South Africa. The business provides holistic financial planning, investment, offshore wealth, fiduciary and client advisory solutions to individuals, families and business owners.

The company is now looking to appoint a Regional Manager for its Durban office. This is a senior leadership appointment and represents an opportunity to take responsibility for an established regional team while helping build the next phase of growth in KwaZulu-Natal.

This is not a purely administrative or corporate management role. The business is looking for a senior financial services professional who remains an advisor at heart. The successful person will lead the Durban region, manage and develop the existing team, support advisors in unlocking new client opportunities, and continue to advise clients and build their own book.

The Durban office is already established, with an experienced advisor base. The opportunity is therefore not to rebuild from scratch, but to take a strong existing platform and help it perform at a higher level.

The role will suit someone who enjoys leading people, working with clients, driving commercial performance and building a regional presence. The successful person will be expected to combine strategic leadership with hands-on advisory credibility.

Key responsibilities

Regional leadership

Lead and manage the Durban region, ensuring strong commercial, operational and cultural performance.

Work closely with the Managing Director and wider leadership team to implement regional growth plans.

Take ownership of regional performance, team productivity, client service standards and operational effectiveness.

Represent the business professionally in the Durban market and wider KwaZulu-Natal region.

Support the continued development of the company’s regional presence and market share.

Advisor coaching and team development

Lead, coach and mentor the regional advisor team.

Support advisors in improving performance, identifying opportunities and developing stronger client relationships.

Work with established advisors to unlock additional production and improve commercial outcomes.

Attend client meetings with advisors where appropriate to support more complex or higher value opportunities.

Help create a positive, accountable and high-performance team culture.

Support the recruitment, onboarding and development of future advisors as the region grows.

Personal advisory and business development

Continue to advise clients personally and build a book within the business.

Develop new client relationships through referrals, networking, professional partnerships and market engagement.

Identify opportunities across wealth planning, investment management, offshore solutions, retirement planning, risk, protection and fiduciary needs.

Maintain personal production and contribute directly to regional revenue growth.

Operate as both a leader and a commercial producer.

Client relationship management

Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, introducers, stakeholders and strategic partners.

Ensure high standards of client service across the Durban region.

Support the resolution of escalated client matters where required.

Identify opportunities for client retention, deeper advice, cross-selling and broader use of the company’s services.

Promote the full client proposition across local and offshore wealth management.

Operational management

Oversee the day-to-day running of the Durban region.

Ensure operational consistency, service quality and adherence to company processes.

Work with central support teams across operations, compliance, finance, HR and marketing.

Manage regional reporting, performance information and operational requirements.

Support process improvement and ensure the region operates efficiently.

Oversee relevant local administrative and support functions within the Durban office.

Compliance and risk

Promote a strong culture of compliance, professionalism and ethical advice.

Ensure adherence to relevant regulatory requirements, including FAIS, FICA, AML, POPIA and internal governance standards.

Support compliance reporting, audit processes and risk management requirements.

Ensure advisors maintain appropriate professional standards and fit-and-proper requirements.

Candidate profile

The successful candidate is likely to be an experienced wealth management, financial planning or financial services leader who has remained close to clients and commercial production.

The business is looking for someone who can lead an established team, but who still understands what it takes to originate business, advise clients and build a book.

The ideal candidate will have:

Strong experience in wealth management, financial planning, private wealth, financial advisory, banking, insurance, investment services or a related financial services environment.

A proven record of client relationship management and business development.

Experience leading, coaching or managing financial advisors or sales professionals.

The ability to improve advisor performance and create a stronger sales and client service culture.

A strong understanding of local and offshore wealth management solutions.

Commercial confidence and the ability to work to regional and personal revenue targets.

The credibility to sit with high value clients and senior advisors.

The ability to manage both the commercial and operational requirements of a regional office.

A professional, client-centric and performance-focused approach.

The willingness to remain actively involved in advising clients.

Qualifications and experience

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, commerce, economics, accounting, law or a related discipline preferred.

Relevant financial planning, wealth management or investment qualifications advantageous.

CFP accreditation or progression towards CFP would be highly regarded.

RE5 qualification advantageous.

Postgraduate qualification advantageous.

Minimum 5 to 10 years’ experience in financial services, wealth management, financial planning, banking, insurance or investment services.

Minimum 3 to 5 years’ experience in a leadership, management, regional or senior advisory role.

Experience in a wealth management or financial advisory environment strongly preferred.

Remuneration structure

The role offers a competitive monthly salary, dependent on experience, qualifications and commercial fit.

In addition, the successful candidate will participate in:

A regional override structure linked to team production.

Commission on personally generated business.

A structured advisor commission model for local and offshore business.

The structure is designed for someone who wants to lead a region while still benefiting from personal client production and regional growth.

What kind of person will succeed?

This role will suit someone who:

Is an advisor at heart.

Enjoys building client relationships.

Can lead experienced advisors without needing to micromanage them.

Has the confidence to coach, challenge and support strong performers.

Wants to grow a regional business.

Is commercially driven and comfortable with targets.

Can combine leadership with personal production.

Understands the importance of compliance and professional standards.

Is comfortable being visible in the office, with clients and in the market.

Wants to be part of a growing wealth management business with strong local and offshore capability.

Why this opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take on a senior regional leadership role within an established wealth management business, leading an experienced Durban team and helping build the next phase of growth in the region.

The role offers the right person a blend of leadership, client advisory work, regional business building, commercial reward and long-term growth potential.

Application process

Suitable candidates will initially have a confidential discussion with James & Partners Talent.

Shortlisted individuals will then be introduced to the client for a structured interview process.

The process is expected to include initial meetings with senior leadership, followed by a more detailed discussion around role fit, commercial structure and regional opportunity.