Operations Analyst

SUMMARY:
The Operations Analyst is responsible for managing the end-to-end operational lifecycle of Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) deals, from prefunding review through to funding and post-funding reconciliation.

POSITION INFO:

 Operations Analyst

Join a finance-focused operations team where you''ll manage the full lifecycle of Merchant Cash Advance deals, ensuring accuracy across financial systems from prefunding through to reconciliation.

Location: Cape Town (AfricaWorks Building) | Working Arrangement: Hybrid | Working Hours: Monday – Friday (UK Winter: 10:00 am – 6:30 pm SA time | UK Summer: 9:30 am – 6:00 pm SA time. Hours will be discussed and confirmed between the employee and the reporting manager to suit both parties.) | Salary: R40,000 – R45,000 + Benefits (Medical Aid, Pension, Life Cover, Vitality)

ABOUT OUR CLIENT

Our client operates within the Merchant Cash Advance sector, supporting the operational management of funding transactions and financial processes.

The business utilises Salesforce and Sage to manage deal information, payments, reconciliations, and financial operations, ensuring accurate processing and reporting throughout the Merchant Cash Advance lifecycle.

THE ROLE: Operations Analyst

The Operations Analyst is responsible for managing the end-to-end operational lifecycle of Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) deals, from prefunding review through to funding and post-funding reconciliation. The role focuses on ensuring deal, payment, and account data remains accurate and aligned across Salesforce and Sage, while identifying, investigating, and resolving discrepancies. The successful candidate will also support reporting, reconciliations, and stakeholder communication relating to funding, accounts, and operational processes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review and verify client agreements to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with internal policies.
• Ensure all deal information is accurately captured and updated within Salesforce.
• Open and manage holding accounts for new deals.
• Set up and validate split arrangements in holding accounts to ensure correct allocation of funds.
• Confirm that all operational and financial elements are correctly configured in Salesforce prior to funding.
• Conduct final quality checks to ensure deals are funding-ready with zero discrepancies.
• Investigate and resolve issues arising after funding, including payment discrepancies and operational errors.
• Monitor and maintain the accuracy of system data throughout the full deal lifecycle.
• Ensure the Salesforce control environment is functioning correctly and report system issues or bugs to the technology team.
• Handle client complaints and queries relating to funding, payments, or account setup, ensuring timely and professional resolution.
• Reconcile loan balances between Salesforce and Sage on a regular basis.
• Build and maintain reports to proactively monitor discrepancies between systems and identify trends or recurring issues.
• Investigate the root causes of discrepancies and determine appropriate resolution paths.
• Maintain clear documentation of reconciliation processes, identified issues, and resolutions.
• Provide clear and accurate explanations to clients and internal stakeholders where discrepancies are identified.
• Explain and justify outcomes where processes have been confirmed as correct.
• Act as a point of contact for operational queries relating to funding, accounts, and payments.
• Liaise with the technology team regarding system issues.
• Liaise with the finance team regarding balance discrepancies and ensure issues are tracked through to resolution.

ABOUT YOU

• Completed articles with 1–2 years'' post-articles experience in financial operations, accounting, reconciliation, or a similar analytical role.
• University degree in Accounting.
• AGA candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Experience working with CRM and/or accounting systems such as Salesforce and Sage is advantageous.
• Exposure to Merchant Cash Advance, lending, or fintech operations is advantageous but not essential.
• Meticulous attention to detail with a focus on data accuracy and quality checks.
• Strong analytical, numerical, and problem-solving ability.
• Proactive, solutions-driven mindset with the ability to work independently and take ownership of issues through to resolution.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple deals and deadlines simultaneously.
• Confident communication skills with the ability to explain technical or financial discrepancies clearly to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Comfortable working across multiple systems and reconciling data between them.
• High level of integrity and discretion when handling sensitive financial and client information.

BENEFITS

• Medical Aid
• Pension
• Life Cover
• Vitality