2025 - Global Advisory Graduate Trainee - South Africa, Johannesburg

Applications open: 4 September

Application close date: As we recruit on a rolling basis, we accept applications and conduct interviews continuously once applications are open. Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications early to ensure consideration.

Rothschild & Co in South Africa is a leading international adviser operating in South Africa providing expert and impartial advisory services in local and cross-border M&A, Debt Advisory and Restructuring, Equity Advisory, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Stakeholder Engagement. We offer the following to our clients:

• Expert local knowledge connected to unrivalled global capabilities

• Strong track record of repeat business with major blue-chip clients and involvement in many of South Africa's landmark transactions

• Seamless advice to both local and multinational companies with an African presence, and international investors interested in the region

• Long-standing presence, dedicated coverage

• Extensive history in South Africa: Rothschild & Co issued the country’s government loan of 1892 and was the first advisory house in South Africa to implement an empowerment transaction

• One of the largest and most experienced financial advisory teams in the country

• Highly experienced senior team with extensive knowledge of government, parastatals and regulatory authorities

Roles and Responsibilities:

Overall role and responsibilities will be to assist investment bankers with the global advisory services provided to clients, including but not limited to:

• Delivering a pitch book to specification

• Research

• Valuations

• Financial modelling

• Taking comprehensive notes in meetings

• Assisting with managing a transaction by coordinating the transaction process both internally and with other advisers and clients

Competency:

Origination: Demonstrate early commercial awareness skills, demonstrate appetite to understand ideas and deliver pitch book specifications

Client Relationships: Display awareness of lines of communication with client and maintain regular dialogue with clients at appropriate levels

Advice and Judgment: Demonstrate interest in reasons for negotiation used in transactions and understand how the market views transactions

Corporate Finance and Technical Skills: Demonstrate solid financial / accounting skills (understands accounting effects of transactions), with guidance as to scope, proficiency model transactions for review by seniors, have a solid understanding of legal and regulatory framework and have an ability to utilize all available sources of technical information.

Execution Skills: Anticipate requirements of tasks given, prioritize work effectively, ensure that work is of the highest quality, produce work accurately and on time and undertake through research

Sector focus and Co-ordination: Demonstrate familiarity with the dynamics, economics and principal players of the relevant sector and opportunities presented and demonstrate understanding of "business plans" for that sector.

Qualifications, skills and personal attributes required:

• Post graduate academic qualification – e.g. BBusSci, BAccSci Hons; HDipAcc, BSc Hons, BCom Hons, etc.

• Understanding of the fundamental principles and the application of appropriate techniques. Enthusiasm for developing these skills and applying these skills creatively

• Financial literacy, modelling capability and strong numerical skills

• Project management skills

• Teamwork – ability to build effective relationships between individuals, teams, lines of business and across geographical/cultural boundaries

• Effective communication (written & verbal) – ability to communicate clearly, persuade and influence as well as good listening skills

• Ability to build long term, professional client relationships that add value to the client and lead to the expansion of the business

• Good interpersonal skills

• Drive, initiative, ability to work independently with limited supervision, overcoming obstacles to deliver results

• Good critical thinking skills

• Excellent work ethic with commitment to delivering quality at all times

• Attention to detail

• Ability to multitask and work under pressure

• Ability to be proactive, persevere, overcome setbacks and deliver results

• Advanced Microsoft Office skills (Word, PowerPoint and Excel)