Strategy Associate
Job Details
- Dept: Strategy
- Report to: Chief Strategy Officer
- Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent
- Location: Melrose
Job Purpose
We are seeking a sharp, commercially minded Strategy Associate to work directly alongside the Chief Strategy Officer. This individual will support the CSO in driving and executing strategy across the business, with a focus on unlocking access to finance for South African SMMEs through alternative financing solutions including purchase order funding and invoice discounting.
The right candidate brings structured thinking, genuine curiosity about fintech and financial inclusion, and the ability to work effectively across internal teams, external partners, and funders. Comfort with AI-enabled workflows, a bias to action, and a deep commitment to integrity are essential.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Strategic execution: Support in the implementation and driving of executing strategy across all business units; translate direction into prioritised initiatives and measurable roadmaps; ensure alignment between commercial objectives and the SMME impact mandate.
- Partnerships & stakeholder management: Manage and develop relationships with external partners including banks, funders, and programme partners; represent Sourcefin credibly in strategic engagements; align internal workstreams to partnership commitments and delivery milestones.
- Executive reporting & communications: Own end-to-end production of board-ready presentations and briefing materials for the CSO; distil complex findings into clear, compelling narratives; prepare strategic dashboards, progress reports, and stakeholder updates.
- Strategic execution & partnerships: 3–5 years in strategy, fintech, financial services, or a related environment; proven ability to deliver complex projects end-to-end; experience working with external partners, banks, or funders is a strong advantage.
- Domain knowledge: Exposure to or genuine curiosity about financial services, credit, or alternative finance (PO funding, invoice discounting); familiarity with the SA SMME landscape and the role of fintech in unlocking access to capital.
- AI & analytical fluency: Comfortable working with AI tools (e.g. Claude, Claude Code) and automation workflows to boost output quality and speed; strong Excel and data modelling skills; hypothesis-driven approach to problem solving.
- Operational & AI-enabled productivity: Leverage AI tools and automation to drive output quality and efficiency across workstreams; identify and diagnose operational inefficiencies; develop business cases and implementation plans grounded in data.
Experience & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Proven ability to build and deliver executive-level presentations; strong PowerPoint and data storytelling skills; exceptional written and verbal communication.
- Confident engaging C-suite stakeholders; high integrity, bias to action, and comfort navigating ambiguity; genuine interest in SMMEs and financial inclusion in the South African market.
Skills Required
- 3-5 years in strategy, fintech, financial services, or related environment
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- Strong Excel and data modelling skills
- Proven ability to build and deliver executive-level presentations; strong PowerPoint and data storytelling skills
- Comfortable working with AI tools (e.g., Claude, Claude Code) and automation workflows
- Proven ability to deliver complex projects end-to-end and manage external partners, banks, or funders
- Familiarity with or genuine curiosity about financial services, credit, alternative finance, and the SA SMME landscape
- Confident engaging C-suite stakeholders; strong written and verbal communication; high integrity and bias to action
- Experience working with external partners, banks, or funders (strong advantage)
What We Do
Sourcefin is a leading tender and purchase order funding specialist, dedicated to empowering South African entrepreneurs and businesses with a comprehensive suite of financial services. Our expertise encompasses PO funding, tender finance, and invoice discounting, ensuring that your business has the capital it needs to thrive. We excel in providing tailored financing solutions for purchase orders and tenders, allowing you to focus on growing your business. Our services include sourcing goods from our extensive network of trusted suppliers, managing all logistics, and offering expert guidance throughout the entire process. Whether you need immediate funds to fulfil a large order or support to meet the requirements of a significant tender, Sourcefin is here to help. Our purchase order finance solutions are designed to help businesses manage cash flow effectively, enabling you to take on larger projects without the worry of financial strain. With PO finance, you can cover the costs of production and delivery before receiving payment from your customers, ensuring smooth operations and timely fulfilment. Tender finance is another key area of our expertise. We understand the complexities and demands of securing and delivering on government and large corporate contracts. Our tender funding services provide the necessary capital to meet tender requirements, covering everything from supplier payments to project execution costs. This allows you to focus on delivering high-quality results without financial hurdles. In addition to PO funding and tender finance, we offer invoice discounting services. Invoice discounting helps you unlock the cash tied up in unpaid invoices, providing you with immediate working capital. This service is crucial for maintaining a healthy cash flow, enabling you to reinvest in your business and continue growing without delays.
