Investment Associate at KawiSafi Ventures

• We are now recruiting an Investment Associate to join our investment team based in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a unique opportunity to join an international team and help build a world-class organization with an audacious, globally significant impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• The Investment Associate will work as a core team-member to execute and realize the commercial and impact objectives of the fund and advise on formulation of investment objectives for investee companies. She/he will participate in transaction functions and portfolio management activities, function as an integral part of a close-knit team of investment professionals, take the lead in financial modelling and industry research, play a key role in the underlying analysis of investment decisions, and assist senior colleagues in structuring and negotiating prospective investments in target companies. Key responsibilities will include:

Research and pipeline:

• Contributing to sub-sector strategies, gathering and synthesizing market information, and conducting industry analysis.
• Conducting initial assessments of prospective investments, meeting with entrepreneurs, and reviewing pitch materials.

Due diligence and deal execution:

• Undertaking due diligence on target companies, including market/competitive analysis, meetings with management teams, site visits/customer interviews, and analysis of company data.
• Coordinating diligence requests to / responses from target companies’ management teams and reviewing data uploaded to the transaction data room.
• Reviewing/building financial models and conducting analysis and stress tests.
• Preparing investments memos for presentation to the Fund’s investment committee.
• Liaising with the Fund’s legal and ESG advisors to prepare supporting investment documentation required to complete transactions.

Portfolio management:

• Playing supporting role in monitoring the Fund’s portfolio of investees.
• Reviewing investee reports and board packs.
• Monitoring actual performance against budgeted, compliance with covenants, and performance thresholds / flag analysis.
• Coordinating quarterly data requests to investees and analyzing data gathered.
• Updating the Fund’s portfolio management systems as required.

Your Experience and Skills:

We are seeking a qualified professional who possesses the following:

• University degree in finance, economics, engineering, or other relevant degree.
• 3-5 years’ experience working within a fund, corporate finance advisory, investment bank, management consulting, or other relevant work such as experience as an operator in clean technology start-ups.
• Understanding of and ability to analyze company financial statements.
• Excellent financial modelling and Excel skills, with experience in valuing private companies.
• Excellent business communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work on multiple projects while working to deadlines and managing time effectively.
• Ability and interest to work in a small team and a flexible and “hands on” approach.
• Demonstrated interest in climate change related trends and technologies/business models which address climate change is preferred.