Principal Investment Officer at Women's World Banking

Reports to: Chief Investment Officer – WAM

Classification: Full-time

Location: Asian capital city; (African capital city may be considered)

Start Date: Immediate

Summary

WWB Asset Management (WAM) is seeking an experienced, highly motivated principal investment officer (“PIO”) with strong private equity experience in inclusive and / or specialty finance sectors – such as fintech, insurance, agriculture finance, education finance or housing finance – to join its impact investment team. Experience within the Asian financial sector is strongly preferred. The PIO will be responsible for sourcing, structuring, closing and monitoring investments in inclusive financial service providers focused on women. The PIO position to be located in an Asian capital city, (African capital city may be considered) and will report directly to the Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”).

About Women’s World Banking Asset Management (WAM)

WAM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Women’s World Banking, Inc., headquartered in New York City. It manages the Women’s World Banking impact investment program, including a co-managed USD 50M private equity fund, WWB Capital Partners, LP, and a solely-managed USD 75M private equity fund, WWB Capital Partners II (“WWBCP II” or “the Fund”). WAM is continuing to fundraise for the latter fund, which is a Mauritius-based blended finance limited partnership, with a dedicated, grant-funded, side-car technical assistance program. WWBCP II will make direct minority equity investments ranging between USD 1M – 15M in high-performing, women-focused inclusive finance institutions worldwide, and will provide technical assistance to improve client and staff gender diversity, in accordance with the impact investment program established by Women’s World Banking.

Responsibilities       

• Source investment opportunities in line with the objectives of WWBCP II, with a specific focus on inclusive and specialty finance sectors such as micro-enterprise finance, small business finance, housing finance, micro-insurance, fintech and smallholder agri-finance located principally in South and Southeast Asia, but opportunistically also Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Latin America.
• Conduct initial vetting of pipeline opportunities against the Fund’s investment criteria
• Gather data, analyze financial statements, prepare initial valuation analyses and draft first stage investment proposals on vetted opportunities to determine suitability for on-site due diligence
• Prepare and defend first stage proposals to the first stage committee
• Lead and support deal teams to conduct on-site due diligence on Fund investment opportunities together with at least one other WAM investment officer, either as lead or as second, to gather further information and undertake risk assessments.
• Manage deliverables of WAM analysts, and technical consultants, if any, accompanying the due diligence team.
• Perform valuation analyses, develop meaningful scenarios, prepare and defend investment proposals as a team to the Investment Committee
• Negotiate transaction terms and review transaction documents as team lead or second
• Monitor and manage portfolio of investments, which may include board member responsibilities, to achieve Fund objectives.
• Advocate for and oversee delivery of Women’s World Banking technical assistance to improve client and staff gender diversity
• Prepare financial and social performance reports on portfolio companies
• Identify high-return exit opportunities for investments and lead or support exit process

Success

Within the first 90 days:

• Embrace Women’s World Banking’s and WAM’s core values and desired behaviors
• Develop familiarity with the Women’s World Banking and WAM organizations, policies and procedures
• Take ownership of pre-identified pipeline of specialty finance opportunities in South and Southeast Asia, and develop sourcing strategy for additional investment opportunities. Identify at least two new prospects for the pipeline.
• Lead first stage proposal preparation of at least one new pipeline opportunity
• Act as lead or second investment officer for at least one investment proposal, including preparing for and conducting due diligence and preparing to present prospect to investment committee.
• Support capital raising activities as needed for subsequent Fund closing

Qualifications

• Minimum 6-9 years’ private equity experience with proven success; preferably across different Asian or African countries
• Familiarity with operation and regulation of financial institutions; preferably with experience in one or more of the following sectors: housing finance, insurance, fintech, smallholder agri-finance
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related major; CFA, MBA or Master in Economics/Finance preferred
• Demonstrated leadership skills, setting vision for others, owning and implementing a strategic agenda, organizing others toward a common goal, overcoming obstacles / solving problems and setting new ways forward.
• Demonstrated ability to apply strategic and analytical thinking to decision-making, problem-solving, data/information analysis; key issue identification and deal progression
• Demonstrated ability to effectively exchange information clearly and appropriately with all levels in an organization and with external stakeholders through verbal and written communication
• Excellent financial modeling capabilities and the ability to manage multiple projects with a keen attention to detail;
• Demonstrated negotiation and transaction documentation management skills
• Multi-lingual – English required; French strongly preferred, Asian, Arabic or African languages a plus;
• High level of comfort with team projects and global team engagement, with strong interpersonal skills
• Self-motivated, self-directed with a positive attitude
• Strong work ethic appropriate for a small, fast-paced, team-oriented organization;
• Passion for inclusive finance and women’s empowerment
• Willing to travel 30-35% of the time throughout Asia, Africa and Middle East / North Africa, plus 2 – 4 visits to New York per year