Senior Investment Advisory Officer at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct diagnostics and needs assessments of SMEs to determine gaps in governance, finance, operations, and strategy.
• Design and deliver tailored Technical Assistance (TA) interventions to strengthen business capacity.
• Support SMEs in developing investment documentation: pitch decks, financial models, and information memoranda.
• Build SMEs’ capacity in investor engagement, negotiations, and compliance with due diligence requirements.
• Categorize SMEs into investment readiness levels and track progress over time.
• Map and maintain a database of investors, DFIs, banks, and blended finance facilities relevant to SMEs.
• Match SMEs with appropriate financing partners based on their stage, sector, and financing needs.
• Support transaction processes, including term sheet negotiations, deal structuring, and documentation review.
• Facilitate introductions and coordinate investor roadshows, pitch events, and bilateral meetings.
• Provide deal advisory support to ensure alignment between SME needs and investor requirements.
• Integrate blended finance solutions and de-risking instruments where appropriate.
• Monitor post-investment outcomes and feed lessons back into program design.
• Contribute to knowledge generation: case studies, success stories, and lessons learned from transactions.
• Support the design of strategic partnerships with capital providers and ecosystem actors.
• Pipeline building and deal origination, including recommending debt restructuring strategies.
• Managing a portfolio of companies with various financial instruments.

Suitable candidates should:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business administration, accounting, or a related field. A master’s degree or professional qualifications, such as CFA/CPA/ACCA, are an added advantage.
• Have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in origination, due diligence, structuring, and monitoring of corporate and/or consumer finance-related commercial/philanthropic private financing (debt, equity, or risk guarantee).
• Have a proven track record of managing or advising on portfolios involving multiple financial instruments (equity, debt, quasi-equity, grants).
• Possess a strong background in transaction advisory, including financial models, valuation, preparation of investor pitch materials, and term negotiations.
• Have established networks with investors, DFIs, and commercial banks.
• Possess excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Have experience working in frontier/agribusiness/renewable energy markets.
• Have an understanding of investment structuring, due diligence processes, and portfolio monitoring.
• Possess familiarity with SME finance, blended finance, and impact investing principles.