Job Vacancies at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund

Job Details

The Investment Analyst will work primarily on screening and evaluating investment-ready portfolio companies and support them through investment transactions and due diligence. You will also be involved in supporting portfolio management, portfolio performance tracking, and assisting the Investment Advisory team with investment research while contributing as needed to other tasks and internal assignments. The role will see the Investment Analyst work closely with Portfolio Officers, who are responsible for the design, structuring, onboarding and subsequent management of the AECFs investment projects.

The role requires a good understanding of the investment space in sub-Saharan Africa, a financial modeling guru and a business growth expert, all in one. The ideal candidate for this role should be self-driven, results-oriented and action-focused with an affinity for impact investing and be willing to excel in a highly entrepreneurial environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct extensive due diligence, reference calls, researching industry sectors, interviewing the founding teams, analyzing historical financials and checking financial models to assess investment readiness and support investment negotiations.
• Provide technical investment advisory support to the portfolio team while undertaking due diligence and contracting of investees
• Participating in investment negotiations, including financial valuation and return analyses discussions and making informed decisions.
• Contribute to investment readiness content at investor forums for portfolio companies.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of operational plans and analytical tools to drive service delivery efficiencies through continuous review of processes and systems towards building an efficient investment facilitation process.
• Apply creative and critical thinking to identify and implement ways of increasing the efficiency of the AECF’s investment and portfolio management processes.
• Conduct industry and market assessments and reviews for key investment trends and proactively inform the growth of the organization.
• Stay abreast of key developments in the Finance Investment space and resource allocation innovations and interventions in sub–Saharan Africa, in order to inform technical support activities. This includes frequent interaction with stakeholders various levels relevant to this area as well as multilateral partners and performing market research, data mining, business intelligence, and valuation computations
• Understanding macroeconomics and external factors affecting the business strategies adopted and markets serviced by AECFSupport engagement with new investors suitable for meeting our portfolio companies' capital needs.
• Periodically evaluate progress towards the completion of project deliverables to verify alignment with strategic directions and defined targets in liaison with the Knowledge and Insights team. Ensure excellence within-budget and on-time delivery of activity and financial results and reports.

Required experience, qualifications and skills:

• Up to 4 years work experience in a financial institution, particularly in investment banking, venture capital, management consultancy; experience working in and with early and growth-stage companies in sub-Saharan Africa strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Finance or Business from a recognized university.
• Professional qualification in Finance ( CPA, ACCA) or related field is mandatory
• Certified Financial analyst (C.F.A.) or other applicable certifications will be an added advantage
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills able to detect trends early and use industry expertise to identify ways to captialise on these opportunities.
• Attention to details and ability to make sound decisions.
• Computer savvy and having the ability to develop complex financial models and analyse them. Familiarity with data query/data management tools is extremely helpful (Access, SQL, Business Objects)
• Keen interest in development finance and multicultural environments.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Fluency in English required proficiency in additional languages – French is preferred.
• Self motivating and confident individual

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Job Details

Provide programmatic and administrative support to the Donor Relations activities in AECF team in the execution of its core business. The position requires a commitment to quality control, accuracy and follow-up. The successful candidate will be exposed to situations requiring considerable discretion, judgment, tact, diplomacy and timely responsiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and draft proposals and concept notes for all AECF programs as needed;
• Maintain records of reports due to donors on ongoing AECF programs and report on status of reporting deadlines on an ongoing basis.
• Undertaking research to generate donor briefs about aid policy and priorities of potential partners and donors;
• Providing logistical, administrative and operational support for the department to prepare for missions, meetings and events;
• Oversee all Donor Relationship/Business Development related events – including donor meetings, partnerships and other meetings relevant Resource Mobilization and draft agenda and other documents needed for the events/meetings.
• Take good notes at each meeting; capturing the key areas for follow up and ensure follow up with donors and team as discussed in respective meetings.
• Support the team in donor identification/prospecting through outreach; development and updating of donor database.
• Creating and implementing a standard pre-planning process to be used for all identified new prospects.
• Program Delivery – works closely with other staff to ensure that the program delivery is at par with donor expectation. Sits on program taskforces as required.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Project management, Business Administration, Economics or political science from a reputable institution.
• A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as marketing, communications, public administration, international relations and Development Studies will be an added advantage.
• Relevant professional development programs that enhance skills in resource mobilization
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in resource mobilization for large multilateral or bilateral agencies or international organizations primarily in Africa. Experience in relevant AECF sectors preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience at a management position in a donor development and resource mobilization role.
• Experience in resource mobilization to support

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Strategy Officer shall serve as the lead for strategy development and implementation. He/she will support strategy development, execution and adaptation, performance management, and structured analytics to ensure AECF’s impact across sub-Saharan Africa.

The Senior Strategy Officer will be responsible for leading in strategy design and liaising with functional leaders. He/she will be responsible for the overall coordination facilitation of strategy refresh which is scheduled for 2020.

Do you have strong strategic problem-solving skills, excellent interpersonal skills, with a high level of personal initiative and with a knack for generating critical insights, the ability to work well in a distributed, multicultural, fast-paced environment? If so, this is the role for you!

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead AECF’s organizational strategy refresh to attain the institution’s vision of ‘A Prosperous and Enterprising Rural Africa’
• Lead the design of strategy across various programs within the institution. Specifically, drive the strategic planning process and act as a trusted advisor to AECF’s executive leadership and relevant stakeholders during strategy formulation, development, and execution.
• Support the evaluation and development of AECF’s long-term strategic plans across the various departments. The individual will develop the institution’s multi-year strategies and goals, establish measurement criteria to monitor the performance of established strategies consistently, identify deficiencies, and avail actionable solutions.
• Develop frameworks, models, tools and processes to track and critically analyze the strategy; recommend adaptive strategies based on results/evidence, lessons learnt, and insights gained in the face of changing ecosystems.
• Work with key operational units to ensure strategic alignment, business efficiency, resource allocation, internal capacity building etc are affected.
• Provide guidance and quality control in the preparation and the review of the planning and strategy documents
• Create and update dashboards for reviewing and key performances indicators.
• Drive strategic, operational, and cross-functional improvement initiatives across AECF on key areas of focus, and lead on key operational internal change projects within the institution to ensure success.
• Oversee AECF’s piloting and research priorities to drive key business insights.
• Innovate and drive thinking on new ways AECF can respond to the external market alongside keeping abreast with donor and industry trends.

Required qualifications and experience:

• A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Development Economics/Studies or another related field. Relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of this.
• Minimum 6 – 9 years’ experience working within a management consulting environment or managing medium-to-large projects/programs in the broad field of strategy and/or other related areas (business efficiency, performance improvement, organisational change, business and sector intelligence, stakeholder engagement etc.).
• Deep knowledge of, and experience in, strategy development, execution and review at institutional and territorial level, as well as design and roll-out of analytical frameworks, tools, processes and other documents to facilitate the strategic planning process;
• Superior delivery and leadership capacity – can synthesize strategic intent into tangible deliverables that drive institutional progress;
• Experience in developing and managing strong partnerships and relationships inside and outside the organization, managing conflicts, and building consensus. Comfortably engages with senior decision makers within organization and constructively challenges colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
• Experience of end-to-end project management, including scoping and design, resourcing, risk management and quality assurance.
• Experience in the agribusiness and or renewable energy sectors an added advantage.
• Exceptional oral, facilitation and written communication skills;
• Works well in diverse teams, with efficiency and diplomacy.
• Ability to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally to engage with AECF Investees and regional teams.

The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The AECF considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Purpose of the role

The Director of Operations will have top line strategic responsibility across AECF’s core functions including Finance, HR, ICT, Procurement and Grants Compliance Management. The role is responsible for maximizing operational and financial efficiencies across the organization.
The ideal candidate will have a unique blend of long-term strategic vision and operational practicality, an exceptional track record of achievement in a similar role - ideally (but not essential) within non-profit sector, and the energy and passion to thrive in an environment of continuous change and transformation. It is a great opportunity for a focused, ambitious experienced executive who thrives on managing change, developing long term strategies and inspiring high performing teams towards common objectives.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities;

• Translate strategy into actionable goals for performance and growth helping to implement organization-wide goal setting, performance management, and annual operating plans
• Provide oversight over AECF’s operational standards, policies, procedures and systems across all the support functions
• Oversee IT function, ensuring clarity on fit-for-purpose ICT architecture and implementation of efficient, cost effective and high performing solutions
• Lead the analysis of the current technology infrastructure and scope out the next level of information technology and financial systems that support the growth of AECF’s programs and the entire organization
• Oversee corporate financial strategic planning, including both short-term and long-term analysis.
• Oversee all aspects of cash flow, cost allocation, budgeting, forecasting, financial statements, consolidations, and financial modeling and analysis.
• Ensure AECF financial procedures are efficient, meet donor requirements, and are understood and implemented across the organization
• Undertake ad hoc financial analysis from time to time, to assist the leadership in evaluating potential for cost efficiencies
• Ensure timely submission of all external reporting to donors and other stakeholders as required
• Develop, continuously improve and implement the organization’s approach to risk management
• Oversee HR systems, employee relations, ensuring compliance with regulations, assessing staffing needs, recruitment, designing training programs, and developing compensation plan
• Oversee procurement function including processes and systems, and monitoring of supplier performance and maintaining virtuous supplier relationships

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and a master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance or related field
• Be a full practicing member in a professional field backed with relevant certifications e.g. CPA-K; IHRM; CIPS
• At least seven to 10 years of overall professional experience; ideally six-plus years of broad financial and operations management experience
• Experience leading teams and operations within organizations that have over 30 employees, with 5+ years of working in Sub- Saharan Africa
• Experience of final responsibility for the quality and content of all financial data, reporting and audit coordination for either a division or significant program area, and has preferably overseen a human resource function previously
• Ability to translate financial concepts to – and to effectively collaborate with -- programmatic and other colleagues who do not necessarily have finance background.
• A track record in grants management
• Technology savvy with experience selecting and overseeing software installations and managing relationships with ICT solutions vendors
• Must be an exceptional leader with ability to effectively manage, lead and supervise a multidisciplinary team
• A successful track record in setting priorities; keen analytic, organization and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of AECF