About US
The AECF is a leading development finance organization that supports businesses to innovate, create jobs and leverage investments to build resilience and sustainable incomes for rural and marginalized communities in Africa.
AECF’s goal is to bridge the investment gap between early-stage enterprise and business maturity for entrepreneurs serving the poorest communities. We provide patient capital to new and innovative business models in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa through various financing instruments. To supplement finance, we also offer advisory services, investment support, and knowledge and insights.
AECF has successfully implemented programmes across 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting over 400 enterprises, impacting over 30 million lives.
AECF is headquartered in Kenya, with offices in Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania.
The Investment Officer will support the portfolio team with pre-investment analysis of potential companies – driving analysis of potential investments to assess financial and impact viability as well as the growth prospects of companies during due diligence.
On post-investment, the Investment Officer will work with the portfolio team to identify the needs of investees towards investment readiness and provide this support as well as provide investment facilitation services, leading investor search, deal structuring, and investor negotiations towards increasing access to commercial funding by catalyzing additional capital for portfolio companies.
In addition, they will be responsible for country and sector research and analysis, assisting in developing operations for new investment products, and providing support with deal origination, due diligence, investment structuring and negotiation, portfolio management, and portfolio reporting.
The role will report to Director Investments Advisory Services.
Responsibilities and Qualifications
Financial and Impact Analysis
- Analyzing company accounts, financial projections, and impact potential and position these in the investment memorandum for investment consideration.
- Provide updates on financial markets, country, and sector activities to help position potential investees' viability and potential in local and global markets.
- Creating financial models that enhance the return on investment of projects/businesses and financial planning.
- Preparation of financial documents for presentation to the internal investment review committee as well as the investment committee.
Deal Structuring, Negotiations, and Execution
- Sourcing and origination of investments and carrying out the initial investment appraisal of potential AECF portfolio companies towards a healthy portfolio.
- Develop a strong pipeline of good quality investment opportunities for investment products.
- Conduct detailed due diligence on prospective investee companies and develop the requisite investment memorandum for investment decisions.
- Structure complex investments (comprising both debt and equity) according to understanding and assessment of client and country risks. Negotiate terms with clients, internal and external stakeholders, and partners. Prepare client/partner presentations and support their decision-making at key transaction stages.
- Lead transaction team through the investment process, actively handling key work and directing and coordinating work of other team members from across multiple departments toward closing investment deals.
- Take full responsibility and accountability for transaction-related decisions and relationships, to execute transaction documentation, and disburse investment capital.
- Manage a portfolio of companies to achieve the objectives of the investment and play a lead role in portfolio management processes, monitoring, and institutional investor reporting processes.
Investment Readiness and Facilitation
- Conducting technical assistance and investment readiness assessments for portfolio companies to identify support areas toward building an investor-ready pipeline.
- Coordinate closely with social, environmental, and technical assistance colleagues to add value to portfolio companies, find solutions to specific sector challenges, and target impact.
- Facilitating the investment readiness program for selected portfolio companies, either independently or working with identified consultants, to prepare companies for investment through a rigorous program.
- Execution of investment deals for portfolio companies, working with portfolio companies in all aspects of the transaction process including valuations, preparing and reviewing of documents, negotiation, and management of advisors through to deal close.
- Cultivate strong relations with funders and relevant investors for AECF portfolio companies.
- Oversee the development and maintenance of customer relationship management systems for investors, lenders, grantee providers, and other partners.
- Report on the AECF Investment Readiness and Facilitation as required by internal and external stakeholders.
Insights and Knowledge Sharing
- Build a system/technique of deriving knowledge and understanding of investors' appetite relevant to AECF's portfolio, building relationships, and educating them about AECF portfolio and investment opportunities.
- Share expertise as a subject matter expert, providing advice, peer review, and contribution to knowledge products and program design across the AECF to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial and Impact Analysis.
- Deal Structuring, Negotiations, and Execution.
- Investment Readiness and Facilitation.
- Insights and Knowledge Sharing.
Suitable candidates should possess:
- A Bachelors Degree in business or commerce. A master’s degree in business or finance will be an added advantage.
- A CFA level certification or at an advanced stage of completion.
- At least five years of experience in the field of financial analysis, investment analysis, management consulting, corporate finance, private equity, or venture debt with a proven track record of sourcing, structuring and closing investments.
- Strong analytical skills to review and analyze complex financial information. Knowledge and experience in global financial markets including expertise in emerging markets.
- Experience in identifying, originating and qualifying new business opportunities, developing and executing results-driven client engagements.
- Advanced financial, credit and risk evaluation skills, with demonstrated ability to structure and negotiate a variety of complex financial instruments (debt and equity).
- Demonstrated strong written, presentation, and communications skills in English and ability to synthesize and present information effectively and tailored to different audiences.
- Excellent business judgment and problem-solving skills to identify issues, present creative, practical solutions, and make and commit to sound decisions, anticipating short and long-term implications.
- Working knowledge of French will be an added advantage.
How to apply
The AECF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered based on merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
AECF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).
If you believe, you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for the role register and apply on:
https://recruitment.aecfafrica.org . To be considered, your application must be received by: 13th April 2023.
For more information, please visit our careers page on www.aecfafrica.org
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.