THE OPPORTUNITY

Investment Officers play a pivotal role in the execution of ACIF's investment strategy. The position offers the opportunity make, manage and eventually exit direct investments in African champions. Investment Officers will also have the opportunity to work on intermediated investments, including fund commitments and co-investments. Specific responsibilities include:

Investment management – direct investments

• Evaluating and executing direct investments in African firms positioned to deliver on ACIF and the Foundation’s objectives

• Analyzing investment opportunities, including developing and testing assumptions, building financial models, assessing historical performance and developing and drafting investment memoranda

• Developing valuations, investment structures and key terms of investments, in collaboration with the ACIF team

• Deep analysis to test and refine investment cases, and defend assumptions, forecasts and investment theses to the broader ACIF team and Investment Committee

• Working with financial, legal, tax, and impact advisors to undertake due diligence of investment opportunities; developing diligence scopes, managing due diligence processes and refining investment cases based on findings

• Supporting the execution of transaction processes, including legal documentation, required transaction structures, overseeing meeting of conditions precedent, and closing

• Working with management teams to develop and align on forecasts – both financial and impact

• Supporting management teams to sustainably grow operations and create dignified employment opportunities as well as to deliver on growth and expansion objectives, M&A, product or services growth, etc

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Investment management – fund investments

• Evaluating and executing intermediated investments in Africa focused private equity and private credit funds, aligned to the Foundation’s objectives

• Assessing and benchmarking fund proposals

• Conducting due diligence on fund managers, fund proposals, including impact thesis, returns and budget analyses

• Developing and drafting internal investment memoranda  

• Supporting legal negotiations and documentation of fund commitments

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• Thematic research

• Conduct sector thematic research in support of ACIF’s investment themes to develop internal expertise and house views

• Identify and originate investment opportunities driven by thematic research

• Share and disseminate research internally in support of broader Foundation objectives

Reporting

• Ensuring appropriate reporting and performance against investment and impact theses of the portfolio

• Lead internal periodic reporting and undertake annual portfolio reviews for specific direct and fund investments

• Contribute to portfolio wide reporting

WHO YOU ARE

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics or an associated field from a recognized institution. Master’s degree or CFA preferred

• Minimum of 7 years work experience, with at least 5 years experience in private equity or private credit investing, with a strong preference for investments in Africa

• Understanding of investment fundamentals, key drivers of major African markets, and risks of operating in complex markets

Skills

• Excellent quantitative analytical skills (financial modeling, financial analysis, etc) and strong written communication and presentation skills (including power point, memo writing, etc)

• Demonstrated ability to effectively research and assess investment opportunities in emerging markets

• Demonstrated analytical skills to interpret complex financial data 

• Flexible, adaptable, and able to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty

Values

• Professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values

• Team player

• A partnership approach to working with management teams, co-workers, co-investors and other counterparties
• Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision

WORK AUTHORIZATION

This role is open to candidates based in Nairobi, Kenya or Johannesburg, South Africa. Candidates must have valid work authorization in the country for which they are applying.

The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.

Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment.

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