Overview
An exciting senior investment opportunity with one of the UK’s most active specialist climate impact seed investors, who have successful launched and closed their second fund. The firm has been supporting early-stage technology companies from pre-seed through to Series A and scale-up since 2021. With backing from very well known UK cornerstone investors, the business is looking to add to its Investment bench with a seasoned investor profile who has the experience of running the full investment cycle; from origination to exit or re-investment.
Responsibilities
Deal origination and sourcing opportunities
o Supporting the development of the firm’s presence across the UK and Europe, elevating the brand and educating market participants about our focus and modus operandi
o Helping build and cultivate strong relationships with the advisory community, ensuring we are amongst the first to hear about all new relevant opportunities
o Managing and proactively building other origination channels and networks to identify other on, off and edge-of-market opportunities.
o Identifying interesting sector niches and carrying out targeted off-market origination activities.
Execution of deals
o Quickly learn to qualify opportunities which are attractive to the firm’s and be able to apply to a range of deal structures according to the situation
o Be a deal captain, accountable for leading deals from origination, structuring and negotiation, through to completion, managing all stakeholders throughout the process
o Co-ordinating internal resources (conducting a significant portion of due diligence in-house) and external advisors to quickly and effectively conduct due diligence
o Personally leading the commercial aspects of financial due diligence and owning detailed operational models which underpin the investment case
Working with the portfolio companies to help them realise their value
o Post-deal, keep close to portfolio company strategy and focus, to ensure any/all relevant deals we see are screened both as potential bolt-ons and also learning opportunities.
o Support (and potentially lead on) bolt-on acquisitions for portfolio companies
Requirements
- Someone with approximately 7-10 years’ professional experience, ideally in a relevant field of sustainability, governance or social impact
- Strong academics, ideally a degree from a leading university, but not a pre-requisite
- Significant experience in deal processes and a strong understanding of different deal structures. Ideally, the candidate will have worked directly under the lead Partner/Director on several end-to-end transaction processes and/or spent time as an investor in these markets
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport quickly with a range of key stakeholders, as well as being able to effectively articulate the funds proposition.
- Good commercial instincts, with the ability to have a “business” discussion, as well as identify opportunities in situations which, on the face of it, may seem unattractive (i.e. rough diamonds)
- Strong analytical skills – both quantitative and qualitative. Specifically, around modelling, the candidate will need to be capable of building and understanding three-way integrated P&L, balance sheet and cash flow forecasts
- Hardworking, organized and diligent, with excellent project management skills – able to continuously and effectively prioritise and manage multiple transactions and workstreams
- Advanced Excel and proven analytical ability – able to work with raw and unstructured data
- Rigorous mindset, and exhibits a meticulous attention to detail, but also able to step back, understand and communicate the bigger picture view
- Willingness to work autonomously and independently to drive results
- Team player, capable of planning and managing time effectively in an environment with high workflow and tight deadlines