Southern Africa Investment Associate – Cape Town

Goodwell Investments is a pioneering impact investment firm focused on inclusive growth in sectors providing basic goods and services and income generation opportunities to underserved communities in Africa and India. Since 2006, Goodwell has raised five private equity funds with over $150m in capital. We invest in early and growth-stage businesses in India and Africa. Our 30+ portfolio companies reach over 28 million households and employ more than 33,000 employees. Goodwell is a truly global, locally present firm. We have teams or JV partners in India, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and The Netherlands. With a track record of over fifteen years, Goodwell demonstrates the ability to simultaneously deliver significant social impact and strong financial returns. For more information, visit  www.goodwell.nl

Job Summary

Our South African office, located in Cape Town, is looking to appoint an Investment Associate to strengthen the investment team. The Investment Associate is responsible for generating investment opportunities for Goodwell Investments across Southern Africa through growing and managing a network of key relationships within the private sector. Deal origination, deal-making and investment oversight is required, with a strong ‘hands-on’ approach to ensure that businesses within the portfolio are appropriately supported to realise their growth potential and meet their impact and profit objectives. The role also involves realising exits to generate returns for the investors, in a 5-7 year investment cycle.

The role involves ongoing mentoring and development support within our team of investment professionals, with the aim of expanding the business and achieving its aim of inclusive, sustainable growth.

This role reports to the Southern African Regional lead and Managing Partner, as well has two direct reports, Investment Analysts.

Responsibilities and Duties

Manage existing investments and execute on new deals

Source, evaluate, negotiate and close deals that support our mandate for inclusive growth
Conduct and co-ordinate due diligence processes for portfolio company investing activities
Support portfolio companies’ post-investment to drive business growth, including operational, strategic and financial and fundraising
Support portfolio companies through change, growth and emerging market challenges
Mentor and guide a team of investment professionals through the investment process, both formal and informal
Build a strong pipeline of potential investment opportunities, co-investors and potential exit opportunities
Coordinate transaction team and transaction execution and closing
Create a community of potential board members portfolio companies and coordinate the activities of portfolio board members

Research and analysis

Contribute to the research body of the company as it pertains to portfolio companies and the broader ecosystem

Develop deep relationships within the African startup eco-system (VCs, DFIs, startups, incubators, accelerators, event holders, investors etc)

Attend relevant events within the African startup eco-system
Participate in networking functions within the African startup eco-system
Engage in speaking opportunities at events, forums etc, both in person and virtually
Provide mentorship to early-stage startups in the form of strategic, financial and other guidance

Assist in operational activities of the local office

We have a flat structure; therefore, this role may include performing various operational tasks on an ad-hoc basis, such as ordering food, collecting food, maintaining the leave schedule, ordering equipment for the office and watering plants on a rotational basis

Requirements

Education and working experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies, Finance, Economics or Management Studies.
Preferably an Honours or Masters in finance, chartered accounting or CFA.
3-6 years of relevant work experience with at least 2 years in banking, investments or private equity.
Advantageous: experience in the startup ecosystem, deal execution and management, and venture building. Career exposure in Southern Africa. Experience within Big Four auditing or consulting. Entrepreneurial experience.

Knowledge and skills

Ability to understand financial statements, create and interpret financial models.
The ability to conduct and analyse industry research.
The ability to communicate in an articulate manner, both verbally and in written reports.
Possess strong multidisciplinary and multicultural collaboration and teamwork skills.
Show a commitment to inclusive impact and Africa.
Have a keen interest in startups and the investment eco-system.
Have excellent knowledge of and competency in Excel and the full MS Office suite.
Good analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyse and interpret significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
Advantageous: experience with Notion, Slack, Pipedrive, OneDrive.

Personal characteristics

Confident communicator: excellent presentation and negotiation skills, personable and articulate with clients and team.
Proactive: acts without being told what to do and takes ownership.
Entrepreneurial: have a “can-do spirit, and brings new ideas to the company.
Inclusive and empathetic: interested and comfortable in working across cultures and in an international setting.
Life-long learner: committed to ongoing learning curious about the world around them.

Our team of 22 represents 12 nationalities. Therefore, the ability to navigate efficiently and empathetically between different teams and cultures is required. Promoting company values, contributing to a positive culture, and supporting a happy workplace is expected of all Goodwell Investments employees.

Our offer

Joining Goodwell means you will be joining an international and inclusive culture, where likeminded people work naturally together to achieve ambitious goals

A market-related salary, commensurate with experience and exposure to African early stage startup eco-system
30 days of paid leave per year
Opportunity for personal development, including training
Flexible work hours based on a full time (40 hour) work week
Lunch and snacks when we are in office – we hope to return to the office on a full-time basis soon, subject to COVID-19 precautions

Application

If you can picture yourself in the above role, then we would love to hear from you.

To apply, please send your CV to kevin.johnson@peoplesolved.com with the subject line to be ‘Goodwell Investments Investment Associate’ along with a short motivation video. The video gives you the opportunity to present yourself in in your unique way! The video should be no longer than one minute, uploaded to WeTransfer and answer the following questions:

Why are you looking for new opportunities?
Why Goodwell Investments?
What do you love doing outside of work?

Both CV and video need to be received in order for your application to be considered. The application deadline is 9 April, 2021.