Symbiotics is the leading market access platform for impact investing in emerging and frontier markets, offering market research, investment advisory and asset management services. We are regulated by FINMA, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority and our daughter company Symbiotics (UK) Ltd has an investment firm license from the FCA in the UK. Symbiotics currently employs 160 people and is headquartered in Geneva, with further offices in Zurich, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Mexico City, Singapore, Cape Town, Delhi and Yerevan. Since 2004, we have invested over USD 6.9bn in more than over 500 microfinance institutions across over 90 emerging and frontier markets, working with more than 62 investment funds and many institutional investors.
We are a fast-growing, market-leading company, offering a dynamic work environment in the growing impact investment space. Our people are our biggest competitive advantage.
We believe that in order to recruit the best professionals all applications must be reviewed equally. For this reason, we will not require personal data such as photos, date of birth or gender to be included on CV applications.
Who we are looking for
An experienced Investment Analyst who will be responsible for developing and maintaining business relationships with portfolio companies in Sub-Saharan Africa, developing a pipeline of potential debt investments, traveling to and performing on site due diligence on these companies, analyzing credit risk, understand their debt funding needs, and monitoring their financial and operational performances during the investment's life. The position is based in Cape Town (South Africa). We offer a dynamic work environment in a growing industry and an opportunity to work in the social investment space with a for-profit corporation.
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Job Description
- Develop, maintain and monitor a portfolio companies, including monthly and annual financial reporting, annual due diligences, credit risk and ESG reporting
- Ongoing development of a pipeline of credit worthy investment targets in specific markets
- Conduct on-site due diligences, grade institutions, publish credit risk appraisals and investment advisory reports as well as ESG reports
- Be the market and sector specialist in the respective region
- Monitor global situation, opportunities and risks in financial markets of the above-mentioned region
- Support the development of new business opportunities in the region
Requirements
This position requires regular travel to countries within the region. We are looking for a person who is organized, mature, and able to work independently in a dynamic and challenging environment, as well as having entrepreneurial drive, attention to detail and pride in the quality of one's work, including the following qualifications:
- Advanced university degree in finance, economics or business along with strong analytical skills
- Proven experience as a credit analyst or financial analyst
- You have a strong interest in impact investments and knowledge of the financial sector in sub-Sahara Africa
- Previous experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is essential
- You have excellent communication and organizational skills
- Capacity to handle multiple tasks on a daily basis
- Fluent in written and spoken English and French
- Willingness and readiness to travel (up to 30%)
- Permanent Resident status or eligible to work in South Africa
What makes us different?
- The chance to contribute to improving the lives of people in emerging and frontier countries, to work towards supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- A flexible work environment with colleagues from 41 countries
- The opportunity to become part of a growing business that pushes you to excel every day while having a positive impact on others
