Acumen was incorporated on April 1, 2001, with seed capital from the Rockefeller Foundation, Cisco Systems Foundation and three individual philanthropists. Our desire was to transform the world of philanthropy by looking at all human beings as members of a single, global community where everyone had the opportunity to build a life of dignity.

About the Role

The East Africa Senior Investment Associate will play a key role in sourcing investments and enabling the companies to make a discernable impact for the poor on a sustainable basis. As part of it’s core functions, this role serves to enhance and grow our portfolio by identifying quality investment opportunities from the large pipeline of companies seeking capital in Sub-Saharan Africa. The East Africa Senior Investment Associate is responsible for assisting the Associate Director for Investing and the Investment team in formulating the overall portfolio construction strategy including analysis of key industries to focus on including detailed analysis of the players in the entire vertical, work with appropriate Acumen professionals in developing fundraising presentations and meeting with potential and existing funding sources.  The East Africa Senior Investment Associate reports to the Associate Director for Investing, continuously building skills to progress at Acumen.

Responsibilities include:

• Evaluate and identify quality investment opportunities from a large deal pipeline utilizing your analytical and critical thinking skills to find unique business models. Articulate your understanding of the value proposition, risks, competition, industry, and impact to your peers in a collaborative investment evaluating culture.
• Prepare and present compelling investment memos for Acumen’s Investment Committee. Periodically update the Board of Directors and Investment Committee with portfolio presentations demonstrating the successful performance delivery of impact to the poor.
• Perform thorough due diligence and structure transactions reflecting appropriate risk/return factors. Work closely with legal counsel to document and close investments.
• Develop, teach, and mentor Investment Associates working on investments you source and lead. Assist the Investment Associates grow their abilities to identify business model attributes to migrate to Senior Investment Associates.
• Deliver operational insight to the entrepreneurs and leadership team post-investment to enable the companies to achieve economic sustainability. Develop and evaluate key metrics to measure the social and financial returns on investments.
• Build and enhance your existing network with external stakeholders including funders, advisors, thought leaders, sector and functional experts to enhance the investment opportunities pipeline for evaluation by attending industry conferences, events, and one-on-one meetings.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree is required, Master’s degree preferable
• Must have authorization to work in Kenya on a permanent basis.
• A minimum of 5 years of principal investing experience, including financial and operational due diligence of private companies. Understanding of early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs is a plus.
• Strong understanding of financial statements and an ability to analyze historical results and model future periods including running sensitivities of key input assumptions.
• Ability to present your investment track record of both good and bad historical investments.
• Curious – always questioning, always probing, and never blindly accepting.
• Ability to thrive when there is ambiguity, remain cool-headed when there are curve balls, and withstand the tests of a rapidly changing environment with resilience and resolve.
• Solid professional skills including ability to work and deliver projects independently, proactively and under pressure.
• Strong communication skills and ability to be a “storyteller” of our work.
• Effectively collaborate with and across teams, seek and provide constructive feedback.
• Ideally be familiar with the social enterprise sector with a significant commitment, desire, or experience serving the poor
• Self-reflective and aligned with Acumen values.