Assistant Investment Executive

We are recruiting for an Assistant Investment Executive.

Job purpose

FW Capital is responsible for investing Northern Powerhouse Investment Funds into SMEs in the North of England. The Investment Team is mandated to target new business, which following drawdown get passed to the Portfolio Team to manage. The sourcing, appraising and completion of loans from £100,000 to £750,000 is the fundamental purpose of the Investment Team.

The post holder will need to build close working relationships internally and with external business introducers and service providers in order to generate strong flows of new opportunities to the team, as well as assessing the credit risk of lending proposals with a view to taking these forward to completion. The post holder will work alongside the existing investment team to develop their skills and to support members of the Investment Team in achieving team objectives. A comprehensive knowledge of FW Capital, our products and the market will be expected to be built-up over time, as well as a new introducer base for deal flow into the team.

The post holder will have well developed inter personal and problem solving ability. Good financial assessment skills, attention to detail and a proactive, hands on approach are also essential prerequisites for this role.

We would expect the candidate to develop into a full Investment Executive in a maximum of 3 years.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Contribute to the Investment Team’s financial target, playing a key role in delivering timely and excellent customer service;
• Identifying opportunities for funding, carrying out financial analysis and making sound commercial decisions via detailed sanction reports for the Line Manager / Fund Director;
• Understand and assess underlying cashflow assumptions and comment on the risks associated with these and suggest and conduct appropriate sensitivity analysis;
• Take responsibility for the creation of covenants and the setting of limits. Liaise closely with portfolio teams as appropriate;
• Appraise investment proposals as deemed appropriate by Line Manager / Fund Director;
• Work with Investment Executives in the team to assist in the assessment and completion of due diligence and assess risks attendant with aspects of each investment. This will include conducting thorough and robust management, financial and commercial due diligence when considering investment opportunities;
• Prepare sanction reports for credit sanction and present findings to Investment Committee;
• Fully understand and be involved in, the negotiation of commercial terms and translate these in to legal instructions;
• Liaise with external due diligence providers, scoping work assignments and negotiating best value for money for customers;
• Taking responsibility for the completion of deals as deemed appropriate, ensuring that customer service standards are achieved whilst acting commercially supporting the customer through difficult situations, ensuring timely feedback to appropriate parties and signing off all conditions precedent have been met;
• Be decisive in decision making, taking personal responsibility and being prepared to have potentially difficult conversations with clients;
• Liaise with the teams within the wider organisation, dealing with, and taking responsibility for legal/security aspects;
• Maintain and develop industry knowledge and understand best practice in investment activity;
• Participate and where appropriate, represent FW Capital at meetings, seminars and events;
• Contribute to the marketing/promotion of FW Capital;
• Develop and enhance FW Capital’s reputation as a professional investment provider;
• Any task as set-out by Line Manager / Fund Director to meet the operational needs of the department.

Knowledge, skills, abilities and experience

• Self-motivated with the ability to take a proactive approach and work efficiently without supervision. Comfortable in dealing with time critical client sensitive work;
• Understanding of financial information and analysis;
• Results focused;
• Strong team player;
• The ability to prioritise and organise work under pressure and meet targets. Drive and determination to complete work to a consistently high standard;
• Good communication, influencing and interpersonal skills. Strong problem solving skills;
• Previous experience of credit report preparation;
• Understanding of risk assessment and investment processes;
• Ability to assess investment proposals and conduct due diligence;
• Experience of analysing financial information;
• IT/PC literate with ability to use Microsoft Office packages;
• Relevant professional qualification or relevant industry experience in banking or accountancy.
• Accounting/bank/funding experience;
• Experience of investing/lending money to SMEs;
• Understanding of the role of the public sector in SME finance;
• Understanding of regional business environment;
• Driving licence;
• IT literate to include the use of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sage Winforecast.