Investment Executive

We are recruiting for an Investment Executive based in Newcastle.

Job Purpose

The Investment Executive is responsible for sourcing, appraising and making equity, loan and mezzanine investments into SMEs. Investments will be made on commercial terms and in accordance with the investment criteria set by the organisation and our funders.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Through sustained and extensive business development activity, source and appraise suitable investment opportunities.
2. Develop and maintain links and networks with key business introducers and intermediaries to source suitable investment opportunities.
3. Maintain and develop technical and industry specific knowledge to ensure best practice and compliance in investment activity.
4. Assess applications for funding and prepare credit reports recommending investment to Fund Manager, Fund Director or Investment Committee.
5. Take 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.
6. Conduct thorough and robust management, financial and commercial due diligence when considering investment opportunities and assess the risks of each investment.
7. Negotiate terms and conditions relating to legal documentation for the making of investments. Contribute to the Investment Team’s targets, playing a key role in delivering timely and excellent customer service.
8. Understand and assess underlying cashflow assumptions and comment on the risks associated with these and suggest and conduct appropriate sensitivity analysis.
9. Take responsibility for the creation of covenants and the setting of limits. Liaise closely with portfolio teams as appropriate.
10. Liaise closely with the portfolio team post-investment and support as required to maintain the relationship with the investee company.
11. Disseminate examples of best practice for applying to the funds under management to key business introducers and ensure that the application process is continually refined and improved to provide the best possible client service.
12. Participate and represent the organisation at meetings, seminars and events.
13. Contribute to marketing/promoting of the funds under management / organisation.
14. Achieve defined goals and fund output requirements in line with our contractual responsibilities to our funders.
15. Contribute to the operation of the organisation as a professional fund management business.
16. Any other task as may be defined by the Fund Director, Fund Manager or Senior Investment Executive(s) to meet the operational needs of the department, ensuring that at all times the trust and confidence of the organisation’s funders is retained.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Experience

1. An awareness of business issues and the SME market in the region.
2. Previous venture capital, leveraged finance, corporate finance or accountancy experience within the SME market.
3. Understanding of debt and mezzanine investments into SMEs.
4. Understanding of risk assessment.
5. Experience of analysing financial information.
6. Ability to assess investment proposals and construct balanced investment proposals.
7. Self-motivated and results focussed with the ability to take a proactive approach and work efficiently and independently, or as part of a team.
8. Comfortable in dealing with time critical client sensitive work.
9. Strong team player.
10. Strong communication, influencing and interpersonal skills.
11. Confident in own decision making. Prepared to have potentially difficult conversations with clients.
12. The ability to prioritise and organise work under pressure and meet targets. Drive and determination to complete work to a consistently high standard.
13. Accountancy or banking qualifications.
14. Knowledge and understanding of the role of the public sector in SME finance.
15. Understanding of the regional business environment.
16. An established network of key business introducers.

Other Requirements

1. Driving Licence.
2. IT literate to include the use of Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and Power Point.