Investment Associate

Stellus Capital Management, LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Stellus Capital Management, LLC in Houston, TX is seeking an Associate to join the Investment Team and participate in all aspects of the private credit investment process. The role involves underwriting across industries, building detailed 3-statement financial and credit models, and preparing investment memos for the Investment Committee.

This is a two-year Pre-MBA position with a lean deal team (MD, VP, Associate) and exposure to live deals (typically 6–10 transactions per year).

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree from a competitive university.
• Around 2 years of experience in commercial banking, investment banking, private investing, consulting, and/or accounting.
• Proficient in three-statement Excel financial modeling with LBO or leveraged finance experience.
• Excellent time management, project planning, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in underwriting and approval process for transactions, including initial screening, financial analysis, due diligence, market research, modeling, and investment memo preparation.
• Prepare investment memos for the investment committee.
• Develop and maintain detailed 3-statement financial and credit models and other advanced Excel models.
• Work in a lean deal team (MD, VP, Associate) and contribute to all aspects of the investment process.
• Support multiple live deals concurrently and participate in portfolio management and special projects.

Skills

Financial modeling

Time management

Communication skills

Underwriting

Deal execution

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Stellus Capital Management is a leading private credit investment firm with approximately $3.8 billion in assets under management. Stellus focuses on providing senior debt, unitranche, and structured capital solutions to lower middle market companies across a broad range of industries. With more than 20 years of experience investing in the lower middle market, the firm has deployed over $10 billion of capital across hundreds of investments and economic cycles. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Stellus partners with management teams and private equity sponsors to support growth, acquisitions, recapitalizations, and other strategic initiatives. For additional information, please visit www.stelluscapital.com

Position Summary

The Associate is a key member of the Investment Team and participates in all aspects of the investments process for the firm’s middle market private credit investment strategy. Will work in a lean deal team environment with a high-level of responsibility and investment committee exposure. Investments are made across a wide range of industries including business services, general industrial, healthcare, government services, tech-enabled services, software, technology, industrial services, consumer products, distribution, aerospace & defense, and food and beverage.

Primary Responsibilities

• Associates will typically be working on 3-4 live deals simultaneously in addition to ongoing internal and external portfolio management and must successfully balance multiple responsibilities and deadlines.
• Associates serve as key members in the underwriting and approval process for transactions, including initial screening of deals, financial analysis, detailed due diligence, market analysis, industry research, modeling, capital structure analysis, legal documentation review, and preparation of investment memos used in the investment committee process.
• Associates work on a lean deal team typically consisting of three people (MD, VP, Associate) and is expected to develop her/his own opinion and play a key role in the investment process.
• Associates are expected to contribute meaningfully to all aspects of the investment process and will gain an immense amount of deal experience (typically closing 6-10 transactions per year) and exposure to broader asset and firm management initiatives.
• Responsible for buildings detailed 3-statement financial and credit models as well as other advanced Excel models (e.g., valuation models).
• Any additional responsibilities or special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree from a competitive university with a strong academic record – this is a Pre-MBA position.
• Around 2 years of experience in commercial banking, investment banking, private investing, consulting, and/or accounting (transaction advisory services).
• Experience working on transactions and with companies in a range of industries is strongly desired.
• Passionate about investing. Enjoys the challenge and opportunity of working with middle market companies in a fast-paced work environment.
• Proficient in three-statement Excel financial modeling with LBO and/or leveraged finance modeling experience.
• Excellent time management, project planning, and organizational skills with ability to consistently meet deadlines.
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, and are encouraged to speak up and engage directly with deal teams and the investment committee.

Please note:

• This is a two-year position, although longer career paths for top performers are available.

The duties and responsibilities described above are not comprehensive and additional tasks will be assigned. The scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.