Corporate Finance Specialist (uMnotho Fund)

Job title: Corporate Finance Specialist (uMnotho Fund)

Job Location: Gauteng, Johannesburg
Deadline: May 11, 2025

Responsibilities:

• Undertake business development and position NEF as the preferred lender for BBBEE transactions focusing on WEF, Youth, People with Disabilities, and 3rd Party transactions.
• Initiate and develop new business strategies and opportunities.
• Maximise 3rd party funds committed for investment implementation.
• Responsible for ensuring proposals are timeously declined or if commercially viable, are processed quickly and effectively; to ensure fast turnaround times.
• Proactively identify investment partners and opportunities.
• Create a pipeline of development impact projects.
• Appraise new investments and support the Team.
• Manage the due diligence process and monitor related documents according to the required standards.
• Ensure that the department meets the quarterly and annual targets on approvals, commitments and disbursements as per the approved targets.

Dealmaking and Execution of Investment Opportunities:

• Implement investment strategy and philosophy.
• Lead and manage the whole investment process.
• Assist the team in performing detailed analysis of investment opportunities, including commercial analysis, financial modelling, risk and pricing, and NEF mandate.
• Deal screening.
• Preliminary appraisal of deal.
• Deal structuring, pricing and negotiation of term sheet.
• Industry and sectoral research analysis.
• Motivation of investment thesis.
• Facilitation of contracting.
• Oversee disbursements to approved projects as well as monitor a project’s progress post-investment.
• Ensure deal closure by taking responsibility for optimal financial, institutional and legal structuring.
• Provide innovative and flexible financial structures for complex transactions.
• Ensure that all disbursement files are reviewed for completeness before release to Fund Manager.
• Identify opportunities to initiate viable projects, project origination through the facilitation of project preparation, and business plans with the intention of providing funding.
• Development, training and mentoring of the team.

Investment Reporting:

• Review investment reports and ensure they are of good quality prior to submission.
• Prepare Investment Committee (FMIC, FMTPFC, EXCO IC, Board IC and Board of Trustees) papers on investment opportunities for consideration.
• Present investment proposals that fit with NEF’s investment strategy to EXCO, IC and NEF Board of Trustees.

Customer Relations:

• Build and maintain good customer relations with key strategic partners.
• Periodically visit key stakeholders and maintain communication with clients to keep good client relations.
• Facilitate proper project documents submission for the purpose of governance regarding the project progress appraisal process.
• Participate in Steering Committees and Boards of the various projects/businesses.

Investment Management:

• Manage the implementation of investments process for maximum return on investment.
• Monitor the disbursement in accordance with the NEF processes.
• Manage relationships with the relevant project stakeholders, partners, and lead promoters, in accordance with the project’s objectives.

Qualification Requirements:

• B. Com Hons Degree with specialization in Accounting and/or Business Finance.
• CA (SA) or MBA an advantage.

Experience/Skills Required:

• Minimum of eight years’ experience in a deal-making environment.
• Minimum of three years people management experience.