Investment Professional - Africa - DFI Program

CrossBoundary; South Africa; Hybrid; ZAR 1 306 000 - 1 542 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment firm is seeking an Investment Professional to expand its activities across Africa. The role involves sourcing and supporting transactions in sectors like energy, infrastructure, and health. Candidates must have a Master’s degree and at least 5 years of relevant experience, particularly in emerging markets. Strong technical skills, proficiency in financial modeling, and a network in Africa are essential for success. This position requires significant field presence and engagement with local stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in investment banking or finance.
• Experience in emerging markets, particularly Africa, is essential.
• Strong technical and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with stakeholders and identify investment opportunities.
• Support due diligence and internal appraisal processes.
• Monitor and report on policy changes affecting transactions.

Skills

Corporate/project finance structuring

Financial modeling

MS Office proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in business, finance, or equivalent

Job description

Position Title: Investment Professional - Africa

Locations

Addis Ababa (Horn of Africa); Nairobi (East Africa); Dakar or Kinshasa (Francophone West & Central); Lagos (Anglophone West & Central); Johannesburg (Southern & Lusophone Africa); Cairo (North Africa & Pan‑Africa)

About the Firm

Founded in 2011, CrossBoundary is a mission-driven investment firm committed to unlocking the power of capital to make a substantial return while creating a lasting difference in frontier markets. CrossBoundary provides investment advisory services, having developed a specialized expertise in unleashing investment across all sectors in fragile and frontier markets. Our advisory clients include governments, development finance institutions, private equity firms, Fortune 100 companies, and research institutions. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com.

Program Overview

A leading development finance institution (DFI) is expanding investment activity across Africa in priority sectors including energy, infrastructure, critical minerals, health, agriculture, and financial services. CrossBoundary seeks to deploy investment professionals to help source, assess, and support transactions across the institution’s product offerings—direct equity, loans, guarantees, political risk insurance, fund investments, and project development—and to engage regional stakeholders essential to building a high‑quality pipeline.

Job Description

The investment professional provides business development, transaction support, and on‑the‑ground presence across an assigned region. Working under direction from the DFI’s representative and CrossBoundary’s project lead, the professional delivers market intelligence, pipeline development, screening/diligence, execution support, and post‑close monitoring.

Key Responsibilities

Transaction Origination

• Build relationships with project sponsors, developers, financiers, and other stakeholders; introduce the institution’s offerings and eligibility criteria; identify and pre‑screen opportunities.
• Review teasers, IMs, pitch books, financial statements, and models to vet opportunities; collect/verify information to support initial screening and draft concise screening notes/memos.
• Follow up on credible leads shared by relevant partners and counterparts, as requested by the client representative.
• Maintain accurate pipeline entries in the client’s deal‑tracking systems (e.g., pipeline tracker/CRM).

Transaction Execution Support

• Support due diligence for retained transactions prior to financial close; compile/verify information for credit/investment committee processes and draft sections of internal papers or policy notes.
• Monitor and report policy, regulatory, or market developments affecting transactions; assist verification of conditions precedent; keep pipeline records current.

Post‑Execution Support

• Assist with performance monitoring and development‑impact tracking for closed transactions; monitor/report relevant policy changes; verify conditions subsequent for additional disbursements; maintain documentation and records.

Field Presence & Stakeholder Engagement

• Prepare concise market intelligence reports, case studies, and presentations aligned to regional priorities.
• Provide practical briefings/training to partner teams on the institution’s products and eligibility; participate in meetings and relevant events/conferences; submit timely summaries and updates.
• Support logistics for senior visits and event organization; coordinate budgets and approvals through the client’s established processes.

Travel

Primarily within the assigned region, with periodic international travel. All travel is pre‑authorized and reimbursed per client policy.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Master’s degree (e.g., business, finance, economics, international relations, political science) or equivalent professional experience; CFA beneficial.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of full‑time relevant experience within the last 15 years (investment banking, financial advisory, insurance underwriting, project development, development finance, project finance, financial services, consulting, or private equity), including ≥3 years substantially in emerging markets and ≥2 years substantially in Africa.
• Technical Skills: Corporate/project finance structuring and negotiation; financial modeling and statement analysis; proficiency in MS Office.
• Network: Existing and extensive professional contacts in Africa; ability to engage diplomatically with public and private stakeholders.
• Languages: French required for Francophone West/Central Africa and North Africa roles; Portuguese required for Lusophone Africa roles.
• Attributes: Independent, sound business judgment, able to manage multiple projects under deadline, strong written/oral communication, collaborative, mission‑driven.

Work Environment & Onboarding

• Start timeline: Candidates should be available to start within 60 days of selection; an initial ramp‑up period applies in the first 30 days.
• Participation in orientation (up to two weeks) and annual training (up to two weeks); onboarding steps may include fingerprinting/ID issuance at client headquarters.

Equal Opportunity

CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.