Research Analyst

Woodbridge - A Mariner Company; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 280,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Woodbridge - A Mariner Company in Cape Town seeks an Investor Strategy Analyst to support our mergers and acquisitions advisory business. You will develop investor engagement strategies, profile prospective buyers, and create market intelligence to inform transaction strategies and outreach.

You will work with deal teams to produce high-quality research and compelling presentation materials, supporting client mandates and market due diligence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• At least 2 years’ experience in a finance-related role.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with proficiency in research tools, databases, and AI-enabled technologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Commercially minded and strategically focused, with a natural curiosity for business research and identifying market opportunities.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple client campaigns, pitch decks, and ad hoc tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop investor strategies for active M&A mandates by identifying and evaluating strategic acquirers, private equity firms, family offices, and other relevant investors.
• Build an investment thesis for each transaction, aligning buyer targeting with sector dynamics, strategic rationale, and market opportunities.
• Research, segment, and prioritise prospective buyers based on acquisition history, investment strategy, capital availability, geographic focus, and strategic fit.
• Conduct detailed market and company research using business intelligence platforms, AI tools, trade publications, and publicly available sources.
• Source and verify contact information for key decision-makers within target organizations.
• Analyse M&A activity, industry trends, capital flows, and comparable transactions to support transaction strategy.
• Prepare high-quality PowerPoint presentations, investor lists, market reports, and other client-facing materials.
• Maintain research databases and contribute to Mariner's proprietary investor database and marketing processes.
• Collaborate with deal teams across multiple live mandates while managing competing priorities and meeting tight deadlines.

Skills

Research skills

Analytical skills

Excel

PowerPoint

AI tools

Finance experience

Communication

Attention to detail

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Market research databases

AI-enabled tools

Job description

Cape Town based Business Research Position

The Investor Strategy Analyst (aka Research Analyst) plays a key role in supporting Mariner's mergers and acquisitions advisory business by developing investor engagement strategies across active sell-side mandates. The role is responsible for identifying and profiling prospective buyers, developing tailored investor theses, and producing market intelligence that informs transaction strategy and buyer outreach.

Working closely with the deal team, the Investor Strategy Analyst combines commercial research, strategic thinking, and data-driven analysis to identify the most relevant strategic acquirers, private equity firms, family offices, and other investors for each transaction. The role also supports client presentations and Mariner's marketing-led transaction process through high-quality research and compelling presentation materials.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop investor strategies for active M&A mandates by identifying and evaluating strategic acquirers, private equity firms, family offices, and other relevant investors.
• Build an investment thesis for each transaction, aligning buyer targeting with sector dynamics, strategic rationale, and market opportunities.
• Research, segment, and prioritise prospective buyers based on acquisition history, investment strategy, capital availability, geographic focus, and strategic fit.
• Conduct detailed market and company research using business intelligence platforms, AI tools, trade publications, and publicly available sources.
• Source and verify contact information for key decision-makers within target organizations.
• Analyse M&A activity, industry trends, capital flows, and comparable transactions to support transaction strategy.
• Prepare high-quality PowerPoint presentations, investor lists, market reports, and other client-facing materials.
• Maintain research databases and contribute to Mariner's proprietary investor database and marketing processes.
• Collaborate with deal teams across multiple live mandates while managing competing priorities and meeting tight deadlines.

Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• At least 2 years’ experience in a finance-related role.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with proficiency in research tools, databases, and AI-enabled technologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Commercially minded and strategically focused, with a natural curiosity for business research and identifying market opportunities.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple client campaigns, pitch decks, and ad hoc tasks in a fast-paced environment.