Our Innovative Finance Associate will have an opportunity to learn from 30+ years of investment banking, startup and accelerator insights to build Africa’s leading early-stage climate tech portfolio. This is a rare chance to create scalable climate impact while honing your technical skills in a fast-paced, innovative environment. 

​

Working on the investment and post-investment support verticals will provide an opportunity to utilise creative financial techniques to drive scale. You’ll create immense value for startups by serving as a strategic partner on new market expansion, strategic partnerships, acquisitions, equity funding and tons of other super geeky and incredibly fun initiatives. Best of all - you’ll be focused on accelerating the growth and impact of African climate tech. Sprinkle in a few trail runs in epic places with rad people. Sound like fun?! 

​

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of formal financial training - investment banking, CPA/CA, CFA charter, project finance, debt investing, corporate finance, M&A, etc. They will be stoked to take the next step in their investment and business building career by working alongside an experienced team. They’ll thrive on solving complex, quantitative, fun, technical puzzles within a startup environment. A proven track record of successfully executing initiatives is a must. A deep curiosity and want to learn are par for the course. The outcome will be unparalleled experience and direct climate impact. 

If you’re keen to put your extensive technical skills to use as part of a fun, outdoor loving, mission driven startup team then this is the role for you. 

​

Position details

Position: Innovative Finance Associate

Hours: Full time position subject to 6-month probationary period 

Reporting: Reports directly to Venture Principal

Fixed Salary: R45,000 - 65,000 gross per month

Equity: Available upon achievement of milestones

Location: Ability to work from Stellenbosch and Cape Town on a weekly basis

Start date: 1 May 2024 or sooner

​

Responsibilities

Pipeline building

​Attend demo days, get out to conferences, do desktop research, and help Holocene find the best early-stage climate tech startups in Africa. Generally be stoked to get-out-of-the-building to help us locate Africa’s best early-stage entrepreneurs. 

 

Investment screening

Review incoming investment applications in accordance with internal investment scorecards and criteria. Marry investment insights with on-the-ground experiences to create a blend of book knowledge and real world insights.  

 

Investment due diligence

​Support Venture Principals with market research, financial analysis, scrutinising business model, testing pricing, competitive analysis, customer calls & testimonials, and getting to the merits of a good investment opportunity.  

​

Portfolio company support

​Assist portfolio companies with their financial and fundraising needs, a significant component of this will be financial modelling and reviewing financial management accounts. Experience modelling debt and complex capital structures is a big positive. 

​

Ecosystem development

Cultivate and support an extensive network of investors and business relationships, proactively identifying areas where Holocene can bring substantial value to the African climate tech landscape.
 

Qualifications and experience

• Passion or curiosity about climate, entrepreneurship and startups in Africa.

• Bachelor’s degree in quantitative-focused subjects (Accounting, Finance, Engineering, Mathematics, etc.).

• Advanced degree: MBA, CPA/CA, or CFA highly regarded as it demonstrates hard work, curiosity and the ability to grind when needed. 

• 3+ years of financial training in areas such as investment banking, private investment, project finance, debt structuring, M&A, corporate finance or development finance with transactional experience. 

• Passion to prepare and evaluate financial models and investor presentations, specifically debt-type models including: working capital, project finance, off-balance sheet SPVs, term loans, carbon agreements, etc. 

• Stoke to transition technical skills to an industry with significant meaning. 

 

Skills requirements

• Exceptional financial modelling and quantitative analysis abilities

• Strong researcher with a talent for synchronising large quantities of data into clear insights and usable concepts

• Outstanding project management skills including task prioritisation, attention to detail, timeliness of execution, and proactivity

• Self starter with the focus and drive to fully own tasks with a high level of independence

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal

• Comfort with ambiguity and a high level of resourcefulness to glean insights and recommendations given imperfect information

​