Assistant Vice President Investment

ABOUT SIMA 

Social Investment Managers and Advisors (SIMA) LLC registered with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seeks an Assistant Vice President to support Investment and Fund Management activities of an asset management company focused on bottom of the pyramid investment opportunities with commercial returns and clear social benefits. SIMA is focused on double bottom line investment, advisory services, and creation of social businesses in the areas of financial inclusion, solar energy, affordable housing and education in some of the poorest countries in the world namely sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. SIMA believes in transparency, inclusive decision-making, and innovative thinking. SIMA’s Managing Partners are among the longest serving social investment fund managers and actively contributed to the development of the social impact investment industry.  

ABOUT THE ROLE 

We are seeking an experienced investment professional to support the deployment and management of capital into SME-focused solar developers and distributed energy projects across Africa. 

This role focuses on financing Commercial & Industrial (C&I) solar platforms and project pipelines, requiring strong expertise in credit analysis, structured finance, and emerging market execution. The successful candidate will lead transaction execution and actively manage a portfolio of high-impact investments.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Investment Origination & Execution 

• Conduct primary and secondary market research related to financial and clean energy access in Africa. 
• Understand the fundamentals of the target companies, their business models, markets and macroeconomic environment. 
• Identify and evaluate investment opportunities with SME solar developers and distributed energy platforms across Africa.  
• Lead end-to-end transaction execution, including financial modeling, due diligence, and structuring. 
• Assess developer pipelines, including project viability, customer contracts, and revenue visibility. 
• Prepare and present investment memoranda to the Investment Committee. 
• Coordinate with legal, technical, ESG, and insurance advisors. 

Financial Structuring & Credit Analysis 

• Build and maintain detailed financial models (project finance and portfolio-level). 
• Structure tailored debt solutions, including:  
• Project Finance facilities 
• Working capital facilities  
• Construction and bridge financing  
• Evaluate key risks, including:  
• SME/developer credit risk  
• Offtaker risk (corporates and SMEs)  
• Contract enforceability (PPAs, lease-to-own, ESAs)  
• Country and FX risks  
• Design covenants, security structures, and repayment profiles aligned with cash flows. 

Portfolio & Asset Management 

• Monitor performance of SME borrowers and underlying solar project portfolios. 
• Supporting the firm in all deal-related tasks, including on site due-diligence in emerging markets, financial and credit analysis, and deal structuring. 

• Track financial and operational KPIs, including energy generation, collections, and repayment performance. 
• Identify early warning signals and implement risk mitigation strategies. 
• Lead portfolio reviews and investor reporting. 

Stakeholder Management 

• Manage relationships with solar developers, EPC contractors, and project sponsors. 
• Support negotiation of financing agreements and transaction documentation. 
• Collaborate with technical advisors on system performance and asset quality.  

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• Management degree; possession of or completion of the exam series in relevant certifications such as ACA, ACCA, CFA or FRM is preferred. 
• Strong quantitative skills, a high degree of proficiency with Excel and applied financial modeling experience. 
• Track record of producing results and managing multiple projects and assignments concurrently. 
• At least 6-10 years’ experience in deal sourcing, deal appraisal and structuring, in investment banking, emerging market investing, impact investing in renewable energy sector. 
• Project finance background and prior experience in lending or raising money for solar energy projects in Africa at either a commercial lending institute or a developer. 
• Strong financial modeling and credit analysis skills. 
• A high level of passion, entrepreneurial energy, personal initiative and responsibility. 
• Strong cultural understanding and skills to communicate effectively across multiple geographies. 
• Strong negotiating and team-working skills. 
• Socially orientated and desire to create positive impact to society. 
• Willingness to work remotely from home but based in Nigeria. 

KEY SKILLS 

• Strong credit judgment in SME and emerging market contexts  
• Advanced financial modeling (DSCR, sensitivities, downside cases)  
• Ability to structure flexible financing solutions  
• Strong stakeholder and relationship management  
• High ownership and execution capability  

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