Job Title: Investment Associate – M&A and Portfolio Management
Department: Private Investments
Reports to: Director – Portfolio Management
Job Purpose: Reporting to the Portfolio Management Director, the Associate – M&A and Portfolio Management will support the Portfolio Management team in managing and optimizing portfolio performance, executing growth initiatives including developing greenfield projects, joint ventures and M&A transactions, and driving value creation initiatives. The role also includes performing commercial and financial review of the portfolio companies and monitoring their performance.
Core Tasks, Responsibilities and Authority:
Portfolio Management:
- Monitor and assess the performance of assigned Portfolio Companies, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, approved business plans and optimizing shareholders returns.
- Conduct detailed performance analyses, provide actionable insights, key risks and recommend strategies to improve portfolio outcomes
- Support portfolio companies in their growth initiatives (e.g., M&A or greenfield projects)
- Build deep understanding of portfolio companies and their business activities
- Review board materials and provide analysis, comments and suggestions before board meetings
- Evaluate and propose value creation strategies for portfolio companies in collaboration with operational teams.
Transaction Execution:
- Support the execution process of M&A transactions, including due diligence structuring, financial modelling, valuation and deal closure processes.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure seamless transaction management from initiation to execution to closure.
- Support post-merger integration exercises of acquired companies
Reporting and Documentation:
- Prepare comprehensive investment committee decks, presentations, portfolio oversight report with key business risks, and updates for internal stakeholders and the executive team.
- Maintain accurate and detailed records of transactions, action trackers, portfolio performance, and strategic initiatives.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Coordinate with external advisors, including investment banks, legal advisors, and consultants.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with portfolio company management teams to drive alignment on objectives.
Risk Management:
- Identify potential risks within transactions and portfolios, recommending mitigation strategies to safeguard investments.
Compliance and Governance:
- Ensure adherence to all relevant regulatory and governance requirements during transaction execution and portfolio management.
- Support internal audit exercises
Professional Profile:
Core Competencies:
- Experience in supporting M&A transactions and structuring Partnerships including JVs, with demonstrated ability to contribute to deal structuring and value creation.
- Advanced analytical and financial modelling skills, including valuation methodologies and financial statement analysis.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex information for diverse audiences.
- Effective project management skills, capable of supporting multiple transactions and priorities simultaneously.
- High attention to detail, with a proactive approach to identifying and identifying issues and escalating material matters appropriately.
- Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, fostering collaboration across teams.
- Ability to take ownership of defined workstreams and operate independently with appropriate senior guidance.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, proficiency in Arabic is advantageous
Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or a related field;
- Progress toward, or completion of, a relevant professional qualification such as the CFA, CAIA, ACCA or ACA, or a relevant postgraduate degree, is advantageous.
- 4–6 years of experience in investment banking, Big 4 corporate finance, transaction services, private equity, or corporate M&A, with a focus on valuation, financial modelling and analysis.
- Further experience in private investments or sovereign wealth funds and family offices will also be considered
- Demonstrated expertise in financial modelling (3-statement models, DCF, sensitivity, etc.), supporting due diligence, valuation and returns analysis and portfolio performance analysis is mandatory.
- Exposure to sectors such as Hospitality, Healthcare, Education, Technology, Agriculture, Financial Services and Real Estate Development is advantageous.
