Principal - Sandton at Sanlam Group

Key Responsibilities
You will be responsible to start sourcing and leading mid-market investment transactions. 
Play a significant role on larger investment transactions.
Supervise Investment Associates and Investment Analysts in performing all their work, including deal pre-screening, due diligence reviews (company, industry, and market), strategy for value unlock on potential targets and presentation of investment proposal papers to the Investment Committee.
Driving value unlock strategies in portfolio companies through representing SPE on the Board of Directors and/or supporting the senior members of the investment team on larger portfolio companies.
Responsible for developing and maintaining key relationships with portfolio companies’ management and Directors, and the investment community players.  
Develop an extensive network of contacts for deal sourcing and value enhancing strategies on portfolio companies.
Provide input in legal and transaction agreements.
Offering support to more senior members in the investment process.
Play a significant role in practice management functions.
What will make you successful in this role?

Functional Competencies

• Ability to represent SPE as a Principal with a strong grasp of the SPE business model, investment philosophy as well as solid understanding of the private equity investment principles.
• Prepare investment papers and discussion papers for presentation to Investment Committee.
• Ability to manage an investment team from end to end in executing transactions, including leading the value unlock initiatives with portfolio companies.
• Be a trusted, strategic business advisor by small and medium size portfolio companies (able to own both CFO, CEO, COO etc. relationships) as well as ability to form similar type relationships with CFO’s of large size portfolio companies. 
• Strong and sound understanding of the industry dynamics for each industry invested in and is able to identify and discuss key strategic matters with senior management and rest of the Board.
• Ability to bring unique investment opportunities to SPE for possible investments.
• Strong management and mentorship skills of the juniors, including putting in place development plans.
• Play a significant role in practice management functions of the firm.
• Owns strategic relationships with brokers and corporate finance firms.
• Lead SPE presentations to external parties (fundraising, investor report backs, conferences, asset managers meetings, etc).
• Strong knowledge of the SPE business model and structure, and constantly identifying unique opportunities and risks for the business.
• Demonstrate a high degree of self-sufficiency and independence.
• A dedicated team player consistently prioritising the business over individual interests.
• Demonstrate ability to constantly identify and drive new value unlock opportunities at portfolio companies besides those at inception of the investment.
• Prepare Quarterly Reports for investment companies and portfolio.
• Capable and confident of being the lead representative of SPE on the Board of Directors of medium size companies, and initially assisting a Partner at large size portfolio company with a view to taking over.

Qualification and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or a related field, CA(SA). An advanced degree (MBA) is highly advantageous.
• Proven track record of at least 6 -10 years of experience in investment banking or private equity experience.