Acumen America is looking for a Senior Associate to join our San Francisco-based, US venture investing team. We’re looking for someone with 4 – 6 years of investing experience and a proven commitment to tackling poverty. The right candidate is bold, creative, and can excel in a fast-paced, start up environment.
Acumen
Acumen is changing the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders and ideas. We invest patient capital in businesses whose products and services are enabling the poor to transform their lives. Founded by Jacqueline Novogratz in 2001, Acumen has invested more than $115 million in 113 companies across Africa, Latin America, South Asia and the United States. We are also developing a global community of emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills and determination to create a more inclusive world. In 2015, Acumen was named one of Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Not-for-Profit Companies.
About Acumen America
The Senior Associate will be joining a small team building a portfolio of game-changing companies focused on tackling poverty in the United States. The team is responsible for finding, vetting, structuring, and managing investments in companies that serve low-income Americans in our three portfolio sectors: financial inclusion, workforce development, and health. This position is entrepreneurial and preferred candidates will be excited by a start-up environment.
Responsibilities
The Senior Associate will source and evaluate new investment opportunities, conduct due diligence on high potential opportunities, and assist with structuring deal terms. The Senior Associate will use his or her investing skills to evaluate the growth and return potential of companies from both a financial and social impact perspective. They will also prepare analysis for presentation to Acumen America’s Investment Committee.
The Senior Associate will develop research and analysis related to Acumen America’s investment portfolio and its performance, fundraising and strategic partnership initiatives, and management of portfolio operations. They will contribute to actively building and cultivating Acumen America’s networks in the venture and impact investing communities, and will contribute to developing insight and communication pieces for external audiences. They will also be responsible for coordinating relationships with select portfolio companies, in collaboration with senior team members.
The individual in this role must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, changing environment, executing quickly on a range of transactional responsibilities, as well as thinking critically to add value and solve problems. More specifically, you will be responsible for:
Early Stage Venture Investing
- Identifying, cultivating, and reviewing a pipeline of early stage investment opportunities providing critical services to low-income Americans
- Conducting thorough due diligence and investment analysis, including financial modeling, valuation review and structuring
- Preparing and presenting detailed and compelling investment documentation for Acumen America’s Investment Committee
Portfolio Management
- Assess portfolio company needs related to post investment support; design and implement post-investment management interventions in coordination with senior team members
- Design and evaluate key metrics to measure the social and financial returns on investments
- Develop long-term relationships with external stakeholders including funders, advisors, thought leaders, sector and functional experts to provide support across the portfolio
Portfolio Operations
- Work with the Acumen America team to analyze and document data-driven explanations for portfolio decisions; to extract and document investment-specific and general insights; to analyze metrics data to identify patterns; and to channel that data to outputs for marketing and fundraising efforts
- Produce discrete knowledge and research materials based on lessons from Acumen’s portfolio
This role will report to the team’s Director.
Qualifications & Characteristics
- 4-6 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, investment banking, or investment management, including experience with financial and operational due diligence of early stage businesses
- Superior financial and business analysis skills, as demonstrated by prior experience
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to present arguments and analysis in a clear and succinct manner to Acumen management, partners, and investees
- Strong ability to take initiative with research and analysis and produce valuable results in conditions of uncertainty
- Solid operational skills including problem solving and project management skills, including ability to work and deliver projects independently, proactively and under pressure
- Familiarity with the social enterprise and impact investing sectors; demonstrated commitment to tackling challenges of poverty is preferred
- Bachelor’s Degree is required
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a permanent basis
Additional characteristics we’re looking for in all roles at Acumen:
- Commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the organization’s mission and business model, and respect for our core values: generosity, accountability, humility, audacity, listening, leadership, integrity, respect
- Exceptional relationship and interpersonal skills: courtesy, tact, empathy, patience, and strong team orientation
- Strong communication skills and ability to be a “storyteller” of our work
- Curiosity – proactive and continuous learner; always questioning, researching and testing ideas and assumptions
Compensation
Acumen offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including benefits.
Location
San Francisco, California
If interested, please apply here.
