JOB RESPONSIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
POSITION TITLE: Investment Associate
CATEGORY: Professional
WORK TYPE: Full time
DEPARTMENT: Investment Department
REPORTS TO: Investment Manager
PLACE OF WORK: Istanbul, Türkiye
CONTRACT DURATION: Fixed Term Contract
JOB DESCRIPTION AND OBLIGATIONS SUMMARY
The Turkic Investment Fund (TIF / Fund) aims to become a catalyst for socio-economic development and integration of the Turkic countries, and a flagship organization for the promotion of sustainability, intra-regional trade and connectivity via investments across various sectors with a focus on debt financing, equity investments, and other structured / hybrid financial instruments.
The Investment Associate contributes to all phases of the financing transactions cycle, including project origination, structuring, execution, implementation and monitoring. She/he understands all aspects of structured credit analysis and deal execution process relevant for all types of debt and to a lesser extent equity, and structured / hybrid financing instruments offered by the TIF pursuant to its mandate, vision and mission.
The Investment Associate will take responsibility for those tasks assigned to her/him and carry out these tasks as part of a project team under the guidance of a operation leader or more senior members of financing operation team or if assigned as an operation leader (typically on less complex transactions) under the supervision/guidance of the Investment Manager(s).
This role includes undertaking comprehensive due diligence (including, but not limited to, economic, financial, commercial, technical, compliance, etc.) in line with TIF Investments Policy and Procedures, effective post-signing implementation and monitoring. The Investment Associate role may also include elements of business/pipeline development, client management, transformation driven dialogue with investees (value creation plan and broader growth strategy).
This role requires a thorough understanding of processes and procedures through the lifecycle of investment portfolio development and management, associated with these relevant technical and soft skills, as well as the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and in multinational / multicultural working environment to support the Fund’s strategic objectives.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Investment Associate takes active part in debt and to a lesser extent equity, and structured / hybrid financing deals execution via critical screening and thorough due diligence of investment project proposals’ flow generated through business development efforts to identify sound, bankable and executable projects / transactions that meet the investment criteria and deliver the mandate of the TIF.
Under the guidance of the operation leader or more senior members of financing operation team she/he, among other duties, is accountable for:
Structuring and Execution
- Work as a project team member on financing transactions, contributing to all aspects of project structuring, negotiation (including review of legal documentation) and execution, working with client counterparts, consultants, internal units and other parties to progress the project.
- Be the primary driver of the scope and quality of project due diligence (including, but not limited to, economic, financial, commercial, technical, compliance, etc.) in line with TIF Investments Policy and Procedures.
- Prepare internal project documentation, including project appraisal reports and information memorandums, financial models, draft term sheets, presentations, etc. as and when required.
- Ensure that all investment projects / transactions under her/his responsibility are completed within the specified time frames to a high standard (including all internal Executive approval papers and Board reports) and in line with the policies, procedures and objectives of the Fund.
Investment Portfolio Management and Reporting
- Take proactive part and closely collaborate with the Portfolio Performance, Forecasting and Financial Control (PPFFC) team in effective monitoring of all investment projects within her/his responsibility.
- In close coordination with PPFFC team in charge of “Portfolio Performance Management” and respective operation leaders and Investment Manager(s) collectively in charge of “Deal Execution and Client Relationship Management” ensure timely notification and reporting of any critical portfolio issues to the management, ensuring availability of adequate data and information for the Executive Management to be able to take timely decisions.
- Ensure that monitoring / value creation plans are properly developed, clearly articulated, ensuring investments projects deliver on the TIF’s Socio-Economic Empowerment Plan (SEEP) objectives in coordination with PPFFC team.
- Ensure that signed investment commitments are executed, projects implemented, adequately monitored and managed, including the resolution of watchlist (pre-distress) cases.
Business Development
- Assist, as required, with marketing and business development efforts in the relevant sector and countries to build reputable market contacts in order to develop a strong investment projects pipeline and cross selling of the Fund’s competencies.
- Assist. As required, with the critical screening of investment project proposal flow that is generated through business development efforts, liaising with other colleagues and teams within the Fund to identify sound, bankable and executable investments that meet the mandate of the Fund.
- The responsibilities of the Investment Associate are designed to allow for the development of technical expertise and expansion of responsibilities, leading to assuming the role of a Senior Associate. In such cases, the Investment Associate’s accountabilities and responsibilities would be increased to undertake a higher role under the supervision/guidance of Investment Manager(s).
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred or equivalent experience in the areas of expertise.
- Strong academic foundation together with relevant professional experience is certainly an advantage.
- Relevant to the job, additional professional qualifications such as CFA, ACA, ACCA or CIMA are an asset.
EXPERIENCE:
- Practical experience in project and corporate finance through origination, participation in and leading investments projects / transactions through the full project life cycle ideally with institutional investors, global private investments banks, large commercial investors, multinational investors, Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) / International Financial Institutions (IFI), and/or reputable auditing / financial consulting firm operating to international standards.
- Experience in public-sector infrastructure finance gained through exposure to MDB/IFI‑style infrastructure transactions with clear understanding of ESG impact objectives is a strong asset.
- Experience in emerging markets, in particular Turkic states would be an asset.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:
Strong analytical skills, market insight, and relationship-building abilities are essential for this role and crucial in supporting the Fund’s overall investment strategy and success.
More particularly:
- Strong quantitative/numerical skills are critical with the ability to interpret financial information and to design and use sectoral financial models.
- Credit analysis skills, cost-benefit analysis and robust logical reasoning, with the ability to interpret accounts, understanding local and international accounting principles and practice of credit analysis, attention to details.
- Good understanding of syndication and co‑financing principles and other risk‑sharing mechanisms used in public and private infrastructure finance.
- Computer literacy, conversant with Microsoft Office and spread sheet packages including financial analysis and modelling modules.
- Excellent understanding of relevant investment industry systems and processes.
- Stakeholder management, relationship management and negotiation skills including effective communication and engagement with state‑owned enterprises and government‑related entities
- Good understanding of project and corporate finance fundamentals with ESG impact objectives as applied by MDBs and IFIs
- Ability to work effectively as a team member and to deadlines and under time pressure.
- Ability to develop well-structured, concise, coherent, and accurate long-form documents in professional business English.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; proficiency in other languages relevant to the Fund’s region is an asset.
- Strong customer focus; High integrity; Creative with a “can-do” attitude.
