Investment Manager

Location: Kampala, Uganda
Job Type: Full-time (Hybrid)
Industry: Private Equity / Financial Services / Impact Investing
Reports To: Managing Director (CIO)

About Inua Capital

Inua Capital manages impact investment funds that invest in high-potential entrepreneurs and SMEs across all sectors in Uganda. Inua is known for its strategic acumen, operational expertise, and a strong track record of delivering value to portfolio companies.

Inua has a portfolio of 10 investments across its 2 managed funds and will look to make up to a further 25 equity, quasi-equity and debt investments into high-growth SMEs over the next decade. For more information, visit www.inuacapital.com.

Role Summary

Inua Capital is looking to bring onboard an Investment Manager who will play a leading role in originating, evaluating, executing, and managing investments across the Fund’s target sectors and strategies. The role requires strong commercial judgment, transaction execution capability, portfolio management experience, and the ability to collaborate effectively with entrepreneurs, senior management teams, investors, and advisors.

The role holder will have seniority and management responsibility within Inua’s investment team and will serve as a strategic partner to the Managing Director in implementing the Fund’s investment program and mentoring junior members of the Fund’s investment team. The successful candidate will contribute materially to the Fund’s investment performance, strategic development, and institutional credibility.

The ideal candidate will have proven finance and investment experience, a strong executive presence, a passion for entrepreneurship and small and growing businesses, demonstrable experience in leading teams and nurturing young talent, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to operate and lead effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Main Responsibilities

Investment Origination & Pipeline Development

• Identify, source, and develop high-quality investment opportunities aligned with the Fund’s impact and investment strategy, return objectives and sector focus
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of proprietarily sourced opportunities
• Develop and manage relationships with entrepreneurs/company founders, market intermediaries and ESOs, and other market participants
• Develop and maintain strong market intelligence on relevant industries, competitive dynamics, macroeconomic trends, and emerging investment themes
• Represent Inua at industry events, conferences, networking forums, and stakeholder engagements

Investment Screening & Evaluation

• Conduct preliminary screening and commercial assessment of potential investment opportunities
• Take the lead and moderate the discussions in monthly pipeline and screening meetings
• Evaluate the attractiveness of investment prospects through detailed analysis of business models, market positioning, competitive advantage, management quality, operational scalability, financial performance, socioeconomic impact, and GDEI and ESG factors, and overall footprint
• Identify and assess investment risks (financial, operational, legal, reputational, ESG and market)
• Design optimal financial structuring for prospective transactions
• Lead financial modelling, valuation, and returns analysis for prospective transactions
• Develop investment theses and assess alignment with the Fund’s risk-return-impact expectations
• Coordinate and manage internal investment review processes and workflows

Transaction Execution

• Lead end-to-end execution of investments from initial evaluation through to deal closure
• Own and manage key transaction workstreams including investment memoranda preparation, investment committee presentation, due diligence, valuation, structuring, negotiations, legal documentation, and closing processes
• Coordinate external advisors including legal counsel, financial advisors, commercial due diligence providers, tax advisors, ESG consultants, and technical specialists
• Negotiate commercial terms and transaction structures to achieve mutually-beneficial deal terms
• Prepare high-quality investment memoranda and investment committee papers with exceptional attention to detail
• Ensure transactions are executed in compliance with Fund policies, governance frameworks, regulatory requirements, and investment mandates

Portfolio Management & Value Creation

• Monitor and manage portfolio company performance against original investment case and KPIs
• Work closely with management teams of portfolio companies to support operational and ESG improvement, strategic growth initiatives, financial discipline, and organisational development
• Identify and drive value creation opportunities including revenue growth initiatives, operational efficiency improvements, margin enhancement, capital optimisation, governance strengthening, and digital, technology-enabled, and/or operational transformation initiatives
• Request and analyse periodic financial and operational reporting from portfolio companies, paying special attention to accuracy and emerging risks and opportunities
• Participate in portfolio company boards and governance structures, and play a mentorship role
• Assist investees with strategic planning, budgeting, financial restructuring and growth initiatives
• Support implementation and monitoring of ESG Action Plans throughout the investment’s life
• Present accurate and insightful portfolio company updates in monthly portfolio review meetings
• Prepare semi-annual valuations on all portfolio companies for which you are investment/deal lead
• Support investor reporting requirements incl. quarterly reporting, annual reporting, fundraising materials and ad hoc investor requests
• Maintain up-to-date, accurate and verified data and information on managed portfolio companies

Exit Planning & Realisation

• Develop and continuously assess exit strategies and opportunities for portfolio investments
• Manage exit preparation processes including vendor due diligence, financial readiness, valuation positioning, and buyer engagement
• Coordinate advisors and stakeholders throughout exit processes and execute timely exits that maximise investment returns

Risk Management, Governance & Compliance

• Adhere to all internal policies and procedure manuals in performing firm work
• Ensure all investments adhere to internal controls, governance standards, regulatory requirements, and fiduciary obligations
• Report all Serious Incidents with portfolio companies and at work within 24 hours
• Ensure timely escalation of material risks, underperformance issues and governance concerns
• Contribute to strengthening investment processes, policies, and institutional best practices

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Help build and train our small investment team, inclusive of mentoring and supporting junior team members on technical and strategic aspects of the investment process
• Provide guidance on deal analysis, financial modelling, due diligence, transaction execution and investment writing
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative and intellectually rigorous team culture
• Work closely with the MD/CIO on strategic initiatives, portfolio matters, and firm development
• Contribute to talent development, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement at Inua

Strategic & Firmwide Contributions

• Support and participate in fundraising efforts, investor engagement, and industry conferences and events (and support on the preparation of marketing materials for these, where required)
• Contribute to the elevation of Inua’s reputation, market positioning and institutional relationships
• Add value to strategic company initiatives including new fund development, market expansion, product innovation, and platform enhancement
• Assist in developing internal investment frameworks, sector strategies, and operational processes to improve execution quality and scalability
• Share some responsibility in the management of the day-to-day operations of the Fund
• Take responsibility to maintain relevant stakeholder relationships and networks, when assigned
• Take a lead on portfolio’s gender, environmental, social, governance and developmental impact

Requirements

The role requires the following experience:

1. At least 6 years’ experience in East African private equity, private equity, impact investing, venture capital, strategy consulting, and/or SME growth and development
2. Demonstrable track record of working hands-on with SMEs, preferably across a number of sectors
3. Highly numerate with strong financial modelling skills and familiarity with various financial structures
4. Exceptional communication skills and exacting attention to detail
5. Proven leadership and people management skills, coupled with an executive presence
6. A culture champion with a high level of integrity and professionalism and a penchant for teamwork
7. Strong motivation to grow with and lead in a growing investment firm of high repute, and an inclination to grow into a continental leader in the African private investment ecosystem

Performance Expectations

The Investment Manager will be expected to:

1. Demonstrate strong investment judgment and commercial acumen
2. Deliver high-quality investment analysis and transaction execution
3. Contribute meaningfully to portfolio value creation and fund returns
4. Operate with the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and fiduciary duty
5. Participate in stakeholder management and build trusted relationships internally and externally
6. Effectively manage multiple transactions and priorities in a fast-paced environment

What Inua Offers

1. Competitive compensation structure
2. Comprehensive medical insurance and pension contributions (NSSF)
3. Dynamic, high-performance work environment with a strong culture of excellence

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