(High Salary) Investment Executive

The Western Development Commission (WDC) is a statutory body whose role is to promote the social and economic development of the western region of Ireland. The WDC works with a range of stakeholders to support sustainable and inclusive growth in the region and has a strong track record of delivering impactful initiatives and programmes.

Culture of the WDC:

At the WDC, we are committed to creating a positive and supportive work environment where employees can thrive and make a difference. Our culture is defined by teamwork, innovation, and a deep sense of purpose. We value diversity, respect for different perspectives, and a willingness to learn and grow. If you are passionate about making a difference in the western region of Ireland and want to be part of a dynamic and collaborative team, we encourage you to apply for this role.

Western Investment Fund:

Managed by the WDC, the Western Investment Fund (WIF) provides risk capital through equity finance and loans to SMEs, Social Enterprises, and Community Groups in Ireland’s Western Region, which includes counties Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, and Roscommon. The WIF seeks both a financial return on investment and socio-economic impact for the region, operating on a self-sustaining evergreen basis. The WIF invests across a wide range of sectors and stages of a company’s lifecycle from seed to early stage to expansion/growth.

Purpose of Role:

The Investment Executive will report to the Head of Investment and, working under the guidance of the Senior Portfolio Managers, will have key responsibilities that include conducting appropriate financial and commercial due diligence of companies seeking investment and supporting the disbursal of investments. Additionally, the role involves supporting the ongoing monitoring and management of the investment portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Commercial Due Diligence and Financial Analysis

- Support the Senior Portfolio Managers with large/complex Investments.
- Conduct commercial and market due diligence, and financial analysis of funding applications.
- Prepare and present investment proposals of appropriate complexity to the role.

- Deal Structuring and Investment Disbursals

- Assist in the preparation of term sheets / deal structure.
- Support in the disbursal of investments ensuring all terms and conditions are met.
- Assist and support the Senior Portfolio Managers with the management and monitoring of a portfolio of investments and loans.
- Maintain all project information, in a timely manner, on SmartSimple, the WDC’s Investment Management Information System.
- Prepare regular reports on investments made, and in progress, and prepare various other reports relevant to the fund.
- Carry out the financial analysis of each investment as part of the WDC’s annual financial audit and support any internal audit requirements.
- Research and report on trends and opportunities to feed into WDC investment strategies and funding mechanisms.

- Marketing, Promotion and Dealflow Generation

- Deal with enquiries for funding.
- Assist in the development and implementation of a marketing and promotion strategy for the WIF.
- Generate quality dealflow, including attendance and presenting at events.

The above is not, and does not purport to be, a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post.

Knowledge & Experience:

Applicants must have the following:

- Hold an appropriate degree and / or professional qualification in accounting, business or corporate finance.
- Experience in business modelling and company valuation.
- Experience in financial due diligence and complex forecasting.
- Experience in raising finance or evaluating funding for SMEs and early-stage businesses.
- Possess strong commercial judgement and general business acumen.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent negotiation and relationship building skills.
- Possess a high degree of computer literacy.
- Exposure and expertise in a variety of sectors and an ability to become knowledgeable in a particular sector.
- Understanding and knowledge of the start-up and scaling indigenous sector.
- Understanding and knowledge of the enterprise and regional development eco-system.

For effective performance at this level, the candidate will need to demonstrate that they possess the key competencies for effective performance at Higher Executive Officer level:

- Judgment, Analysis & Decision Making.
- Management & Delivery of Results.
- Interpersonal & Communication Skills.
- Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development.
- Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values.

All appointments are subject to the Western Development Commission Act 1998 and staff must agree to the WDC Code of Business Conduct under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

The appointment will be for a full-time, fixed-term contract of four years, subject to a probationary period as specified in the employment contract. Candidates must satisfactorily complete a 6-month probationary period before the 4-year fixed-term appointment can be confirmed. Notwithstanding the above, this will not preclude an extension of the probationary contract if performance dictates the same.

Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will hold a full driving license and have access to transport as this post will involve travel nationally in support of the seven county Western Region. When absent from home and your designated office location on official duty, you will be paid accordingly.

The salary scale for this post will be equivalent to that of the Civil Service Higher Executive Officer Standard Scale:

Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) Pay Rate: The salary for this position, with effect from 1st October 2024 is as follows:

[1] After 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum.

[2] After 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum.

Please note: The starting salary for the person appointed to this post will be the first point on the above scale unless the successful application has previous public sector experience as per circular 08/2019.

Remote First:

At the WDC, we follow the Government’s / our parent Department’s guidance in extending remote working to all employees. In order to provide flexibility and opportunities for dynamic collaboration and work / life balance, we believe in harnessing technology to drive innovation and maximize efficiency, empowering our team to thrive in a flexible work environment. We promote in-person collaboration and attendance at our offices located in Sligo, Galway, Letterkenny and Ballaghaderreen, when it is required or warranted. New staff or those on probation may initially work on-site more frequently until completing role induction, as decided by their manager or the CEO.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

How to Apply:

- Please specify the position you are applying for in the email subject line (i.e. Investment Executive); if you are applying for multiple roles, list your preferences in the cover letter. If no preference is stated, we will decide the best fit based on the details supplied in your application.
- As part of the application process, you will be required to submit the following documentation:
- a) A comprehensive CV detailed as relevant to the position (no longer than three pages).
- b) A short cover letter/ personal statement (no more than one page) outlining why you wish to be considered for the post and where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements for the position.
- We request that both documents are submitted in a single Word document or PDF where possible.

Please note that omission of any or part of the two requested documents, as set out above, will render the application incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered for the next stage of the selection process.

If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within two working days of applying, please email info@wdc.ie.

Closing Date:

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 5th February 2025 at 12pm.

First-round interviews for the position will be held during the week commencing 17th February 2025 with second-round interviews scheduled for the week commencing 24th February 2025.

The WDC is an equal opportunities employer

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