Investment Associate
Description
ISP Investment Associate Role Profile
Purpose of Role
The Investment and Partnerships team is responsible for acquiring and building schools globally. This is a fast-paced team working across global time-zones to grow our family of schools.
The Investment Associate will be located in London, UK, directly supporting the Group Chief Investment Officer and working alongside other Investment Associates in supporting our investment efforts. The team is extremely collegiate in approach and this individual will be expected to work across numerous cultures and geographies. Close collaboration with Investment Directors and Associate Directors who work across the globe to grow ISP’s platform. The successful candidate will be at the centre of our fast-paced team, and will be responsible for assisting with the sourcing, evaluating, negotiating and structuring of potential deals.
ISP Principles
Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.
Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.
Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.
Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.
Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.
ISP Investment Associate Key Responsibilities
They will be a fast learner who is agile, able to adapt quickly and successfully to an ever-changing list of demands. A strong work ethic, positive attitude and commitment to be at their best professionally are all key qualities.
Great communication skills are essential in this role, which will involve deal origination and transaction management. Experience in excel and modelling skills are key.
Progression within the team and the company is well mapped and varied.
- Developing market knowledge and identifying potential acquisitions of individual assets or groups
- Interpreting financial reports and creating financial models to build an investment case
- Writing investment reports for the Senior Management Team and Board
- Transaction management: interaction with the Group Heads of M&A, Legal and Tax to ensure deals are managed efficiently
- Managing the approach to acquisition: identifying targets and liaising directly with business / school owners
- Identifying schools’ attributes and owners; initial diligence
- Engaging with prospective schools, creating a setting for a successful approach
- Developing relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external
- Collaborating with and supporting Investment Directors by creating schedules of meetings with relevant stakeholder and helping with the preparation for these meetings.
- Maintaining the proprietary database of schools to ensure seamless cross team working
Additional responsibilities
- Writing and updating market macro-research and mapping reports
- Collaborating with advisors on demographic and socio-economic analysis
- Supporting the team with any necessary research and data that informs the decision-making process throughout the transaction with input to investment reports, risks and regulation reports and other ad-hoc requirements
- Drafting reports on specific topics and geographies based on own research and using clear referencing system
- Responsibility for financial modelling to support new build projects and acquisitions
- Support the preparation and review of transactional documents, including non-disclosure agreements, and letters of intent.
Skills, Qualifications and Experience
- University degree level minimum
- Professional qualification such as CFA, ACA or similar preferred
- 2-4 years+ experience in a commercial or professional services environment
- Collegiate team focus
- Commercial acumen, and ability to understand business drivers
- Advanced financial or legal understanding
- Excellent research and analytical skills
- Confident, articulate communicator and presenter
- Personable and a successful networker and persuader
- Ability to manage own priorities and work independently
- Self-starter, motivated to succeed, able to deal effectively with ambiguity
- Familiarity with the education sector would be an asset
ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles
ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.
ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.