Vacancies at ARM Life

Job Summary

• ARM Agribusiness Fund Managers Limited (AAFML) seeks a highly analytical and driven Investment Analyst/Associate to support its private equity activities in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors. The role requires executing in-depth financial and strategic analyses to facilitate informed investment decisions, encompassing market research, valuation, due diligence, portfolio management, and fundraising support. The successful candidate will have strong quantitative and qualitative skills, a passion for private equity, and the ability to work independently as well as collaborate within a dynamic team.

Job Details

Investment Execution & Business Management:

• Develop and maintain investment, valuation, and asset management frameworks.
• Position AAFML as a premier partner for agribusiness investments across West Africa through networking, conferences, and presentations.
• Identify and propose potential investment opportunities via market research and networks.
• Perform thorough due diligence, covering financial, operational, legal, and commercial aspects.
• Provide risk assessments and recommend mitigation strategies to the Investment Committee.

Investment Analysis & Execution:

• Conduct financial analyses using methodologies such as DCF, comparable company analysis, and precedent transactions to evaluate investment opportunities.
• Prepare investment memoranda, financial models, and presentations for decision-making by the Investment Committee and senior management.
• Assist in all phases of the deal lifecycle, including origination, structuring, execution, and portfolio monitoring.

Financial Modeling & Valuation:

• Build dynamic financial models to evaluate investment opportunities and continuously assess portfolio companies.
• Conduct scenario analyses and sensitivity testing to model potential risks and returns.
• Structure financing options, including leverage and capital markets strategies, to optimize deal structures.

Due Diligence:

• Lead comprehensive due diligence processes, coordinating with external advisors (legal, tax, accounting) to evaluate investment risks and opportunities.
• Conduct site visits, engage in management interviews, and participate in negotiations with portfolio companies.

Market & Sector Research:

• Perform detailed market research and competitive analysis within the agribusiness sector to identify investment trends and growth opportunities.
• Analyze macroeconomic factors, regulatory changes, and market conditions that may impact investment strategies or portfolio performance.
• Provide data-driven insights to inform investment and portfolio management decisions.

Fundraising Support:

• Support fundraising initiatives by preparing detailed investment decks, presentations, and reports for potential investors.
• Assist in managing investor relations by coordinating communications, updates, and meetings with prospective and current investors.
• Conduct research to identify potential Limited Partners (LPs) and Co-General Partners (Co-GPs), focusing on high-net-worth individuals, institutional investors, and development finance institutions.
• Work closely with senior management to track fundraising progress, manage investor pipelines, and ensure timely follow-ups with interested parties.
• Contribute to the development of strategies to address investor concerns related to market conditions, regulatory environments, and investment performance.

Transaction Structuring & Negotiation:

• Assist in structuring equity, mezzanine, and debt financings.
• Participate in negotiating key deal terms such as valuation, shareholder agreements, covenants, and performance metrics.
• Evaluate capital structures and recommend optimal financing strategies for investment deals.

Portfolio Management & Value Creation:

• Monitor and support portfolio companies, providing updates on financial and operational performance.
• Work with management teams to identify value creation opportunities, including operational improvements and market expansion strategies.
• Assist in preparing portfolio companies for exits through sales, IPOs, or other liquidity events.

Risk Management:

• Identify financial, operational, legal, and market risks associated with investments.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies, ensuring senior leadership is informed of key risks.
• Regularly assess portfolio companies’ performance and risk profiles to ensure alignment with the fund’s objectives.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Provide updates, analysis, and performance reports to Limited Partners (LPs) and Co-General Partners (Co-GPs).
• Cultivate relationships with advisors, service providers, and other stakeholders critical to executing deals and managing investments.
• Prepare investor presentations, quarterly reports, and performance reviews for external stakeholders.

Team Collaboration & Development:

• Collaborate closely with senior investment professionals, supporting decision-making and deal execution.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior analysts, contributing to their professional development.
• Participate in strategic discussions regarding sector focus and potential new investment opportunities.

Requirements

Experience: 

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, corporate finance, or related roles within banking or asset management. Experience in agribusiness or related sectors is highly desirable.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s degree or advanced professional qualification (e.g., MBA, CFA, CAIA, ACCA) preferred.

Teamwork & Independence:

• Capable of working autonomously on assigned tasks while also being an effective, collaborative team member.

Financial & Analytical Skills:

• Proven experience with financial modeling, valuation methodologies (DCF, LBO, transaction comps), and financial analysis.
• Ability to analyze complex data and synthesize findings into actionable insights.

Private Equity/Investment Skills:

• Deep understanding of private equity transaction structures and due diligence processes.
• Hands-on experience managing the investment lifecycle from origination to execution and portfolio management.

Communication & Presentation Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create high-quality investment memoranda and present to senior leadership.

Attention to Detail & Problem Solving:

• Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with the ability to identify key issues and propose practical solutions.

Preferred Attributes:

• Sector Expertise: Strong interest in and knowledge of the agribusiness value chain, market trends, and investment dynamics.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient in financial analysis tools, Excel, PowerPoint, and financial databases like Bloomberg, Capital IQ, or FactSet.
• Commitment to Excellence: High work ethic, proactive attitude, and ability to meet deadlines with high-quality outputs.
• Regional Knowledge: Familiarity with West Africa’s political, regulatory, and economic environments, especially in agribusiness.
• Ethical Standards: A commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in business dealings.

Job Title: Team Member, Internal Audit

Job Summary

• Responsible for supporting the Internal Audit function in the delivery of the Group’s internal audit strategy and plan and ensuring compliance with established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Fostering a conscious control environment within the company by providing timely and reliable assurance on corporate governance, risk and controls.

Job Details

• Adhere to documented Internal Audit methodology, policies and procedures.
• Assist in the development of the annual Internal Audit plan.
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of the business being audited through proper documentation of the planning documents and completion of a comprehensive audit work program for assigned audits.
• Evaluate the adequacy of process design and the effectiveness of controls in meeting business and control objectives.
• Perform and complete assigned audits within specified timelines, in compliance with IIA professional standards.
• Ensure timely and adequate documentation of audit work papers and all other support documents, in line with the Unit’s approved frameworks and auditing standards.
• Recommend process improvement in line with IIA standards and methodology, to help drive achievement of the organisation’s strategic objectives.
• Comprehensive assessment of digital initiatives and biannual review and update of status of these initiatives.
• Propose practical and value-added recommendations to address control weaknesses and/or process inefficiencies.
• Ensure clarity, completeness, and timeliness of audit reports by comprehensively reflecting root causes of exceptions, providing apt, SMART recommendations, and ensure report issuance within agreed timelines in the engagement letter.
• Participate in closing meetings with client at the end of fieldwork, providing clear explanations for identified issues.

Requirements

• Good interpersonal skills with a proven ability to communicate effectively (both written and verbal) with all levels within the organization.
• Capable of working independently and with minimum supervision.
• Depth of knowledge in auditing standards, procedures, and related techniques.
• Strong working knowledge of information technology and its implications on business operations
• Logical approach to identifying and evaluating issues and problem solving.
• Knowledge of data analytical methodologies and tool
• Well-developed organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple assignments.
• Awareness of the need for confidentially in sensitive matters.
• Demonstrated job commitment and personal flexibility to meet changing expectations.

Job Title: Team Member, Retail Sales 

Job Summary

• The Team Member, Retail Sales is expected to apply pro-active, methodical, and innovative working practices to identify and develop renewable business opportunities, create, and maintain strong client relationships, market, and sell a range of financial products whilst providing best advice and a quality service

Job Details

• Market and sell a range of financial products whilst providing best advice and a quality service.
• Execute business development strategies to attract and acquire new clients and manage existing relationships.
• Analyze clients’ financial needs, goals, sensitivity to risk and investment horizon.
• Advise clients regarding the advantages and disadvantages of different investment strategies.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

• Sound knowledge of investment products and markets and ability to apply this knowledge
• Experience in retail financial services and a proven track record in a Sales or target driven environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively uncover and resolve complex customer and employee issues.
• Excellent communication skills, common sense, and an empathetic ear
• Relationship management skills.

Experience

• Minimum of 1-4 years of relevant work experience with a strong track record of sales or business development

Job Title: Team Lead, Retail Sales 

Job Summary

• The Position Holder is responsible for effectively leading, managing and coordinating both the resources and activities of the IM retail sales team with the aim of ensuring optimal service delivery, lead generation, conversion, customer engagement and business growth.

Job Details

• Developing Strategies for Growth: Develop strategies to drive business growth by aligning with the overall group strategic imperatives.
• Business Revenue Growth: Implement sales strategies aimed at enhancing revenue generation for the business.
• Relationship Management: Proactively manage the firm’s relationship with the firm’s retail clientele base by constantly seeking for avenues to create value beyond clients’ immediate requests, acting as a seasoned independent adviser on complex client problems, and formulating strategies and processes to evaluate emerging and longer-term opportunities and threats to meeting clients’ needs.
• Prospecting of New Business Opportunities: Develop and maintain positive relations with prospective clients through the sales funnel by proactively driving cross-selling opportunities across all regions and business subsidiaries.
• Business Pitches / Proposals: Prepare detailed high-quality pitch documents and proposals, for the purpose of soliciting business from both local and international retail clients and prospects and supporting private investors in making investment decisions and entrusting the firm with their investments.
• Proactively Manage Performance of Sales Team: Track operative performance of Sales Team to ensure maximum business output.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university

Experience 

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience with a strong track record of sales or business development. (with experience in a leadership position over the last 3years).

Job Title: Junior Vegetable Agronomist, RFL

Job Summary

• Responsible for crop monitoring and supervision of various aspects of vegetables crops production (cultivation cycle, nursery operations, seedlings transplant, irrigation, fertigation/fertilization, diseases and weed control and harvesting).
• Optimize crop management practices.
• Supervision of the farm workers and daily team talk with farm workers and assign tasks to them.
• Assessment of the daily tasks given to the farm workers and ensure the day’s targets are achieved. Coordinate production activities for vegetables and fruits.

Job Details

Ensure daily team talk and assign tasks to the farm workers.

• Daily supervision of the farm workers ensuring the days targets are achieved.
• Increase nursery productivity through optimized seed selection and care.
• Efficiently plan and execute timely transplanting procedures to avoid overgrown seedlings in the nursery, and if for any reason beyond her/his control there are, keep them at the lowest possible level by ensuring timely pre-transplanting operations and subsequently transplant them.
• Ensure high seedling survival rates before and after transplanting, keeping mortality rate to as low as 2-3%.
• Monitor the quality of transplanted crops/crops under cultivation and provide daily reports to the senior agronomist.
• Provide daily problem-solving on the field under the supervision of the senior agronomist. Implement a water usage monitoring system.

Requirements

Behavioral

• Analytical Thinking
• Result Orientation
• Problem Solving / Entrepreneurship
• Intercultural Competence
• Relationship Building for Influence
• Effective Communication
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Strong organizational skills

Technical

Extensive knowledge of all facets of medium to large scale irrigated and mechanized commercial vegetables and fruits agribusiness, including but not limited to:

•  Bush clearing
•  Land preparation
•  Seedling production
•  Irrigated vegetable crop production
•  Rainfed vegetable crop production
•  Farm Record Keeping
•  Vegetable harvesting and post-harvest handling

Education

• Applicable academic certifications in fields such as Horticulture, Agronomy, Plant Science etc.
• Additional vocational qualification in fresh vegetable crop production will be an advantage.

Experience

•  Minimum of 2 years extensive experience in practical medium to large-scale commercial vegetables and fruits agribusiness operations across Sub-
• Saharan Africa especially Nigeria or similar economies.
• Practical knowledge in intensive vegetables and fruits production systems in line with approved plans.