Research Analyst

KEY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Research & Market Intelligence

• Monitor macroeconomic trends, market developments, and corporate actions of listed and unlisted companies across the investment universe.
• Forecast short- and long-term macroeconomic indicators (GDP, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates), industry dynamics, and company-specific financial metrics with clearly articulated performance drivers.
• Gather and synthesise market intelligence from primary and secondary sources to support client fund management decisions.
• Review earnings releases, financial statements, and regulatory disclosures; attend analyst briefings and company management meetings.

Financial Modelling & Valuation

• Build, maintain, and stress-test detailed valuation models (DCF, DDM, relative valuation, credit models) for equity and fixed-income instruments.
• Assess the sensitivity of valuations to changes in key assumptions and macro drivers; communicate findings clearly to the Portfolio Manager and Investment Committee.
• Conduct credit risk assessments for fixed-income instruments, including analysis of issuer financials, covenant structures, and default risk.

Investment Recommendations & Portfolio Support

• Produce well-reasoned investment recommendations across equities, fixed income, private equity, offshore, and alternative asset classes for presentation to the Investment Committee.
• Contribute to asset allocation strategy by developing model portfolio recommendations aligned with client mandates and risk parameters.
• Monitor existing portfolio holdings and flag material developments that may necessitate position review.

Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Develop and maintain professional relationships with stockbrokers, sell-side analysts, company management teams, and other market participants.
• Prepare and present research reports, investment notes, and client-facing materials to a high standard of clarity and accuracy.
• Support periodic client reporting on fund performance, attribution, and market commentary.
• Provide fund administration support on an ad-hoc basis and perform any other duties as assigned.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Quality, depth, and timeliness of investment research and models.
• Track record of investment recommendations presented to the Investment Committee.
• Accuracy of financial forecasts versus actual outturns.
• Contribution to portfolio performance relative to benchmark.
• Stakeholder feedback from Portfolio Manager and Investment Committee.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Investment Analysis, Actuarial Science, or Commerce (with a finance focus). A master’s degree (MBA or MSc Finance) will be an added advantage.

JOB SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in financial modelling and valuation (DCF, comparables, fixed-income analytics).
• Strong command of Excel; experience with Bloomberg, Reuters, or similar financial data platforms is advantageous.
• Familiarity with portfolio management and performance attribution systems.
• Sound knowledge of East African and broader African capital markets, regulatory environment, and macroeconomic dynamics.

Behavioural Competencies

• Analytical rigour: ability to process complex, multi-source information and distil it into clear, evidence-based conclusions.
• Communication: strong written and verbal skills; able to present investment ideas persuasively to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Intellectual curiosity: proactive in keeping abreast of market developments, emerging industries, and new analytical techniques.
• Integrity and ethics: high personal standards and strict adherence to regulatory requirements and company policies.
• Collaboration: team-oriented, yet capable of working independently and managing multiple priorities under time pressure.
• Attention to detail: meticulous in model-building, report preparation, and data validation.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Progress toward or completion of the CFA designation is strongly preferred.
• CISI, ACI, or other relevant capital markets certifications are an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 2 years; relevant experience in investment research, buy-side or sell-side analysis, portfolio management support, or a closely related financial services role.
• Demonstrated experience building financial models and producing written investment research.
• Exposure to East African capital markets will be a significant advantage.