Investment Associate - SME Buyouts

Profile:

We are looking for an Investment Associate to join our growing investment team focused on SME buyouts across Europe. This role is designed for someone who wants to be involved in transactions, take ownership early, and work directly with senior decision-makers.

Role Description:

You will play a hands-on role across live deals, with real responsibility over core workstreams such as financial modelling, due diligence, and investment materials. You will work closely with our Chief Investment Officer, Operating Partners, management teams, and external advisors throughout the full investment lifecycle.

This is not a passive or purely analytical role, it is a high-ownership, execution-focused position for someone who wants to build deals, not just analyse them.

Responsibilities:

·       Act as primary day-to-day owner of transactions, coordinating all parties and ensuring timely, transparent communication

·       Screen inbound and proprietary investment opportunities and act as a sounding board for Operating Partners

·       Conduct market research and commercial due diligence, including industry analysis and competitive positioning

·       Take full ownership of financial models, including valuation, scenario analysis, and sensitivity analysis

·       Draft and contribute to investment memoranda and transaction documentation

·       Participate directly in management meetings, as well as interactions with brokers, advisors, and other sell-side stakeholders

·       Support due diligence processes across financial, commercial, legal, and operational workstreams

Scope of work:

·       Transaction ownership & execution

·       Financial modelling & valuation

·       Commercial and market due diligence

·       Investment documentation & IC materials

·       Stakeholder coordination (internal & external)

·       Exposure to deal sourcing and origination discussions

·       2–3 years of experience in:

·       Demonstrated hands-on deal experience, ideally including buyout transactions

·       Buy-side private equity experience is a plus, but strong sell-side profiles are equally considered

Other attributes:

·       Strong understanding of corporate finance and accounting (including time value of money)

·       Solid grasp of business law and transaction structures across different jurisdictions

·       Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills, able to build models independently and confidently

Personal Attributes:

·       Sharp, fast, and highly execution-oriented

·       Strong interpersonal skills, comfortable working with Operating Partners, management teams, and sellers

·       Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong sense of ownership

·       Reliable, proactive, and comfortable taking responsibility

·       Culturally aligned with a hands-on, high-trust investment team

Education:

·       Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree a plus)

·       Education in finance, economics, accounting, or a related field

Languages:

·       English C1

·       Fluent in German, French or Polish preferred