Associate, Fund Management

THE ROLE

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a broad depth of knowledge in the solar energy space.  This opportunity engages virtually all aspects of Investment Management and Asset Management - it’s a broad finance role with extensive exposure to all outsource providers (including WiseEnergy) for all four funds.

This is a great opportunity to join a lively, challenging, international and strongly multi-cultural organization in the high growth industry. You will join as an Associate and report into the Head of Fund Management.

The role offers the opportunity to grow your skill set between fund management, valuation, debt capital markets and financial modelling. You will be given as much responsibility as you can handle. NextEnergy Capital is looking to double its AUM by 2028, therefore the environment is fast paced, fun, progressive and a place to grow.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

You will manage many diverse tasks across all current, and future funds, including:

• Support the quarterly fund DCF valuation process.
  • Verifying key changes in assumptions.
  • Assisting with updating the fund financial models.
• Undertake financial analysis of scenarios on models for strategic plans for the Funds under Management.
• Present to the Fund’s independent board results of analytical work on strategic plans and ideas.
• Input into strategy planning, financial planning and assessment of capital allocation projects for the Funds.
• Manage team of Analysts to co-ordinate quarterly reporting and financial planning analysis on Listed and Private Equity Funds.
• Liaise with M&A and Debt Management teams to maintain cash flow forecasting models.
• Deliver annual, semi-annual and quarterly results reports and presentations for all funds.
• Undertake competitor analysis, monitor solar sector market developments and decipher macro-economic/regulatory trends impacting the renewables industry.
• Ongoing and direct work with the Fund’s administrators on compliance and listed Fund Board management.
• Collaborate closely with the Investor Relations team to provide analytical support and contribute to due diligence processes for both prospective and existing investors.
• Oversee and manage business-wide databases, ensuring data integrity and consistency to support a reliable single source of truth across the organization
• Complete other ad hoc strategic projects as required for Head of Fund Management, CIO & UK Investment Director.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Time management & prioritization skills - things can get a little hectic, so the ability to effectively manage yourself and your workload is critical.
• Excellent communication skills (in English or/and other European languages) - you must be able to organize your thoughts in a way that others find clear and compelling. You will be expected to together well-written, grammatically correct emails and other communications. When communicating verbally – whether over the phone, on video calls, in person or in meetings – you will need to be articulate, warm and engaging.
• Flexibility - being an effective team player means being flexible in your approach and open to getting involved with new things, even if they are not spelled out in your job description.
• Intellectual Curiosity – Fund Management is a broad and nuanced field and we are looking for someone who is truly interested in our profession and has the intellectual curiosity to delve deep into topics and bring fresh ideas into the team.
• IT Literacy - you need to be comfortable with IT systems and working with data (you should have at least intermediate-level excel).
• Delivery focus – it may sound obvious, but the ability to proactively churn through work at pace and deliver quality outputs really matters!
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Passion for our mission ‘to generate a more sustainable future by leading the transition to clean energy.
• Our values: be a leader, build trust, be responsible, be innovative and ‘bring your alpha’.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS 

• CFA qualification preferred but not essential.
• Have some sound professional experience, ideally in an infrastructure or energy finance role within an investment bank, corporate, advisory or investment fund.
• Have a relevant BSc degree or equivalent – a background in finance, economics, engineering or numerical degree would be favorable.
• Have solid quantitative and analytical skills.
• Have excellent excel capabilities.
• Have finance and accounting knowledge - CFA stage or other certifications would be viewed favorably.

WHAT WE OFFER (UK) 

• A busy role in a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to learn.
• International scope – we operate in over 8 countries.
• Hybrid working – we will need you in the central London (Mayfair) office at least twice a week, but you will normally be able to work remotely for the remainder of the week.
• 30 days’ holiday per year (3 of which are taken during the festive shutdown in December).
• Private pension.
• BUPA Healthcare for you and qualifying dependents.
• Cycle to work and electric vehicle leasing schemes.
• Annual discretionary bonus.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in this opportunity, please follow the link to apply or send your application to careers@nextenergygroup.com. If you have been shortlisted for the next stage, we will be in contact within 14 days.

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is a natural extension of our values. Our entrepreneurial culture inspires us to try new things, be open to different viewpoints and be bold. Our Group is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of connectedness that values difference and gives space for individual expression. The collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent and hard work form the bedrock of who we are and who we aspire to be.

We are committed to equal employment and advancement opportunity irrespective of race, color, ancestry, social background, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity.

ABOUT US 

NextEnergy Group was founded in 2007 to become a leading market participant in the international solar sector.  Since its inception, it has been active in the development, construction, and ownership of solar assets across multiple jurisdictions.  NextEnergy Group operates via its three business units: NextEnergy Capital (Investment Management), WiseEnergy (Operating Asset Management), and Starlight (Asset Development).

NextEnergy Capital manages the Group's investment activities and has invested in over 520 solar plants, exceeding 2GW in capacity across its institutional funds.

• NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF): Listed on the London Stock Exchange, NESF manages 102 solar and energy storage assets in the UK and Italy, with a total installed capacity of 983MW and a gross asset value of £1,014m.
• NextPower II (NPII): A private fund of 105 solar plants (149MW) focused on Italy, successfully divested in January 2022, delivering net IRRs exceeding its 10-12% target.
• NextPower III ESG (NPIII ESG): A private fund targeting solar infrastructure in OECD countries (e.g., US, Spain, Italy), with $896m raised, exceeding its $750m target.
• NextPower UK ESG (NPUK ESG): A private fund dedicated to new-build solar plants in the UK, with ~£600m raised.
• NextPower V ESG (NPV ESG): A private OECD solar fund investing in solar and adjacent technologies like battery storage. To date, it has raised $745m, targeting $1.5bn ($2bn ceiling).

WiseEnergy® is NextEnergy Group’s operating asset manager.  WiseEnergy is a leading specialist operating asset manager in the solar sector.  Since its founding, WiseEnergy has provided solar asset management, monitoring, technical due diligence and under construction services to over 1,500 utility-scale solar power plants with an installed total capacity in excess of 3.4 GW.  WiseEnergy clients comprise leading banks and equity financiers in the energy and infrastructure sector. 

Starlight is NextEnergy Group’s development company that is active in the development phase of solar projects.  It has developed over 100 utility-scale projects internationally and continues to progress a large pipeline of c.10GW of both green and brownfield project developments across global geographies.

NextSTEP is the venture capital fund of NextEnergy Group, dedicated to investing in innovative startups in the field of environmental sustainability. The fund primarily focuses on investments in Italy and the United Kingdom but also extends its reach to the rest of Europe and the United States, targeting startups in the pre-seed and seed stages. NextSTEP pays particular attention to emerging entities from incubators, startup accelerators, universities, and research centers, supporting projects that address global challenges in crucial areas such as Climate Change, Energy Transition, CO2 Capture and Sequestration, Circular Economy, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Fashion, Waste Management, Water and much more.

NextEnergy Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016 by the NextEnergy Group that operates internationally and whose mission is to proactively participate in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions by providing clean energy sources in regions where they are not yet available and thereby contributing to poverty reduction. As the main sponsor of this foundation, the NextEnergy Group donates at least 5% of its consolidated net profits each year. The NextEnergy Foundation has no overhead costs and therefore 100% of the funds raised go to donations for the various projects. Since 2016, in 8 years of operation the foundation has donated more than £1.2 million, supporting over 30 projects in 27 different countries around the world.