Lirio Fund Andes - Loan Officer

at  NESsT Inc

Organization Profile:
NESsT is an international non-profit organization with offices in Latin America and Europe. NESsT invests in social enterprises (“SE”) that generate dignified jobs for people most in need. We use an engaged approach providing tailored financing and one-on-one business development support to social entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Through their businesses, social entrepreneurs empower people in their communities with the hard and soft skills, technology and ongoing support they need to improve their livelihoods and create dignified futures. Find out more about NESsT: www.nesst.org
NESsT currently manages the NESsT Lirio Fund, a loan fund that is actively investing in social enterprises looking to raise capital from $50K to $500K. They are typically companies with annual turnover under $10M working with vulnerable communities (smallholder farmers, at-risk youth, vulnerable women). They often need assistance bolstering their financial management capabilities, corporate governance and/or impact traceability.
The Lirio fund provides senior, secured debt and mezzanine to companies that are profitable and looking to scale their operations to have a stronger and more sustainable social impact. The Lirio Fund Andes team is based in Lima, Peru with activities in Peru, Colombia and looking to grow and into other Spanish speakers’ countries in South America in the next few years. In 2024 the Lirio fund started operations in Brazil.
Position Overview:
NESsT is currently looking for a Loan Officer (“LO”) to help and support the Lirio Fund Andes team. They will be active in all areas of the fund. They will be mainly focused in the evaluation of opportunities, manage the due diligence process, close the legal contracts and bring companies into the NESsT portfolio. Additionally, they will support in originating new opportunities to help grow the pipeline. We are hiring for a full-time position that will have a three-month trial period.
The position will report to the Lirio Fund Andes Director located in Lima and will be actively working and directly leading the work of the Loan Associates in the fund. The position is based in Lima, Peru or in Bogota, Colombia; with potential travels to other cities in Peru and Colombia.

Key Duties & Responsibilities: Sourcing, Underwriting and Closing Transactions

• Generate leads and investment opportunities using their existing network and leveraging the network of NESsT.
• Analyse and perform due diligence on SEs’ financial status, credit, and property evaluations to determine feasibility of granting loans. Due diligence is performed by conducting extensive interviews with company management, lenders/investors, clients, employees and suppliers, as well as sector experts; and by performing market analysis of the company’s sector.
• Building investment memos to present to the Credit Committee at all three stages of underwriting (L1 – introductory memo, L2 – deep dive commercial diligence and term sheet, L3 – final confirmatory diligence and legal closing).
• Build, manage, and own the loan finance model for each transaction: Incorporate projections provided by management teams into underwriting financial model; Develop and run scenarios and sensitivities for downside cases to stress test management cases.
• Discuss the documents and analysis performed on the SEs with Fund Director.
• Participate in Credit Committee meetings to present, and seek approval for, loan deals.
• Highlight identified risks and make risk mitigation strategy recommendations including the proposal of conditions and covenants.
• Provide business assistance (during due diligence) to entrepreneurs to help them qualify for NESsT loans. This may include assisting them in building financial statements and models, helping them to refine business models, and/or strengthening aspects of leadership and governance.
• Perform detailed assessment of the companies’ social and environmental impact using NESsT’s impact framework.
• Lead transaction negotiations and closing: term sheet negotiation, final loan documentation, ancillary agreements related to loan documentation, cash management of loan disbursal.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree, with master degree preferred in relevant field (MBA, economics, finance).
• At least 8 years of total work experience, with at least 4 years’ experience in investing and/or financial review of SMEs in Latin America, preferably in credit risk or investment banking roles, SME financing or leasing business.
• Strong project management skills, the ability to approach tasks in a highly organized, logical and diligent
• Strong financial modelling skills: Ability to set up and analyse and build a fully functional financial model with integrated P&L, balance sheet and cashflow.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience with accounting and reading of financial statements.
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to social impact. This can include volunteer positions. Experience with social enterprises or working in impact investing in the agricultural sector is a plus.
• Requirement to have experience working in the Andes region (Peru, Colombia).
• Excellent verbal and written skills in Spanish.
• Advanced verbal and written skills in English. Need to be able to write investment memos and present the opportunities to the credit committee in English.
• Ability to effectively work under pressure, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and produce high-quality work within tight time constraints
• Ability to be flexible, resourceful and innovative in a small, dynamic, non-profit environment.
• Familiarity and comfort with Microsoft Office.

Compensation: Will be commensurate with work experience and skill provided.
NESsT offers a competitive salary with benefits in the non-profit sector, including private health care insurance. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of a meaningful global organization that is changing the world by investing in emerging market businesses that offer employment, sustainable income and an improved quality of life for people who face the greatest barriers to work.
Location: Lima, Peru or Bogota, Colombia
Schedule: 9 am – 6 pm with one-hour lunch break; expected to come to office 2 times per week in person.
Start Date: November 2024
To apply:

Please apply for this position by uploading the following materials in English via our online application at https://nesstforms.formstack.com/forms/loanprojectmanager until Sep 28th

• Thoughtful cover letter in English explaining why you’re the right fit for this role and your available start
• Resume
• Statement on salary

Application process is open until position is filled.
NESsT is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

• Generate leads and investment opportunities using their existing network and leveraging the network of NESsT.
• Analyse and perform due diligence on SEs’ financial status, credit, and property evaluations to determine feasibility of granting loans. Due diligence is performed by conducting extensive interviews with company management, lenders/investors, clients, employees and suppliers, as well as sector experts; and by performing market analysis of the company’s sector.
• Building investment memos to present to the Credit Committee at all three stages of underwriting (L1 – introductory memo, L2 – deep dive commercial diligence and term sheet, L3 – final confirmatory diligence and legal closing).
• Build, manage, and own the loan finance model for each transaction: Incorporate projections provided by management teams into underwriting financial model; Develop and run scenarios and sensitivities for downside cases to stress test management cases.
• Discuss the documents and analysis performed on the SEs with Fund Director.
• Participate in Credit Committee meetings to present, and seek approval for, loan deals.
• Highlight identified risks and make risk mitigation strategy recommendations including the proposal of conditions and covenants.
• Provide business assistance (during due diligence) to entrepreneurs to help them qualify for NESsT loans. This may include assisting them in building financial statements and models, helping them to refine business models, and/or strengthening aspects of leadership and governance.
• Perform detailed assessment of the companies’ social and environmental impact using NESsT’s impact framework.
• Lead transaction negotiations and closing: term sheet negotiation, final loan documentation, ancillary agreements related to loan documentation, cash management of loan disbursal