Investment Manager
Pula
Remote — Africa (EAT ±3h) · Pan-African
Role type
Corporate Development, M&A & Strategy
Experience
Senior
Summary
Senior investment role leading the full deal cycle within Pula Xcelerator, Pula's internal M&A and strategic investment vehicle, from opportunity sourcing and due diligence through structuring and execution across Africa.
About the role
The Pula Xcelerator is Pula's internal M&A and strategic investment vehicle, responsible for identifying, evaluating, and accelerating high-potential businesses across Africa. It focuses on enterprises generating at least $500K in annual revenue in agriculture, insurance, financial services, or technology, enabling selected companies to scale using Pula's distribution, data, and partnership networks. The Investment Manager will take ownership of the investment process from sourcing through evaluation and execution, reporting directly to the President & Co-Founder. Commercial insight and entrepreneurial experience matter most; the role requires hands-on execution rather than a purely advisory approach.
Key responsibilities
Lead evaluation of prospective companies, focusing on commercial potential, scalability, and strategic fit
Conduct end-to-end due diligence across financials, operations, and business fundamentals
Engage directly with founders and senior management to test assumptions and assess capability
Reconstruct financials where needed and lead preparation of investment memoranda for decision-making
Build, own, and actively manage a pipeline of high-potential companies
Take ownership of deal execution, including transaction structuring and closing
Operate as a hands-on execution lead, personally driving outputs
Contribute to designing and refining internal systems to track and accelerate portfolio companies
Key requirements
10+ years' experience in private equity, venture capital, investment banking, corporate finance, corporate development, M&A, asset management, or strategic investments
Demonstrated experience leading investment transactions from sourcing through due diligence, negotiation, structuring, and execution
Strong commercial and financial analysis skills, with the ability to evaluate business models, unit economics, growth potential, and investment risk
Experience engaging directly with founders, executives, boards, and senior stakeholders
Hands-on, execution-focused approach with high ownership and accountability
Experienced in small, high-performing teams with a significant degree of ownership
Formal finance qualifications are beneficial; demonstrated investment and transaction experience will be prioritised
Nice to have
Experience within a leading investment firm, financial institution, multinational corporation, or professional services firm
Big Four experience (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, or PwC) in Transaction Advisory, Deal Advisory, Corporate Finance, Strategy, Valuations, Tax Advisory, or Legal Advisory
Tax advisory or legal advisory experience
Former founders or startup operators with significant transaction experience are encouraged to apply
Remote role with preference for candidates based in South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritius, or other countries where Pula has an established presence. Candidates must be able to collaborate within approximately ±3 hours of East Africa Time. Compensation includes a competitive base salary in USD or local currency, performance-based incentives, and long-term value creation participation.