Introduction to the role
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and motivated Senior Investment Manager to join a rapidly growing business and support the transition to a low carbon, sustainable global economy.
Eku Energy is a specialist battery developer and long term asset owner, with a strong track record of project delivery and responsible capital management. We develop, construct and manage a rapidly growing portfolio of utility scale battery storage assets globally.
The Senior Investment Manager is a key addition to the business. You will be responsible for driving execution across the Australian portfolio with a focus on commercialisation through to financial close, owning the investment case and leading on capital raising (in particular project financing). Reporting to the Investment Director for APAC, you will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams across the business (including development, technical and markets functions) and guide opportunity selection and prioritisation in Australia. You will be accountable for optimal capital allocation, risk/return trade-offs and ultimately driving sound investment decisions.
This role is well suited to someone with 8+ years of relevant experience in a fast paced transaction environment, particularly within energy and infrastructure. Working in a small and high performing team at the forefront of the energy transition, you will have significant opportunity for growth and honing your leadership capabilities.
Responsibilities of the role
Own the investment case for new projects and capital raising initiatives with a focus on valuation and risk/return, clearly communicating recommendations to Eku management investment committee and shareholder forums to drive alignment;
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance projects in line with investment framework, in particular working closely with our markets team to secure accretive revenue contracting;
Design and oversee robust financial analysis to support sound commercial decision-making and negotiation of key contracts with appropriate risk allocation;
Lead end-to-end project debt financing processes, coordinating due diligence workstreams, and managing advisors;
Develop strong relationships with key external stakeholders including lenders, investors, contractors, energy market participants and relevant government agencies;
Transaction lead on M&A activities including asset acquisitions, joint ventures, sell-downs and other capital raising opportunities;
Liaise with the global Investment Management team to knowledge share and maintain consistency and best practices across the business.
Competencies of the role
You will have a minimum of 8 years experience in financial advisory or principal investing in real assets, ideally with experience managing the end-to-end execution process for late stage development projects.
You can comfortably lead a project finance debt raise in the Australian market and have an excellent understanding of risk allocation. Your commercial acumen is a strength which you will leverage in supporting the broader team in shaping our projects in the right way as we commercialise the pipeline.
You should have excellent communication and strong interpersonal skills, collaborating with teams from diverse backgrounds and distilling complex financial concepts into clear decision-making frameworks and conclusions. You will understand how to craft a business case for an energy project and how to navigate and influence decision making to gain support for key approvals.
You will have an excellent academic record with a bachelor or post graduate degree in a relevant field.
If you possess a strong sense of accountability, can focus on details while maintaining a holistic view, enjoy collaboration across functional and geographic boundaries, and want to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, we want to hear from you.
Short to medium term job targets
3 months
Gain a robust understanding of Eku’s end-to-end development and commercialisation process including how each Eku function contributes to project success, establishing collaborative working relationships;
Familiarise yourself with Eku’s financial models and investment case framework, contributing to refinements and clarity in application;
Develop and present an IC approval paper (either for devex or FID approval) in collaboration with relevant teams.
6 months
Lead execution of a late stage development including the project finance debt raise process and securing relevant internal approvals;
Leverage energy market knowledge you’ve developed to collaborate closely with the Markets team in forming merchant views, operational and revenue contracting strategies in a valuation and risk/return optimisation context;
Have established strong relationships with key external stakeholders (in particular our banking relationships).
12+ months
Growth into senior leadership role for the investment function in Australia, collaborating with the global team to leverage insights and best practices;
Identify and pursue at least one M&A or origination opportunity and lead on this transaction;
Build and upskill a resilient investment team in Australia that reflects Eku’s values and is a key enabler of the overall business plan.
Competencies required of all our people
Organisational:
Entrepreneurial thinking and acting - problem solving capability - innovation capability – proactive ‘can do’ attitude.
Social:
Highly motivated with a versatile personality - excellent interpersonal skills - client orientation, communicative - collaborative - keenness to knowledge share.
Implementation:
Self-management - result and solution orientated - quality awareness - Welfare, Health, Safety and Environmentally focused.
Culture:
Helps to build a foundation of trust – creates stability – instils kindness – provides structure – is and fosters accountability – cultivates a spirit of reliability – fosters respect.
Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths. An inclusive and equitable workplace enables us to embrace that diversity to deliver more innovative and sustainable solutions for our people, clients, shareholders and communities. At Eku Energy, you'll be encouraged to be yourself and supported to perform at your best. We want you on our team. If you need adjustments made to the recruitment process or while you are working with us, please let us know.
As an inclusive employer, we do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race (including colour and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief. Joining Eku Energy means you’ll be able to work in a way that suits you best. With the right technology, support and resources, our people can work in a range of flexible ways. Talk to us about what working arrangements would help you thrive.
In Australia, we offer hybrid working arrangements, 25 days of annual leave, salary continuance insurance and access to novated leasing. Our team also comes together through company offsites, team social events and opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across our global offices.