Social Investment Principal

Role Purpose

The Social Investment Principal will lead CAF ’s social investment team providing risk capital and advice to charities and social enterprises and implement and execute the social investment strategy in the wider context of the Impact Accelerator, exploring synergies with advisory and grantmaking, identifying innovation and leading to an increase in social investment deals and a stronger portfolio.

Founded in 1924 The Charities Aid Foundation is a leading charity operating in the UK and internationally, working with individuals, businesses and social enterprises to facilitate and encourage giving. It also provides financial services tailored to the needs of charities, including banking, investment, and advisory. Our work connects and enables the vital organisations, institutions and individuals, working to ensure that everyone has a stake in the future. We believe that the power of lasting change lies across sectors and borders, in the hearts, minds and hands of those driven to make a difference.

Venturesome has been the pioneering social investment team at CAF since 2002; using philanthropic capital to make social investments, donated by private and corporate clients, and other charitable foundations. Our mission is to provide social enterprises, charities and community organisations with the affordable, flexible finance and support they need to sustain and grow their social impact.

Launched in 2002 as one of the first social investment funds in the UK, Venturesome has made over 700 social investments totalling over £61million in the 20 years since.

We are currently undergoing an exciting strategic review of our social investment arm, refreshing our funds and installing new digital systems. This will enable us to make sure that what we offer is the best way to support social organisations and target today’s social issues as well as generating the maximum social impact for our funders. We look forward with energy and enthusiasm to what is to come.

CAF is a Disability Confident Employer. We guarantee to interview disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Please advise us if you consider yourself to have a disability.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Head of Impact and Advisory to refine and develop strategy for CAF’s Impact Accelerator.
• Accountable for the implementation of the social investment elements of the Impact Accelerator strategy ensuring measurable objectives and defined targets.
• Lead and mentor team of investment managers and investment executives, providing guidance and training, supported by robust performance management and personal development opportunities in line with strategy.
• Responsible for driving growth and innovation in CAF’s social investment offering, ensure it remains relevant in an ever-changing world and work closely with business development and funder relations.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders across the organisation, accountable for the implementation of robust governance for social investment with particular regard to risk management, financial crime, compliance with charity regulation, data protection and governance of BAU activity in the Social Investment team.
• Accountable for the management of the investment applications process, including provision of advice to applicant charities and social enterprises and developing offers/deals.
• Responsible for monitoring CAF’s portfolio of social investments providing clear analysis of fund performance, at risk loans and other risks ensuring concerns are escalated to senior management as appropriate.
• Develop and leverage strong working relationships with the leadership community particularly in areas of key support such as KYC, Finance and Charity Verification.
• Lead the preparation for the monthly Impact Committee in line with CAF committee standards and audience.
• Take a lead role in relation to Social Investment with the annual planning process, budget preparation, forecasts, taking responsibility for the Social Investment budgets.
• Work closely with other leads in Impact Accelerator team to ensure development and delivery of comprehensive client offering, identifying opportunities to pilot joint programmes as well as identifying synergies.
• Act as a subject matter expert for colleagues within the team and wider division, giving advice on deals, risk management, compliance and other specialist matters.
• Act as an external ambassador for CAF on social investment, promoting CAF as a thought leader.

Skills and Experience

Experience

• Extensive experience of working in investments/lending – ideally a social investment fund or bank.
• Experience of working in an FCA regulated environment.
• Experience of managing people and projects.
• Experience of delivering a strategy managing significant clients and budgets.
• Voluntary sector experience gained as either an employee or volunteer.
• Experience in effective team operational delivery and improvement.
• Forging successful working relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Appropriate professional qualification or Degree/Post Graduate qualification.
• Finance qualifications (desirable).

Specialist Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Setting and implementing a strategic vision.
• Ability to lead teams to meet targets.
• Coaching and staff development.
• Able to interpret financial information and assess risk.
• Strategic and financial appraisal skills.
• Excellent knowledge of managing diverse risks across a portfolio of investments.
• High level of numeracy.
• Confident in presentation skills.
• Commercially aware and prepared to help create new products or services to meet market needs.
• Ability to display working understanding of financial industry and regulatory requirements including Charity Commission guidance; Charities Act; Trustee Act.
• Ability to display a good understanding of corporate governance and risk management.
• Excellent verbal and written communications to all levels.
• Excellent presentation skills to small and larger groups.

Personal Qualities

• Ability to manage and motivate staff to meet challenging business targets.
• Strong leadership and motivational skills.
• Adaptable.