Root Capital is an agricultural impact investor that grows rural prosperity in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa and Latin America by lending capital, delivering financial training, and strengthening market connections for small and growing agricultural businesses. As a Junior Investment Officer, you will focus on credit management, loan underwriting, and portfolio monitoring to support the mission of promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development.
Duties and Responsibilities
Loan Underwriting and Structuring (50%)
Perform independent, objective loan application assessments and underwriting.
Analyze client financial statements, cash flow projections, social and environmental performance, management capacity, governance, industry risk, and repayment ability.
Verify client information through bank statement analysis, credit references, and site visits/management interviews.
Structure loans to meet client needs in accordance with Root Capital’s lending policy and risk appetite.
Support Portfolio Managers in negotiating credit terms and handling technical credit matters.
Loan Servicing, Performance Monitoring, and Risk Rating
Support loan closings by collecting documentation and coordinating with Credit Administration for timely disbursement.
Manage borrowing base updates and analyze disbursement/payment requests.
Analyze use of funds, financial performance, and compliance with covenants.
Assess market risks and trends and communicate mitigants to clients.
Maintain accurate and updated risk ratings in Salesforce.
Non-Current Loan Portfolio Management
Identify loan risks and participate in monthly risk reviews.
Prepare and present credit proposals for negotiation or restructuring of non-performing portfolios to the credit committee.
Update high-risk review reports and action plans for loans in PAR>90.
Engagement (15%)
Collaborate with Portfolio Managers to align credit structuring and client communications.
Serve as the primary point of contact for loan servicing (closing, disbursement, repayments).
Engage directly with clients to understand business models and assess risks.
Coordinate with cross-functional teams (Credit Administration, Client Services, Risk) for service delivery.
Represent the investment function in internal forums and participate in process improvement.
Delivery (35%)
Prepare and present well-structured credit proposals for approval with clear articulation of risks and mitigants.
Ensure timely loan servicing facilitation for closing and disbursements.
Identify and address at-risk loans through restructuring or settlement proposals.
Maintain accurate, timely records in internal systems.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in commercial banking or financial services, with a focus on working capital lending.
Demonstrated expertise in credit underwriting, risk analysis, loan performance monitoring, and loan workout.
Experience working with rural SMEs and/or agricultural enterprises is highly desirable.
Proficiency in English and a relevant regional language (e.g., Spanish or French).
Willingness and ability to travel to rural areas (approximately 10% of the time).
Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online by visiting the Root Capital application portal. You can access the application page via the following link: Apply for Junior Investment Officer. Follow the instructions on the site to submit your application.
