Johannesburg: Private Equity Associate / Senior Associate

Private Equity Associate / Senior Associate | Rosebank, Gauteng | Permanent Play a hands-on role across the full private equity investment lifecycle. This is an opportunity for a high-agency investment professional to influence outcomes, not just analyse them. You will work closely with senior investment leaders to originate, execute, and actively manage investments, with real accountability for value creation and returns. The Role This role is central to driving investments from initial deal sourcing through to exit. You will be involved in evaluating new opportunities, executing complex transactions, and working alongside portfolio company leadership teams to unlock growth, operational improvement, and sustainable value. The position demands strong commercial judgement, technical excellence, and the ability to manage multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment. The Client Our client is a respected private equity firm investing across high-growth sectors in Africa. The firm is known for its disciplined investment approach, active portfolio involvement, and strong governance standards, with a clear focus on long-term value creation and responsible capital allocation. What You’ll Do Source and screen private equity investment opportunities aligned to the firm’s mandate Build and review complex financial models, including LBO, DCF, and comparable valuations Lead and coordinate commercial, financial, and legal due diligence processes Prepare high-quality Investment Committee packs and transaction documentation Work with portfolio company management to implement value creation initiatives Support ESG integration, governance, and board-level engagement Assist in planning and executing exit strategies, including trade sales and secondary buyouts What You Bring Honours degree in Finance, Commerce, or a related field 4–5 years’ experience in private equity, investment banking, or corporate finance Proven exposure to closed transactions with a demonstrable deal sheet Strong financial modelling capability built from first principles Understanding of South African regulatory frameworks and B-BBEE deal structures Ability to work independently while managing complex stakeholder environments What Success Looks Like A strong, credible deal pipeline with high-quality investment opportunities Well-structured investment cases that balance risk, return, and strategic fit Tangible value creation across portfolio companies Professional, trusted engagement with internal and external stakeholders Successful realisation of investments aligned to return and impact objectives