Investment Analyst

Standard Solar is seeking an Investment Analyst in Rockville, MD, responsible for financial analysis of solar PV and storage investments. The role involves financial modeling, transaction pricing, and collaboration with various internal teams. Candidates should have experience in project finance, tax equity, and strong communication skills. A bachelor's degree and 3+ years of relevant experience are required, with a focus on renewable energy and community solar being advantageous.
Description

Job Summary

This position is primarily responsible for developing, implementing, and presenting the quantitative and qualitative financial analysis that enables transaction pricing and financial return evaluation of capital investments in solar PV and storage. As an integral part of the development team, this role utilizes financial modeling expertise and experience in project finance to determine the optimal valuation to meet our customer’s needs and maximize return on capital. The role will also involve an understanding of debt and tax equity financial structuring; prior experience in these areas is a strong plus.

This position balances sound internal communication to act as a liaison for Business Development, supporting new and ongoing distributed generation projects. An effective candidate will demonstrate attention to detail, superior organization, enthusiastic initiative, and an excellent ability to navigate financial modeling, tax equity, and debt structures.

Necessary Skills
• Modeling experience in solar acquisitions and/or project finance, including an understanding of project revenue profiles and key value drivers
• Collaborator, facilitator, and ability to work with a diverse set of team members
• Excellent communication in both verbal and written formats
• Integration of macro and micro-variables into financial analysis and modeling to lead to the development of new opportunities that support business growth
• Familiarity with distributed generation assets and community solar

Job Responsibilities
• Operate complex financial models to determine optimal valuation to meet customers’ needs and maximize return on capital
• Understanding of tax equity and debt structures used in financial modeling
• Responsible for developing, implementing, and presenting the quantitative and qualitative financial analysis that enables transaction pricing and financial return evaluation of capital investments in solar PV and storage
• Support external conversations (developers, sellers, etc.)
• Coordinate and collaborate internally with Engineering, Pre-Con, Structured Finance, and Legal
• Able to identify key risks early on, flag them internally, and work through potential mitigation strategies
• Manage financial model iterations as projects mature
• Prepare and maintain financial quotes and proformas
• Liaison for Business Development, supporting projects prior to external release
• Maintain and update SSI’s quote template
• Continuous improvement in model functionality and efficiency
• Create financial models used in Investment Committee preparation, gathering key project information, contractual agreements, and risk profiles
• Prepare Investment Committee decks
• Prepare spend schedules, fund structure timing, and long-term cash proformas
• Prepare construction budgets during board approval and at hand-off
• Help train and mentor analysts

Qualifications
• 3+ years of experience, which must include renewable energy or finance, with specific experience in distributed and community solar a strong plus
• Bachelor’s degree, concentration in energy, finance, economics, or related
• Strong work ethic and ability to self-start in a fast-paced environment
• Results driven and solutions oriented
• Confidence to take initiative to figure it out, but also to ask questions when there are roadblocks
• Strong organization, communication skills and precise attention to detail
• Flexibility to tackle emerging work as needed
• Strong interest to develop a career in the solar industry
• Superior Microsoft Excel modeling skills required for development/maintenance of financial models
• Ability to consume large amounts of data and detailed information within a fixed time frame and identify and communicate the key points to support an analysis or result

Position Interfaces With
• Business Development, Engineering, Pre-Construction and Structured Finance teams
• Reports to the Director of Investments