VP, Fundraising & M&A

Ignite Energy Access is seeking a VP, Fundraising & M&A to lead capital raising and acquisition processes. The role involves managing DFI debt, equity raises, and buy-side M&A execution, with direct accountability to senior leadership. Candidates should have significant transaction experience and be self-starters. The position is based in Abu Dhabi but can also be located in the UK or Germany, indicating remote flexibility.
Job Title:
VP, Fundraising & M&A


Department:
Corporate Finance
Reporting Line:
Corporate Finance Director
Location:
UAE, UK, or Germany


About Ignite Energy Access
Ignite Energy Access is an Abu Dhabi-based leader in distributed renewable energy solutions, dedicated to providing affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to underserved communities across Africa. Now operating across 12 countries and serving over 15 million people. Through innovative technology, scalable business models, and impact-driven financing, Ignite is transforming lives, fostering economic growth, and driving the continent’s clean energy transition.

https://igniteaccess.com/
Ignite Energy Access | LinkedIn

Why join us – and why now
This is one of the fastest-scaling energy access platforms in Africa – and one of the most active corporate finance teams on the continent. Following a transformational acquisition, we are running multiple DFI and impact fundraising processes in parallel (including with the IFC and leading global impact investors), executing an active M&A pipeline, and building a commercial & industrial (C&I) solar financing platform – all at the same time.
The capital this role raises will directly power millions of new connections. In return, we offer something few banks or funds can: your own mandate. You will lead transactions end-to-end – not support someone else’s – with direct access to CEO- and Board-level decision-making and the chance to shape how a pan-African platform is capitalised.


We are looking for an autonomous, diligent, well organised problem-solver with significant transaction experience – someone who sees a frontier-market scale-up as an adventure.


Job Purpose/Mission The VP, Fundraising & M&A will lead the company’s capital raising and acquisition workstreams end-to-end – owning DFI and commercial debt processes from first approach through term sheet, due diligence and financial close, and driving buy-side M&A execution – with modest oversight and direct accountability to senior leadership. This is a role for someone ready to run transactions on their own mandate: a self-starter who can think practically and commercially with DFIs, private equity funds and lenders, and who can be trusted with the company’s most important institutional relationships.


Responsibilities

Lead fundraising processes end-to-end – DFI debt facilities, impact-linked loans, C&I project finance and equity raises – from first approach and term sheet negotiation through due diligence to financial close
Lead buy-side M&A execution – valuation, offer strategy, transaction structuring (locked box vs completion accounts, earn-outs, warranties and indemnities), due diligence coordination and SPA negotiation alongside counsel
Own institutional relationships – DFIs, impact investors, commercial lenders, private equity funds and advisors – and represent the company credibly in front of investment committees
Structure transactions intelligently – debt sizing, security packages, intercreditor arrangements and covenant design that protect the company’s operating flexibility
Coach and develop the Corporate Finance Associate, and build the playbooks, processes and reporting infrastructure that allow the capital platform to scale
Champion AI tools and automation across the team – we expect this role to set the standard for how a modern corporate finance function works

Knowledge and skills
Experience


8–12 years of experience in investment banking, DFI/development finance, infrastructure or energy private equity, or corporate development – with meaningful Sub-Saharan African transaction experience
A track record of closing debt and/or M&A transactions end-to-end, including at least one transaction as day-to-day deal lead
Deep familiarity with DFI processes – credit committees, E&S due diligence, conditions precedent and subsequent, and covenant negotiation
A confident negotiator and structurer with the commercial judgment to manage institutional counterparties autonomously – knowing what to concede, what to hold, and what to escalate
Autonomous, diligent and well organised – comfortable with ambiguity, motivated by ownership, and energised by building rather than maintaining
Proficiency with AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or equivalent) applied to financial analysis, document production, and workflow automation — not a nice-to-have, but a reflection of how we expect the team to work

Qualifications
: