Investment Associate – Private Credit (Venture-Focused)

Investment Associate – Private Credit (Venture-Focused)

Cornell Search are delighted to be supporting a specialist private credit firm in their search for an Associate to join their growing London-based investment team.

The firm provides financing solutions to Venture, Growth, and Secondaries investors, with counterparties including GPs, LPs, and Family Offices. Their transactions are typically secured against portfolios of maturing VC-backed companies, with a particular focus on Europe alongside a global mandate. Backed by a major institutional partner and a leading family office, the platform combines entrepreneurial drive with institutional rigour.

This is a rare opportunity for a technically strong credit investor to join an innovative, early-stage platform with significant growth ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

• Underwrite loans against diversified portfolios of direct and indirect (fund) holdings across Venture and Growth equities.
• Analyse financials for businesses that are not yet EBITDA-positive, applying a hybrid credit/growth underwriting approach.
• Build and manage detailed financial models, including cash flow forecasts, cap table analysis, and debt/preferred equity structuring.
• Take ownership of major components of the underwriting process, preparing investment committee papers and supporting decision-making.
• Engage with management teams, GPs, industry experts, and other investment professionals.
• Prepare presentations and materials for internal and external use.
• Participate in origination meetings, with scope to take on more responsibility over time.

Candidate Profile

• 5+ years’ relevant experience underwriting, structuring, and executing direct lending/private debt and/or leveraged finance transactions.
• Strong fundamental credit skills; asset-backed lending experience an advantage.
• Sector expertise in Software and Technology ventures desirable, with strong understanding of risks related to VC-backed companies. Direct venture debt experience also an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability in financial modelling, presentation preparation, and legal documentation.
• Strong accounting foundation preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with external counterparties and work effectively across internal teams.
• Entrepreneurial and collaborative team, with close exposure to senior leadership.
• Significant long-term progression potential and scope for compensation growth, including carried interest.
• Full-time role, based in London, with three days per week in the office.

If you’re an investment professional with strong credit expertise and an interest in the intersection of technology, venture, and private credit, we’d love to hear from you.