Principal - MENACA

Principal – MENACA region

CrossBoundary Advisory

About the Firm

CrossBoundary Advisory, part of CrossBoundary Group, is a leading investment advisor focused on unlocking private capital in underserved markets. We have advised on US$12+ billion of closed transactions across agriculture, health, education, manufacturing, ICT, infrastructure, and clean power. Our clients include governments, development finance institutions, foundations, private equity firms, corporates, and research institutions. With 180+ professionals in 20+ offices across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East & North Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Latin America & the Caribbean, we combine local presence with global expertise to structure bankable transactions and scalable programs. Learn more at

Why join us?

The CrossBoundary team is a unique group of people who are genuinely excited by the opportunity to make a difference in some of the most challenging and exciting markets in the world. Team members come from diverse backgrounds but share several qualities: curiosity, humility, integrity, a drive for excellence, and a bias for action. Learn more at

What you’ll do

CrossBoundary Advisory is recruiting a full-time Principal to lead transaction teams focused on unlocking private capital. We seek candidates with 10+ years of relevant experience living and working in-market, with an extensive network across the MENACA region, and a thorough understanding of the investment landscape.

As a Principal, you will lead a team and oversee mandate execution in market analysis, strategy development and execution, investment facilitation, and commercial due diligence. Principals also lead regional business development and grow the business activities of CrossBoundary in the region, originating transactions and projects.

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead a team of investment professionals, maintaining responsibility for hiring, capacity building, performance management, and general team leadership duties

Lead business development across multiple channels, including private commercial opportunities and government/donor-sponsored opportunities

Provide continuous client coverage of private capital investors, development finance institutions (DFIs), corporates ranging from SMEs to MNCs, and other relevant organizations to proactively identify advisory opportunities

Manage relationships with key CrossBoundary clients; provide strategic input into program design and oversee mandate execution and reporting

Provide deal and project leadership and execution oversight to a wide range of advisory engagements:

Market studies and landscape assessments

Growth strategy development and implementation

Fund strategy design and blended-finance mechanism structuring

Investment target identification and screening

Investor identification and relationship building

Detailed commercial due diligence/vendor due diligence

Development and/or review of robust, multi-faceted corporate and/or project finance models, as well as models used for valuations analysis, market sizing, etc.

Development of investment memoranda and teasers

Recommendations on optimal transaction structures based upon near-, medium- and long-term company strategic objectives and capitalization parameters, available instruments, and investor preferences

Ongoing market analysis

Thought leadership in frontier-market capital mobilization

Lead brand-building by driving team participation at conferences and on panel discussions, developing thought leadership pieces, and other involvement in relevant initiatives that help grow our visibilityWho You Are

Degree in Business Administration or Finance or other relevant advanced degree preferred (extensive relevant experience may be accepted as equivalent)

10+ years of relevant experience in investment banking, management consulting, private equity, or similar

Experience living and/or working in underserved markets required; experience in the region applied for highly preferred

Experience working with a range of stakeholders (including private equity firms, Development Finance Institutions, and development agencies) to support investments in high impact sectors

Experience working in the financial services sector

Self-starter who is passionate about creating lasting change in underserved markets

Takes on new types of work, even without prior experience/direct supervision

Willingness to work, travel, and live in a sometimes-challenging environment

High tolerance for ambiguity and an ability to operate effectively in a changing context

Builds strong relationships with clients and colleagues in stressful environments

Excellent presentation skills; ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audience

Arabic speaking is a plusLocation

The chosen candidate will be based in Dubai, UAE

Interested in applying?

Think you have what it takes but not sure you check every box? Research shows that while men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women often only apply when they meet every requirement. If you're passionate about what we're building, we want to hear from you!

Equal Opportunity Employer

CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to