Director, SBIC Advisory

Company Description

Sierra Capital Partners, established in 1998, is an independent investment advisory firm registered with the SEC. We are dedicated to offering tailored investment advisory services to a select group of families, foundations, and institutional clients, operating with a fiduciary commitment and a global outlook.

Role Description

Sierra Capital Partners is seeking a Director, SBIC Advisory to spearhead and expand our advisory services for banks engaged in SBIC investments. This specialized position is ideal for individuals with direct experience in a bank's SBIC program, providing guidance on SBIC investments, or working extensively within the SBIC, CRA, bank treasury, and lower-middle-market private capital sectors.

The Director, SBIC Advisory will guide bank clients through the entire process of establishing, evaluating, and overseeing their SBIC investment programs. Key responsibilities include conducting CRA and investment analyses, assessing fund managers, preparing materials for investment committees, developing ALCO and board reports, managing ongoing portfolio oversight, processing capital calls, updating valuations, and generating quarterly reports.

Furthermore, this role will act as a crucial liaison with SBIC fund managers, enabling Sierra to maintain up-to-date knowledge on capital raising activities, investment strategies, target investments, and how these align with bank clients' CRA geographic requirements, risk tolerance, and investment goals.

This is a senior, client-facing position offering significant potential to influence and develop a unique advisory platform within a niche market. While the position is based in Miami, FL, a remote work arrangement may be considered for the right candidate. Travel is anticipated to be between 10% and 20%, primarily for client meetings, fund manager engagements, and industry conferences.

Qualifications

Candidates should possess 7 to 12+ years of experience in banking, investment management, financial advisory, private credit, private equity, or a closely related field. Direct experience within a bank's SBIC investment program or advising banks on such programs is essential. A robust understanding of SBIC investments, CRA regulations, bank investment strategies, and institutional due diligence processes is required. The ability to evaluate fund managers based on strategy, historical performance, portfolio construction, loss data, capital structure, risk profile, and overall performance is crucial. Candidates must be adept at preparing investment committee documents, ALCO materials, board presentations, due diligence summaries, and regulatory filings. Strong financial analysis capabilities, including the interpretation of fund financials, cash flows, valuations, and risk/return metrics, are necessary. Familiarity with bank decision-making structures, including investment committees, compliance departments, CRA officers, treasury teams, senior management, and boards, is important. Existing relationships within the SBIC fund manager, placement agent, SBA/SBIC ecosystem, and bank investor communities, or the demonstrated ability to build them rapidly, are highly valued. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required to articulate complex regulatory and investment concepts into actionable recommendations. An entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to contribute to the growth of a developing advisory business are essential.

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation package includes a competitive base salary complemented by performance-based incentive compensation.