Meritus Capital - Chief Operating Officer

Meritus Capital is an India-focused fund catering to investors looking for absolute returns over a long-term time horizon. Our approach to research is to combine deep work with a systematic and rigorous process. We take an ecosystem approach to our research, leveraging our experience and professional network, and we aim to be exhaustive with our work. We employ proprietary frameworks to help us screen, identify, and diligence potentially attractive investment opportunities. We have an orientation towards value and absolute return, and we prefer to buy and hold for the long-term. Our portfolio is built bottom-up and we concentrate in our best ideas without attempting to hug or replicate the index.

The founder and portfolio manager has had a long and successful tenure at some of the largest and longest-standing public market funds focused on India. The fund is launching with substantial personal capital as well as large investments from high-net-worth individuals and family offices.

Job Profile:

The right candidate possesses a strong work ethic and a sense of ownership. Clear and effective communication skills are a must. In case the candidate's prior experience does not perfectly overlap, they must be willing to apply themselves with intensity and come up the learning curve. At the same time, the firm will provide all of the support and guidance the candidate needs. This is an entrepreneurial environment, and the candidate must be willing to think independently and apply their judgment. The candidate must be organized, able to execute multiple workstreams, and capable of delivering under pressure. At the same time, our firm has a familial work environment, and the idea is to help each other learn and grow. What we share is a positive attitude and a passion for excellence. The right candidate will find this to be a rewarding and fulfilling journey.

Qualifications: CA, MBA are a must

Operations

- Lead responsibility for all entities (manager/sponsor) and funds; ensure finance, operations, audit, and compliance functions are running smoothly

- Build and develop relationships with service providers including custodian, RTA, trustee, auditor, lawyers, compliance, etc

- Represent the firm, negotiate with counterparties, oversee operations and hold service providers accountable

- Oversee and manage internal and external operational and compliance resources

Compliance Controls

- Maintain responsibility for audit, regulatory and compliance responsibilities across all fund entities

- Coordinate with external resources such as administrators, compliance services, legal counsel, etc

- Ensure secretarial compliances like preparation of minutes, resolutions, etc; maintain physical and digital archives of all relevant documents

- Monitor fund performance and compute key fund KPIs; track prices and news of portfolio and target companies

- Monitor internal compliance including personal trading, leave of absence, expense policies

Finance Controls

- Lead the firm's periodic closing and reporting procedures; coordinate with external auditors and tax accountants to maintain books of accounts; manage routine filing and reporting, including SEBI, RBI, GST, income tax, ROC, transfer pricing, and any others

- Manage internal financial systems including payroll, expenses, vendor payments; monitor expenses and cut costs periodically

- Manage working capital needs, budgeting, internal MIS; maintain healthy cash balances, and ensure optimum utilization of funds

Investment

- Oversee investor on-boarding and KYC activities; PMLA compliance/filings, etc. Drive investor communication and reporting

- Drive investor communication and reporting

- Be involved in building and managing relationships with prospective investors; be able to respond to broad investor queries on strategic matters

- If required, assist investment team in closing deals and manage banking and custodial processes

- Assist in tax planning/management at the fund level