Company Description
Consulting for Sustainable Solutions offers climate and sustainable finance consulting and advisory services aimed at unlocking capital for sustainable development.
Whilst South Africa is our primary focus, we serve clients globally, supporting innovative, market-based solutions that unlock capital for emerging markets. Our clients include international DFIs, local commercial banks, and thinktanks. Our areas of expertise include climate debt instruments like climate funds and green bonds, credit enhancement instruments like green guarantee facilities, and carbon financing for impact projects with viability gaps.
To expand our capabilities, we are looking for a Cape Town-based Senior Associate to join the team. This will be a highly motivated individual who lives our values and shares our vision to unlock capital for low-carbon, climate-resilient, inclusive development in SA and beyond. We value diversity in gender, background, and perspective.
Role Description
This is a full-time hybrid role for a Senior Associate, based in Cape Town with flexibility for remote work.
At CSS, Senior Associates take full responsibility for executing multiple workstreams simultaneously, offering advanced technical expertise, report writing, presentation, and model-building skills. The role mentors junior team members and support some managerial tasks within limited time allocations, such as recruitment and preparing bids. The Senior Associates also contribute to CSS’s external thought leadership through social media, developing articles, presenting insights, or showcasing the Company’s work in public forums.
The Senior Associate (Climate) role is a technical role focused on mainstreaming of climate for financial institutions and carbon crediting calculations. This involves quantification of climate risk, supporting financial institutions with sustainability disclosures (IFRS S2 etc), and estimation of the carbon crediting potential from climate projects (technology and nature-based).
Key Responsibilities
• Client Engagement: Collaborating with client teams to understand challenges, conduct research and gather data for analysis.
• Workflow Management: Develop and manage multiple workstream tasks, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring client expectations are met.
• Analysis and Problem Solving: Apply quantitative and qualitative analytical methods to dissect complex issues, develop recommendations and present findings.
• Modelling: Develop parameterised forecasting models, undertaking sensitivity testing and developing scenarios to provide insight into feasibility.
• Documenting Findings: Develop Microsoft Word reports, Excel / Power BI dashboards and Powerpoint presentations recording analysis and findings in an impactful way, making effective use of visual tools.
• Team Collaboration: Collaborate with other team members, both internal and external, sharing expertise and leveraging insights to deliver exceptional results.
• Coaching: Support the Engagement Lead’s project management role by coaching a team of juniors, including Interns, Analysts and Associates, on a day-to-day basis, reviewing deliverables and providing recommendations for improvement.
• Participate in brand building through social media via profiling thought leadership.
• Business Development: responsible for the development of large sections of bids, including relevant methodology, working closely with the senior team.
Requirements:
• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of work experience with Excel Modeling
• Authorized to work in South Africa
• 2+ years of work experience with Climate Risk Assessment
Application:
Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter outlining what specifically appeals to you about CSS and how you would add value in this role. The cover letter is a key part of our assessment process and should reflect your genuine interest, judgement, and fit for the position.
Given the volume of applications we receive, generic or fully AI-generated cover letters that lack specificity and authenticity are readily identifiable and will not be competitive. We recognise that AI can be a useful tool to refine clarity and structure. However, it should support your own thinking, not replace it. We are interested in your perspective, motivation, and voice.