Associate, Office of the CEO

Location: Toronto - ON - Canada

Portage Overview

Portage is a leading global fintech and financial services investment platform with $7.0B in AUM, operating within Sagard’s $46B multi-alternatives franchise. Portage brings together deep sector expertise, a thesis-driven investment approach, and dedicated value creation capabilities to back the world’s leading fintech and financial services companies at every stage of growth. Since inception in 2016, Portage has 10+ years of track record, made 145+ direct investments, realized 25 exits, and have offered over $1B+ in co-investment opportunities to our LP base.

Core areas of focus include insurance, consumer & SMB finance, wealth & asset management, and payments & fintech enablers. The investment team has a global presence with 27 investment professionals spanning Canada, the US, and Europe.

Position Overview

We are looking for an Associate in the Office of the CEO. This is a high exposure and high impact role. You’ll work directly with the CEO and leadership team and report to our Chief of Staff. You’ll support strategic, operational, and growth initiatives, improve how we work, and partnering with nearly every team in the firm.

What you’ll do

• Assist in strategic planning efforts by conducting research, gathering data, and preparing materials to support decision-making
• Build the presentations and briefing materials for the CEO’s internal and external engagements (e.g., conferences, team offsites, fireside chats)
• Lead process improvements and operational initiatives alongside the Chief of Staff
• Implement a process for value creation coordination, working closely with the value creation team (Growth/Go-to-Market, AI, Tech/Cyber, M&A) and investment partners
• Write and polish reports, newsletters, and investor updates
• Collaborate with teams across the organization, including Investor Relations, Legal, and Finance, to support operational objectives
• Attend meetings with the CEO and action follow-ups

What you bring

• 2-4+ years in strategic consulting, investment banking, investing, corporate strategy, or data and analytics, or a recent degree in Business, Economics, or a related field
• Fluency with numbers and the ability to distill complex information into clear takeaways for senior leaders
• A self-starter’s instincts: you spot problems early, propose solutions, and see a lack of structure as an opportunity to build
• Excellent judgment and discretion with confidential information and senior stakeholders
• Organization and attention to detail across multiple workstreams with competing priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication, with confidence in sharing a view and openness to other perspectives
• Active use of AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, n8n, or similar) and strong skills in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
• Reliability and ability to deliver on deadlines

You’ll thrive here if you’re

• Rigorous: analytical, accurate, and exacting, even at speed
• Collaborative: inclusive and hands-on, with a focus on results
• Proactive and innovative: curious, energized by ambiguity, and always suggesting a better way to work
• Entrepreneurial and authentic: you embody the values that define Portage
• At Portage, we’re building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. Not sure you tick every box? Apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for this role or another.
• If you need accommodation during the hiring process, please contact the People & Culture team in advance. We thank all applicants for their interest.