What We Look for on the CVs of Investment Professionals in the Living Sectors

At Enable Talent Group, we specialise in recruiting senior finance and investment talent across Australia’s thriving living sectors  Build-to-Rent (BTR), Affordable Housing, Retirement Living, Student Accommodation, and Co-living. These asset classes are nuanced, capital-intensive, and fast-growing, and they demand professionals who can bridge strategy, structure, and execution.

When we assess CVs for roles in investment  whether you're an Analyst, Associate, Manager, or Director we’re looking beyond just where you’ve worked. We’re looking at how you think, what you’ve influenced, and whether your skills can unlock value in a living-sector context.

So, what stands out to us?

1. Real Sector Exposure (or Realistic Transferability)

We value candidates with clear exposure to residential real estate investment — whether institutional or private. However, we’re also open to adjacent-sector professionals who demonstrate commercial relevance. That includes:

• Mixed-use or residential development modelling
• Working on stabilised income-producing assets (e.g. multifamily, land lease communities)
• Projects with a blend of private equity, debt, and/or government subsidy

If you’ve worked on investment-grade residential projects, state this clearly on your CV — don’t bury it in bullet points.

2. Advanced Financial Modelling: Depth Over Buzzwords

Too often, CVs mention “financial modelling” without telling us what was actually modelled. In this market, detail matters.

We want to see:

➤ What kind of models have you built?

• Development feasibility models (DCF-based, dynamic cost/revenue inputs)
• Stabilised asset models (NPV, IRR, yield-on-cost, return on equity)
• Scenario analysis (base vs upside/downside)
• Sensitivity models across construction cost, lease-up risk, interest rate, or exit cap assumptions

➤ What were the outcomes?

• “Modelled a $220m BTR portfolio acquisition with blended gross yield of 4.7%, presenting downside IRR at 6.1%”
• “Supported IC approval by forecasting cash flows across 3 staged developments under a $300m JV vehicle”
• “Produced a rolling 10-year model to track DSCR and LVR for an SDA portfolio under mixed financing terms”

➤ How did the modelling influence the investment or asset strategy?

• Was it used for deal underwriting?
• Did it feed into a capital raise or debt structuring conversation?
• Did it highlight a value-add or risk mitigation strategy?

The best CVs give us just enough context to show commercial thinking, not just technical ability.

3. Project and Deal Visibility

In these sectors, your asset exposure tells a story. We want to see:

• Type of assets (e.g. BTR towers, affordable housing communities, integrated retirement precincts)
• Size and scale (e.g. "$180m GDV across three assets in outer metro Sydney")
• Your role (lead analyst, support, commercial business case builder, etc.)
• Outcomes (IC approval, acquisition, divestment, portfolio pivot, etc.)

Even listing headline transactions or projects — with your specific contribution — helps frame your value.

4. End-to-End Involvement and Stakeholder Influence

We assess how well you’ve operated across the lifecycle — not just what you’ve built in Excel.

• Have you liaised with Development, Asset Management or Capital Transactions teams?
• Were you involved in external valuations, due diligence, or capital partner discussions?
• Did you present findings to Investment Committees or C-suite executives?

We’re drawn to candidates who have combined technical analysis with strategic insight and stakeholder confidence.

5. Curiosity, Progression, and Cultural Fit

Beyond the numbers, we assess potential.

We value candidates who:

• Have shown progression (promotions, added portfolio scope, more stakeholder exposure)
• Have pursued credentials (e.g. CFA, Master of Finance, GradCert Property)
• Are motivated by the long-term evolution of the living sector and its impact on how Australians live

Cover letters, LinkedIn summaries, and career blurbs on your CV should reflect this — why you're in this space, and what you're building toward.

Final Thought: Numbers Matter, but So Does Narrative

At Enable Talent Group, we know investment recruitment isn't just about technical proficiency — it's about how

your experience connects to the business story.

We partner with developers, operators, fund managers and institutional investors building Australia's next generation of living assets. If you want to contribute to this space — and your modelling, analysis, and investment strategy thinking has played a part in real-world outcomes — we want to hear from you.