AD, FI Business Leader Benin & Cote d'Ivoire

Purpose of Job:

The Associate Director, FI Business Leader is responsible for the effective delivery of the FI Group’s business - projects, policy dialogue and technical assistance - in Benin and Cote d’Ivoire. Over time and subject to Senegal and Ghana becoming member countries of EBRD, and the necessary approvals to open offices in Senegal and Ghana being obtained, the role will also cover FI business in Senegal and Ghana.  They will seek to originate new business and develop new relationships in these countries.  They will be accountable for managing FI relationships and will be seen as the “go-to” person by counterparties inside and outside the Bank on FI issues in these countries.

The Associate Director, FI Business Leader is responsible for all aspects of the project cycle, including project origination, structuring, execution, implementation and monitoring, for all types of investment instruments offered by the Bank.  The Associate Director, FI Business Leader is also responsible for business/pipeline development, client management and policy dialogue.

Externally, the Associate Director, FI Business Leader will be one of the Bank’s primary representatives with clients, government authorities, and other stakeholders in these countries.  Internally the Associate Director, FI Business Leader is responsible for ensuring that projects are executed, implemented and monitored in line with the procedures, policies and strategies of the Bank.

The Associate Director, FI Business Leader contributes to setting the team’s strategy and targets in these countries and plays a critical role in meeting them.

The Associate Director, FI Business Leader takes responsibility for effective leadership of his/her project teams, supervises junior banking staff, and provides adequate coaching and mentoring assistance.

Background:

The project life-cycle involves several stages from origination to signing, followed by implementation and monitoring until full completion and repayment or exit. All the stages involve different tasks such as business marketing, project due diligence analysis, structuring and approval, negotiation and signing of project agreements, disbursement and monitoring.

The role of the Associate Director, FI Business Leader is to lead business origination and development of debt and equity transactions (along the full spectrum of transaction complexity), and to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of his/her project portfolio in line with the Bank’s operational objectives. The Associate Director, FI Business Leader leads more junior colleagues to ensure efficient processing of deal flow and portfolio monitoring.

The Associate Director, FI Business Leader builds and maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders in relation to business development, project execution, implementation and monitoring, policy dialogue, co-financing arrangements and donor funding, as applicable.

Depending on relevant skills and experience, the Associate Director, FI Business Leader might also be expected (in close collaboration with the Team Director) to undertake strategic tasks for the team as a whole, including management of a different geographic or business segment, and/or expanded business development responsibilities, and/or expanded project portfolio management responsibilities, and/or expanded administrative/management tasks.  Building capacity of junior colleagues through coaching and mentoring is an integral part of the role of the Associate Director, FI Business Leader, as is taking responsibility for the team’s image and operational effectiveness under the guidance of the Team Director.

Facts / Scale:

Typically:

•            Be responsible for the delivery and/or execution of a defined number and/or volume of projects each year in these countries in compliance with the Bank’s operational goals and mandate;

•            Ensure that signed projects within his/her responsibility, are adequately implemented, monitored and managed;

•            Contribute to developing a robust pipeline of projects in these countries through business development efforts;

•            Supervise and/or manage Direct Reports;

•            Provide guidance and coaching to more junior colleagues;

•            Carry out other relevant tasks assigned by Management;

Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

Structuring and Execution:

•            Lead structuring, negotiation (including review of legal documentation) and the execution of transactions, working with clients, authorities, consultants and internal units as applicable, taking responsibility for all aspects of the project cycle work and ensuring that all transaction risks (credit and reputational, among others) are properly identified and articulated;

•            Manage the resources and the work load of the project teams under his/her supervision;

•            Oversee the project due diligence process ensuring it meets the Bank’s standards ;

•            Ensure quality and appropriateness of TC assistance components which support the investments or contribute to policy dialogue initiatives;

•            Ensure that all transactions under his/her supervision are completed within the specified time frames to a high standard (including all internal memoranda and Board reports) and in line with the policies, procedures and objectives of the Bank.

Portfolio Monitoring, Value Creation and Reporting:

•            Accountable for the delivery of the annual FI counterparty credit reviews for these countries; accountable for continuous monitoring of the credit risk profile of FI counterparties in these countries, signalling to FI Portfolio Managers and, where relevant, Risk Management and OCCO any developments that materially affect the counterparty credit risk profile.

•            Assume overall responsibility for the effective monitoring of all projects within his/her responsibility, including verifying the quality of regular monitoring reports; taking the lead in maintaining or supervising the management of client relationships; actively managing the resolution of any implementation/monitoring issues in cooperation with relevant Portfolio Managers; managing and supervising more junior bankers who assist in portfolio monitoring;

•            Supervise implementation and monitoring of, and reporting on, relevant TC assignments to ensure their compliance with donor reporting requirements, operational objectives and that all reports are of a high quality;

•            Take responsibility for ensuring timely notification of any critical portfolio issues to the relevant    Portfolio Manager and/or Management, ensuring availability of adequate data and information for the Portfolio Manager and/or Management to be able to take timely decisions.

Policy Dialogue:

•            In cooperation with relevant units within the Bank (e.g., Policy VP, CFMD) and Banking country teams (if applicable), contribute to the Bank’s policy dialogue efforts in order to achieve the objectives defined in the relevant Country/Sector Strategy or Policy or Initiative;

•            Assist in providing necessary support, in the form of relevant information or documentation or meeting participation, towards efforts to procure grants and technical cooperation funds to complement investment projects or required as part of policy dialogue efforts.

Business Development:

•            Take a proactive role in marketing and business development efforts in the relevant sector/s and countries to build reputable market contacts in order to develop a strong pipeline and cross selling of the Bank’s competencies;

•            Represent and promote the Bank through developing key relationships with senior level counterparts, attend industry events, conferences, meetings with government authorities, investors, organisations, donors and business communities;

•            Report on the outcome of such activities to share knowledge internally;

•            Critically screen project proposal flow that is generated through business development efforts, liaising with other colleagues and teams within the Bank in order to identify sound and executable investments that meet the requirements of the Bank’s mandate.

Staff Management:

•            Full scope of personnel management responsibilities for Direct Reports, including administrative matters, coaching and supporting the professional development of Direct Reports and acting as their primary performance reviewer. In addition, contribute to and act as a secondary performance reviewer of other relevant bankers who work on projects in these countries.

•            Recruit, supervise, coach and guide junior bankers, (or provide active support) and involve them in all aspects of the project cycle (appraisal, execution, implementation, monitoring and business development), ensuring adequate quality of project work and appropriate workload distribution amongst the project team members; contribute to their professional and competency development;

•            Develop productive relationships within the organisation to able to work effectively in a country/sector matrix structure and in a multi-cultural working environment.

•            Directly accountable for the engagement and effective overall management of the Team including recruitment, performance management, coaching and development. Where matrix reporting is in place, work jointly with the country counterpart when setting objectives and completing performance appraisals for relevant staff.

•            Champion and role model the Bank’s Behavioural Competencies and Corporate Behaviours, ensuring adherence within the team(s) so that the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct are exhibited at all times.

Additional senior responsibilities:

•            Responsible for timely quality control and formal sign-off in place of the Director of internal approval documents, for projects under the Delegated Authority route, ahead of their circulation and submission. For projects requiring Board approval, responsible for review and pre-approval of internal approval documents as well as external communication and legal documents ahead of formal FI SEMED and SSA Director sign-off.

•            Expected to be a lead presenter at OpsCom, other Bank Committees and the Board.

•            Depending on specific expertise and/ or skills, take on additional strategic tasks for the team as a whole, including management of geographic or business segments, and/or expanded business development responsibilities and/or expanded project portfolio management responsibilities, and/or expanded administrative/management tasks.  May be expected to act as nominee director/observer on client supervisory Boards or Board committees.

Qualifications & Skills / Experience & Knowledge:

Qualifications and Skills:

•            Bachelor’s degree.  Master’s degree preferred or equivalent experience in the areas of expertise.

•            Professional qualification such as ACA, CFA, ACCA, or CIMA desirable.

•            Strong quantitative/numerical skills are critical with the ability to interpret financial information and to design and use financial models.

•            Credit analysis skills, with the ability to interpret accounts, understanding local and international accounting principles and practice of credit analysis.

•            Computer literacy, conversant with Microsoft Office and spread sheet packages including financial analysis and modelling modules.

•            Excellent understanding of relevant systems and processes.

•            Stakeholder management skills.

•            Coaching, mentoring & leadership skills.

•            Relationship management and negotiation skills.

•            Ability to work to deadlines and under time pressure.

•            Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

•            Good command of French is also an advantage.

Experience & Knowledge:

•            Extensive years of relevant financial industry experience from an investment or commercial bank, private equity firm, asset management firm, or auditing/financial consulting firm operating to international standards.

•            Extensive experience of leading complex transactions through the full project life cycle.

•            Relevant financial sector experience, including understanding of financial sector dynamics in these countries or similar developing economies.

•            Relevant country experience, including understanding of country/regional dynamics and trends.

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About EBRD 

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.  

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high-performing environment. 

The EBRD environment provides you with: 

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in. 
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity. Our workforce reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation and enhancing our ability to serve our clients, shareholders, and counterparties effectively.
• A hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals; that is based on trust, flexibility and connectedness. 
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do. 
• A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits. 

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background or disability.   

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).