Principal, Risk Officer

Purpose of Job

Independently analyse and appraise the risks of EBRD’s new and existing portfolio of corporate and project finance debt transactions in the Energy and Infrastructure sectors; identify required due diligence, recommend appropriate risk mitigation measures and transaction structures, including security, covenants, and pricing. Advise bankers and the Bank’s Committees to ensure that banking projects comply with the Bank’s sound banking mandate. The Principal Risk Officer reviews portfolio projects, assigns credit ratings and communicates trends in the portfolio and lessons learned to management and peers for their broader strategic decision-making and bottom-up stress-testing. The Principal Risk Officer is responsible to lead and coach associate risk officers, analysts and junior bankers rotating through Corporate & Project Finance Credit Risk Management Team. 

Background

Risk Management is the Bank’s second line of defence, which is responsible for the independent identification, reporting and mitigation of risks. The Principal Risk Officer provides advice and presents recommendations to the Operations Committee, Small Business Investment Committee (SBIC)/ approves projects together with the Banking department under Delegated Authority, addressing credit concerns, remuneration, and seeks to minimise losses.

Facts / Scale

• Corporate & Project Finance (CPF) Credit Team comprises one Director, 3 Senior People Manager Associate Directors, 12 Associate Directors, 9 Principal/Associate Risk Officers and Bankers on rotation. In 2025, CPF staff provided independent review, approval recommendation and structuring advice for more than 750 corporate and project finance new debt proposals, monitored and provided portfolio management recommendations for 660 counterparties.
• Each Principal Risk Officer is responsible, with the support of associates/analysts, up to ~ 80 projects from inception to final repayment. 

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

The Principal Risk Officer will work with varying levels of supervision depending on their experience and the relevant task on the following:

• Establish an independent and unbiased view on projects proposed to the Operations Committee / SBIC / under Delegated Authority and make clear recommendations, or approvals, on each proposal.
• Analyse the key risks of each proposal and advise on risk mitigation measures, structures, tenor, security, covenants and condition precedents, to the project teams and, via credit notes. Be versed in climate risk issues that have an effect on new and existing operations, including risk mitigation and reputational issues. Appraise the validity and reliability of key assumptions of each proposal, including via involvement in the commissioning and review of independent due diligence and travel.
• Ensure projects comply with any relevant risk guidelines and prudential limits set by the Bank, and that appropriate ratings are assigned for probability of default and loss given default. Have the ownership of Risk data in the area of responsibility.
• Exercise independent delegated authority regarding portfolio actions (including certain waivers and amendments), and recommendations to senior management on matters requiring higher level approval (including transfers to corporate recovery, provisions and more significant restructuring, etc.).  
• Lead proactive and regular monitoring of the assigned portfolio counterparties arranged in sector clusters and countries ( and market developments. Actively and constructively engages with Banking and other relevant staff to ensure adequacy of front-line monitoring, coach Banking representatives when appropriate (including rotation in Corporate & Project Finance Credit Risk Management).
• In liaison with Risk Policy and Reporting, Climate Risk and other Risk Management teams lead sector portfolio reviews and provide input to portfolio stress-tests. Collaborate with other members of staff; especially in the Banking Department, Finance, the Office of the General Counsel and the Office of the Chief Economist to ensure effective cross-departmental and business functioning.
• Participate in various executive Bank committees - including the Operations Committee, SBIC, RiskCom etc.
• Participate and contribute positively to various initiatives within Risk Management or bank-wide.  
• Be an agent of credit culture dissemination, including mentoring of bankers on rotation.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Relevant banking or risk management experience is essential. 
• Influencing skills in overseeing the Banking team’s structuring of the transaction and articulation of any different views. 
• Experience of structuring high yield loans and other financial instruments, in both corporate and project finance.  
• Relevant experience in the Energy sector with demonstrated deal experience in renewable energy and battery storage projects.
• Clear understanding of other Infrastructure sectors (e.g. Transport, Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure).
• May act as the risk expert for the Energy sector and provide operational guidelines to the Banking teams and provide input into project selection and prioritisation.  
• Knowledge of energy & infrastructure markets in CEE & Baltics .
• Deliver clear authoritative conclusions in the context of large volumes and tight timescales. Proven skills and track record in decision-making capacity in credit risk in high-risk environments.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills and good Excel knowledge.
• Advanced degree in finance, business, economics or equivalent on the job training.
• Demonstrate developing people management skills for junior staff under their coaching/ mentoring responsibility.
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English.

What is it like to work at the 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. 

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;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital  transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. 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, sexual orientation or disabilities.  As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

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).