Principal - SME Finance & Development

Our client, an international financial institution is recruiting for an experienced finance professional to join their SME Finance & Development division.

The SME F&D Group designs and delivers specialised financing solutions for SMEs, primarily through funded and unfunded risk-sharing mechanisms with partner financial institutions to enhance access to finance. It also supports the development and financing of supply chain finance programmes, accelerating access to working capital for suppliers to larger anchor buyers, with a particular focus on SME suppliers. The SME F&D Group also administers the Advice for Small Businesses (ASB) programme, through which the bank delivers tailored advisory services and capacity-building support directly to SMEs across its countries of operation

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 Principal Banker is to contribute, as a senior project team member, to the structuring, implementation and monitoring of complex transactions, and to lead, as an operation leader, the development of less complex debt and equity transactions, and the effective implementation and monitoring of an assigned number of portfolio projects, in line with the Bank's operational objectives. The Principal Banker supervises, both as senior team member and as operation leader, more junior colleagues to ensure efficient processing of deal flow and portfolio monitoring transactions

Role responsibilities:

• Structuring & Execution: Work as a senior project team member with more experienced operation leaders on complex transactions, contributing to all aspects of project structuring and execution, including supporting the operation leader with the management of the project team
• Portfolio Monitoring, Value Creation and Reporting: As a senior project team member perform all such tasks as may be assigned by the operation leader and provide constructive portfolio monitoring advice, guidance and supervision to more junior members of the project team
• Policy Dialogue: In cooperation with relevant units within the Bank and Banking country teams (if applicable), contribute to policy dialogue, in a leading role (project level initiatives) or supporting function (national level initiatives). 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: Assist with marketing and business development efforts, working closely with sector and advisory teams, in the relevant sector and countries to build reputable market contacts in order to develop a broad deal flow and cross selling of the Bank's competencies
• Staff Management: Assist in recruiting, training, coaching and mentoring junior bankers, in coordination with the team Director and Associate Directors, Senior Bankers, involving them in all aspects of the project cycle (appraisal, execution, implementation, monitoring and business development), ensuring adequate quality of project work and appropriate work load distribution amongst the project team members; contribute to their professional and competency development

Candidate requirements:

• 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.
• Significant 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.
• Practical experience of participating in and leading complex transactions through the full project life cycle.
• Strong understanding of the Nigerian and wider West African market, underpinned by hands-on experience in the banking and financial services sector, with a deep appreciation and understanding of local dynamics and trends. Relevant industry/country (as applicable) experience might be mandatory, including understanding of country/regional/sector dynamics and trends - depending on the specifics of the position.
• 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.