Principal Banker

Purpose of Job

The Energy Europe team delivers the Bank's mandate in the electricity sector in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. It makes debt, and equity, investments in the power sector, predominantly focusing on renewable power generation projects as well as electricity storage, transmission and distribution projects working with both public sector clients as well as private sponsors. Its activities are subject to the applicable Energy Sector Strategy and the Green Economy Transition Approach and consistent with the EBRD’s commitment to aligning its activities with the goals of the Paris Agreement. It also plays a key role in advancing policy dialogue to promote green, competitive and liberalised energy markets, with a particular focus on the development of regulatory frameworks to support increased penetration of renewable energy.

The Principal Banker is competent in undertaking all tasks related to, and understands all aspects of, project development and implementation, including project origination, structuring, execution, implementation and monitoring, for all types of investment instruments offered by the Bank.

The Principal Banker will act both as a senior member of a project team or as the Operational Leader (OL) / Transaction Leader leading the processing of an EBRD investment operation.

The Principal Banker, in their role as an operation leader, is expected to take responsibility for effective leadership of their project team/s, supervision of junior banking staff, while contributing to their coaching and providing mentoring assistance, as required.

The Principal Banker’s role also includes elements of business/pipeline development, client management and policy dialogue.

Please note that we are recruiting for two vacancies through this selection process: one regular role and one short-term(23 months) contract role.  

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 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.

The Principal Banker is able to build and maintain 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.

A substantial degree of independence is given to the Principal Banker, and they are expected to ensure effective project team work and progressively take on overall responsibility for increasingly complex transactions.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

1.       Structuring and 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;
  As an operation leader:
• Lead structuring, negotiation (including review of legal documentation) and the execution of transactions, working with clients, authorities, consultants and internal units;
• Manage the resources and the work load of the project teams under their supervision;
• Oversee the project due diligence process ensuring it meets the Bank’s standards;
• Ensure quality and appropriateness of technical cooperation (TC) assistance components which support the investments or contribute to policy dialogue initiatives;
• Ensure that all transactions within their responsibility 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.

2.       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.
  As operation leader:
• Take overall responsibility for the effective monitoring of all projects within their 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. 

3.       Policy Dialogue

• In cooperation with relevant units within the Bank (e.g., CSD, PSD, Impact) 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.

4.       Business Development

• Assist with marketing and business development efforts 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;
• Assist with the critical screening of project proposal flow that is generated through business development efforts, liaising with other colleagues and teams within the Bank to identify sound and executable investments that meet the mandate of the Bank.

5.       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;
• 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, compensation, 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.

The responsibilities of the Principal Banker are designed to allow for the development of transaction expertise and expansion of responsibilities, leading to assuming the role of Senior Banker.

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 over the local/country language(s) is an advantage.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Significant relevant financial industry experience from an investment or commercial bank, private equity firm, asset management firm, international financial institution, or auditing/financial consulting firm operating to international standards.
• Practical experience of participating in and leading complex transactions through the full project life cycle.
• Relevant energy sector experience.
• Understanding of energy markets dynamics and new technological trends (e.g. digitalisation, energy storage, hydrogen).

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).