Title: Associate Investment Officer Closing Date: 08/11/2013
Background / General Description:IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is the largest multilateral provider of financing for private enterprise in emerging markets. IFC provides loans, equity, structured finance and risk management tools as well as advisory services to build the private sector in developing countries. IFC invests in private sector projects that are financially and economically viable and have a substantial development impact. The Corporation is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It has three hubs in Sub-Saharan Africa (Johannesburg, Dakar, and Nairobi) and several field offices.
The Financial Markets Department, one of IFC’s several industry departments, supports projects in numerous financial subsectors, builds local financial institutions, develops local equity and debt markets and introduces new financing instruments.
The goal is to develop efficient financial systems that will fuel economic growth in client countries and enhance IFC’s developmental impact.
The Financial Markets Department is recruiting an Associate Investment Officer to join the Investment and Portfolio Team, which originates, manages and monitors IFC’s financial sector and private equity fund investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Associate Investment Officer will report to the Financial Markets Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa.
The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Provide key support in identification, appraisal, structuring and negotiation of financial sector investments.Identify and analyze fundamental competitive strengths and weaknesses of projects or portfolio companies and identify non-financial issues, opportunities and risk/reward factors (e.g. business environment, country, and sponsor).Handle disbursements, waivers and complex client interactions such as restructurings; monitor and value equity investments and recommends/executes the sale of holdings.Monitor existing investments in portfolio companies, comprising various types of financial entities and private equity funds.Review and analyze the financial and operating performance of clients; prepare quarterly risk ratings, annual supervision and other management reports as well as country strategy papers, briefs and project profiles.Handle client relationships and provide insight into sector developments in client countries to anticipate new investment opportunities and/or performance issues.Apply knowledge of project/portfolio lifecycle to identify and meet critical path milestones, and to implement tasks (including production of documents) in a timely and high quality fashion for the processing or supervision of projects.Actively keep abreast of regional and industry developments and incorporates trends into the processing or supervision of projects.Masters degree and minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in the financial sector, preferably in an investment related function and/or the private equity industry.Good understanding of financial and operational characteristics of financial institutions and/or private equity funds.Clear experience and expertise in identifying, evaluating, structuring and negotiating debt and equity transactions; experience in portfolio management.Sound business judgment and strong problem solving/negotiation skills, as well as ability to work effectively on simultaneous projects under time pressure.Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; French or Portuguese a significant plus.A keen interest in development finance and working in a multicultural environment.
