Principal Banker in Bratislava RO

Role Overview

The EBRD Bratislava Resident Office is seeking a Principal Banker who will undertake 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 an operation leader (typically on less complex transactions than a Senior Banker) engaging in the development of new business opportunities, client management and policy dialogue in line with the Bank’s Country Strategy for Slovakia.

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

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the project leader or a more senior banker:

• 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 his/her supervision;
• Oversee the project due diligence process ensuring it meets the Bank’s standards;
• Ensure that all transactions within his/her 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.

• 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 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;
• 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.

• In cooperation with relevant units within the Bank and Banking country teams, 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.

• Use available resources, including but not limited to the Head of RO and industry sector teams to drive new business development;
• Build reputable market contacts in order to develop a broad deal flow and cross selling of the Bank’s competencies in line with the Country Strategy;
• Assist with the critical screening of project proposals 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.

• Assist in recruiting, training, coaching and mentoring junior bankers, in coordination with the team Director and 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.
• 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.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• 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.
• Robust credit analysis skills, with the ability to interpret accounts, understand local and international accounting principles and the skill use this knowledge to structure finance appropriately.
• Computer literacy – highly skilled user of Microsoft Office and spread sheet packages including financial analysis and modelling.
• 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 is a requirement.
• Good command over the Slovak language is an advantage as is local knowledge of the Slovak business environment.

• 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 a wide range of different and complex debt / equity transactions through the full project life cycle. (Provision of a detailed list of transactions and the incumbent’s specific role would be appreciated).
• A good knowledge of Slovak business, the language and EBRD, its products and processes would each be an advantage although not necessarily a pre-requisite for this role.

Diversity Matters

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.