Associate, Project Finance

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Join MUFG, where being inspired is expected and making a meaningful impact is rewarded.

Overview of the Department/Section

Global Corporate & Investment Banking (“GCIB”) is the division responsible for managing the Bank’s key international client relationships and main financing products (Syndication, Structured & Project Finance, Securitisation, Working Capital Solutions, ECA financing, etc.). The coverage teams manage the global relationships with these groups. GCIB has a deep understanding of clients from a Credit and Strategic perspective, enabling it to offer the right products. At the centre of the client relationship, the Relationship Management teams coordinate the commercial strategy as well as the business lines (Capital Markets FX, Rates, Project Finance, Trade Finance, Global Network, etc.).

Our market leading Structured Finance (“ESFO”) department is responsible for i) marketing, ii) originating and iii) structuring project finance transactions in the EMEA region across the Infrastructure and Energy sectors. As part of Global Corporate & Investment Banking (EMEA), ESFO’s main responsibilities include the structuring, financial and rating advisory and the execution of loans for our clients in the region. A particular strength of ESFO is financial advisory capability that has broadened in scope from advising on lending but now includes equity advisory capability and procurement advisory.

The strategy of the team is to increase this broadening of scope whilst expanding the geographical and sectoral focus in order to support clients whilst contributing to the broader GCIB strategies around FIs, Distribution and Cross Sell.

ESFO Paris based team covers structured finance transactions across EMEA and is in particular in charge in the context of the GCIB Cross-Border Framework of leading i) the marketing, ii) the origination and iii) the structuring discussions for structured finance transactions to French based clients and transactions. It also forms with the ESFO team based in Madrid a platform in charge of leading structured finance transactions across Southern Europe. The ESFO Paris Team will in that context interface with relevant product specialists in London in accordance with the GCIB Cross-Border Framework.

Main Purpose of the Role 

• Operating as a product expert, contributing to the origination, structuring and execution of the project finance product.
• Required to work closely with relationship managers, cross-product specialists to manage client sales/client interaction in order to support product development, risk solutions, distribution and cross-sell opportunities.
• Accountable for the following departments: Structured Finance Office for EMEA (ESFO), Global Corporate & Investment Banking Division for EMEA (GCIB)

Education

• Degree Level and/or relevant industry expertise

Work Experience

Essential:

• 3-4 years previous experience working in investment banking finance
• Significant relevant industry experience with a specialism within structured finance and have a minimum level of project finance experience within a complex financial services environment working on Project Finance transactions
• Experience supporting full transaction lifecycle including due diligence, modeling, and execution

Beneficial:

• Advisory experience

Functional Skills

• Ability to use financial models to assess project viability
• Deep understanding of credit documentation and structuring
• Ability to interpret and apply key financial ratios and risk metrics
• Familiarity with types of project-related contracts
• Sound IT knowledge and skills
• Quantitative / numerical skills
• Commercial acumen and negotiation skills

Foundational Skills

• The ability to manage large workloads and tight deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• A calm approach, with the ability to perform well in a pressured environment
• Communicates effectively
• Identifies multiple paths to success using analytical and critical thinking as well as decision-making skills
• Exercises sound judgement, prioritizes effectively, and strives for continuous improvement
• Effectively collaborates with colleagues
• Leverages available technology to drive efficiency and results
• Understands and applies industry trends and best practices
• Exhibits optimism, resilience, flexibility, and openness to others' ideas
• A proactive, motivated approach.
• Results driven, with a strong sense of accountability
• Values learning as a lifelong professional objective
• Engages inclusively and with intent
• Always acts with integrity

Language Skills

• French and English Fluent
• Spanish or Italian fluency is a plus

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed analysis and due diligence for new opportunities in the infrastructure and energy sectors
• Reviews market studies, engineering reports, financial models, financial statements, customer financial information, project contracts, and legal analyses
• Reviews information about project assets, development plans, and commercial arrangements
• Analyzes credit documentation, term sheets, and work with bank products (Loans, Interest Rates Swaps, Foreign Exchange, and Bonds) to meet client needs and objectives
• Analyzes covenants in financing documentation, including those pertaining to maintenance of financial ratios, financial reporting of financial and operating results
• Conduct product and market research from a range of generalised and specialist sources, extract relevant information and summarize data to inform decision making at more senior levels.
• Using existing models to analyse product performance, identify simple patterns and trends to support decisions relating to product development or marketing.
• Contribute to the production of credit applications and produce technical sections relating to a specific product area of expertise.
• Prepare Business Screening Memos (Debt and/or Advisory) and Deal Screening Committee (DSC).
• Liaise with clients at a counterpart level to relay specific information and respond to routine queries ensuring a high level of customer services.
• Build relationships throughout the Bank to establish a peer network, gather relevant information and help to ensure effective inter-departmental collaboration.
• Work closely with other departments and stakeholders (including Portfolio Asset Management).
• Process initial compliance checks in line with internal and external processes and procedures.
• Develop a practical understanding of all core systems and procedures within ESFO and how they link into standard systems in order to respond to enquiries.
• Work closely with and support the financial modeller on a deal team and interrogate the financial model.
• Assist in the preparation of marketing materials (including proposals and pitches).
• Through collaboration with MUS employees, facilitate the marketing and origination of transactions in respect to the MUS product suite. The non-functional nature of this role leans that you will not be able to transact (which leans lead any structuring, credit, execution or commitment discussions) on behalf of any MUS legal entity; through your role in Project Finance you will be able to share data and information, attend both internal and external meetings, offering up views and opinions. All recommendations and final decisions around structure, credit, pricing, execution and commitment must be made by a MUS employee or a functional dual-hat employee.
• Assist the team with the preparation of Information Memorandums and generally support the execution of advisory mandates under the supervision of more senior staff.
• Oversees and manages internal processes required for compliance and execution, including know your customer (KYC), profitability analysis, committee approvals, legal due diligence, and closing checklists
• Lead/assist specified internal projects, setting short term objectives to maximise sales and revenue generation.  Contribute to wider division projects.
• Lead/assist in fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, diversity, enpowerment and high performance.

We are open to considering flexible working requests in line with organisational requirements.

MUFG is committed to embracing diversity and building an inclusive culture where all employees are valued, respected and their opinions count. We support the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in recruitment and employment, and oppose all forms of discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, race, gender reassignment, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnership.

We make our recruitment decisions in a non-discriminatory manner in accordance with our commitment to identifying the right skills for the right role and our obligations under the law.