AIFA Financial Advisor / Project Finance Analyst
Posting date : 27/03/2025
Requisition ID : 44012
AIFA Financial Advisor / Project Finance Analyst
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Perform valuation and financial analysis/modelling for investments/divestments in compliance with AIFA methodologies;
Lead the AIFA workstream for the assigned projects: due diligence, debt raising, negotiations
Advise on risk allocation, appropriate mitigation factors and contingencies, hedging strategy, bankability issues, optimization & tax structuring;
Prepare and present files for investment decision, including relevant sensitivity analysis ;
Establish projects’ impacts on financing and accounting at local and ENGIE Group level ;
Actively support the commercial process by providing timely insights and advice on the economics and financials of commercial opportunities;
Support the capital structuring on projects and recommend best financing strategy (based on in depth knowledge of the current banking market, capital markets, ECAs and other sources of funds);
Support the structuring, negotiation and execution of project financing and equity transactions;
Maintain market intelligence, screen opportunities, monitor and assess competitors’ approach to financing/funding projects;
Handle non-project related AIFA activities (e.g. annual impairment tests, lookbacks, etc.)
COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal:
- Business Development Department
- Expertise centres (IFRS, Fiscal etc.)
- Legal team
- Engineering & construction
- Globalized Corporate Finance / Treasury & Tax / Insurance Departments
External:
- Banks and International Financial Institutions
- Multilaterals / Export credit agencies
- Tax / accounting advisors and auditors
- Legal, Technical and Insurance advisors
- Partners & competitors
- Off takers / tendering authorities / Customers
- Contractors / suppliers
- Other ‘stakeholders’ and relevant parties
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
Degree / Experience
- Finance / Economics based degree or a professional qualification such as CFA, CIMA, ACA, ACCA (or equivalent) or technical qualification/degree (e.g. engineering).
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience (preferably within a sponsor-side AIFA / project finance team or within a bank, financial advisory firm and/or accounting/fiscal advisory firm);
- More than 2 years of experience in a lead role; experience in planning and managing processes
- Proven experience and demonstrable competency with complex financial modelling (including debt modelling)
- Advanced proficiency in excel (incl. understanding and use of basic Macros)
- Experience in supporting the financing efforts for a bid (and/or support a project to financial close) preferable
- Demonstrable prior experience of project financing for power projects in RSA, including: REIPPP, RMIPPP, ESIPPP, and private procurement bidding and financial close processes; or any other country in Africa would be a valuable experience for the role
Behavioural Competencies
- Dynamic and results-driven work ethic
- Ability to adapt to competitive and changing environment
- Ability to take accountability for the quality of work
- Ability to work within a team of members from varying cultural backgrounds as well as with counterparts of varying cultural backgrounds;
- Ability to work together with the other departments, promotes cooperation with other departments, knowledge sharing across the team;;
- Presence and interpersonal credibility advantageous;
- Ability to maintain high standards in terms of work quality, attention to details;
- Ability to multitask, to keep functioning effectively when under pressure and to maintain self-control;
- Ability to demonstrate support for innovation and for organizational changes, critical thinking;
- Ability to explore new ideas, creativity, flexibility and ability to take initiative;
- Maintains high ethical standards.
Specific knowledge / skills
- Strong and proven analytical and quantitative skills, including proficient financial modelling;
- Commercial acumen with good understanding of accounting topics and tax structures;
- Evaluation methodologies, financial models, business plans preparation, and simulation tools ;
- Demonstrable understanding and familiarity with key project finance concepts;
- Planning ability and capacity to deliver on plans and to work autonomously;
- Ability to identify and present the key aspects, challenges and potential issues of a project;
- Good negotiation skills and interpersonal skills
- Strong communication skills and team spirit
- Expert knowledge of Excel, especially financial models (including VBA), Word and Power Point.
Business understanding
- Understanding of the renewable power industry and the IPP and C&I models;
- Understanding of banking and funding processes issues;
- nderstanding of contractual structure of a typical contracted-output IPP.
Language
- Fluent in English is mandatory, knowledge of other language(s) is a plus.
Location / travel
- Location: Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.
Travel through Africa and possible to travel outside region (e.g. Paris, Belgium, Dubai).