Senior Financial Advisor

Purpose of the Job

Lead and be responsible for the valuation and risk analysis of new projects (including review of financial models) and for the preparation of financing plans, selection of funding sources / banks (in coordination with the Head of AIFA – India), structuring and execution of acquisitions and project financings. Be responsible for or (as the case may be) supervise and approve work on non-project related AIFA activities (e.g. annual impairment tests, lookbacks, etc). Manage, supervise, train and coach junior members of the team. Although the main responsibility and focus is India, flexibility is required to be able to support (as and when required) other sub-regions / other countries within AMEA region.

 

Reporting - Head – AIFA, India

 

Key Accountabilities:

 

• Monitor and assess liquidity, terms and general trends of project finance debt markets (as applicable to the Region), including international commercial banks, regional and local commercial banks, relevant export credit and multilateral agencies, other funding institutions
• Monitor and assess competitors’ approaches to financing / funding projects
• Monitor relevant development in debt capital markets
• Ensure compliance with investment guidelines and methodology

 

Objectives:

 

• Responsible for the valuation of development projects
• Responsible for analysis of financial (or financing related) risks and impact of proposed transactions on accounting
• Lead the structuring and execution of financing plans for new projects
• Responsible for reviewing and approving financing, accounting and tax related inputs in financial models (where required with the support of relevant expertise centres and/or external consultants)
• Responsible for reviewing and approving the structure and general soundness of financial models
• Propose appropriate financing plans, including alternatives or be responsible for selection of appropriate financing plan as delegated by the Head of AFIA – AMEA
• Propose banks / financing institutions and/or agencies to be selected to the Head of AIFA – AMEA, or be responsible for selection as delegated by the Head of AFIA – AMEA
• Assist business development decision making process including in developing together with consultants’ market forecasts
• Propose and implement relevant sensitivity analysis for investment files
• Advise on risk allocation, bankability issues, optimisation & tax structuring
• Identify main project economic and financial risks and advise on the appropriate mitigation factors and definition of appropriate contingencies
• Responsible for the management of Financial Advisors and Junior Financial on an assignment basis
• Responsible for the training, development, and general support of junior members of the team
• Collaborate with Head of AIFA – AMEA in the setting of annual objectives and carrying out annual performance review of Financial Advisors and Junior Financial Advisors
• KPI’s: prepare financing plans and/or deliver financing commitments (with all relevant documentation) within the timeframe agreed with BD colleagues (e.g. bid deadlines etc.)

 

Planning:

 

• Cooperation with Finance function in the preparation of medium-term plan (“PAMT”) and budgets, including by providing macro-economic assumptions. Responsible for coordinating / managing junior members of the team assigned to work on PAMT / other planning activities.

 

Implementation:

 

• Propose resource allocation for projects / assignments
• Responsible for preparing request for proposals for banks / advisors / etc. (or delegate to Financial Advisor when appropriate)
• Lead (or co-lead with Head of AFIA – India) negotiations with lenders / financial institutions (or delegate to Financial Advisor when appropriate)
• When proposing alternative financing plans, responsible for preparation or review of relevant analysis (incl. impact on project economics, execution risk, etc.)
• Assess the training needs of Financial Advisors and Junior Financial Advisors and propose appropriate actions and support / coach junior members of the team on the job as and when required

 

Monitor & Report:

 

• Responsible for monitoring the performance of junior members of the team and report to Head of AIFA – India when required
• Report to Head of AIFA – India any material developments in banking / financing markets and any unusual / unexpected project-specific developments

 

 

Audit & Control:

 

• Support any group or external audit

 

 

Qualifications:

 

 

• MBA Finance / Economics / CA based degree or a professional qualification such as CFA, CIMA, ACA, ACCA (or equivalent)

 

Experience:

 

• Between 8 - 12 years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 4 years spent working in AIFA / M&A or project finance
• Experience in leading the valuation efforts for an acquisition deal, and/or financing efforts for a bid (including leading projects/transactions to financial close)
• Experience in planning and managing processes and proven experience in managing people within a project team environment.

 

Knowledge and Skills:

 

• Proven capabilities to structure and lead all financing aspects of either an acquisition or a project financing (better both)
• Strong negotiating skills
• Strong and proven analytical skills, including proficient financial modelling
• Commercial acumen with good understanding of accounting topics and tax structures
• Planning ability and capacity to deliver on plans
• Strong leadership qualities, people management skills and ability to motivate team members
• Able and willing to train, coach and support more junior team members
• Presence and interpersonal credibility to represent the company with key financial stakeholders, banks, financial institutions, government agencies / departments and partners.
• Ability to multitask and to work effectively under pressure
• Behavioural capabilities: problem solving, strong personality and leadership, common sense and sense of humour.

 

Business Understanding:

 

• Sound understanding of the power business and merchant market dynamics, power forecasts including long term forecasts key drivers
• Proven understanding of merchant market
• Sound understanding of banking and funding processes / issues
• Good knowledge of the competitive environment faced in emerging countries
• Direct knowledge and experience of business environment (or even better power business) in India would be a definite plus

 

Language:

 

• Fluent English mandatory. Standard Hindi (and/or other language(s) widely spoken in India) would be a plus. French or Dutch valuable

 

Location/travel:

 

• Pune, Maharashtra, India.
• Travel within India and some travel to Dubai can be expected.

 

Field: AIFA

 

Employee Status: Permanent

 

Schedule: Full time

 

Primary Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India