Principal Banker

Posting Date: 6 Aug 2025

Location: Nairobi, KE

Company: EBRD

The date of appointment of the successful candidate to the Principal Banker position in EBRD’s office in Kenya will be subject to necessary approval to open an office in Kenya being obtained. While this process is still under way, EBRD will issue a conditional offer to the successful candidate and will confirm the employment start date as soon as the institutional approval process is completed.

As this role involves collaboration with international teams, we kindly ask that you submit your resume in English.

Purpose of Job

The Principal Banker is competent in undertaking 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 as a senior member of the Resident Office, and in the context of a project team, as a senior member or as an operation leader. 

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

The Principal Banker’s role also includes elements of business/pipeline development, client management and policy dialogue.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Structuring and Execution

• Work as a senior project team member, including with more experienced operation leaders, on complex transactions, contributing to all aspects of project structuring and execution, including management of the project team and supporting the operation leader (when applicable) with 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 workload of the project teams under their supervision;
• Oversee the project due diligence process ensuring it meets the Bank’s standards;
• Ensure quality and appropriateness of TC assistance components which support the investments or contribute to policy dialogue initiatives;
• Ensure that all transactions within their 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.

Portfolio Monitoring, Value Creation and Reporting

• As a senior project team member perform all such tasks as may be assigned by the operation leader (if applicable) 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 their 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;
• Supervise implementation and monitoring of, and reporting on, relevant TC assignments to ensure their compliance with donor reporting requirements, operational objectives and that all reports are of a high quality;
• 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.

Policy Dialogue

• In cooperation with relevant units within the Bank (e.g., Policy Vice Presidency) and Banking sector teams (if applicable), 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.

Business Development

• Assist and lead (when appropriate) with marketing and business development efforts in the relevant sector and countries to build reputable market contacts in order to develop a broad deal flow and cross selling of the Bank’s competencies;
• Assist and lead (when appropriate) with the critical screening of project proposal flow that is 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.

Staff Management

• Assist in recruiting, training, coaching and mentoring junior bankers, in coordination with the team Director and Associate Directors, 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 workload 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.
• Directly accountable for the engagement and effective overall management of the Team including recruitment, compensation, performance management, coaching and development. Where matrix reporting is in place, work jointly with the country counterpart when setting objectives and completing performance appraisals for relevant staff.
• Champion and role model the Bank’s Behavioural Competencies and Corporate Behaviours, ensuring adherence within the team(s) so that the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct are exhibited at all times.

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

Qualifications and Skills:

• 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.
• Credit analysis skills, with the ability to interpret accounts, understanding local and international accounting principles and practice of credit analysis.
• Computer literacy, conversant with Microsoft Office and spread sheet packages including financial analysis and modelling modules.
• 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.
• Good command over the key local language / dialect is an advantage.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Significant relevant financial industry experience from a development finance institution, an investment or commercial bank, private equity firm, asset management firm, or international auditing/financial consulting firm.
• Practical experience of participating in and leading complex transactions through the full project life cycle.
• Relevant country experience is highly desirable, including in-depth understanding of country/regional dynamics and trends.