Global Structured Finance (Project Finance) – North America – Vice President, Power & New Energies

Role Description

SMBC’s Global Structured Finance Department is looking for a Vice President to join the energy and power sector group within the market leading North America Project Finance Group. Among other activities, this group leads SMBCs effort in advising and underwriting the financing of major projects across the broader energy sector. Asset types include renewable power, renewable fuels, hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon capture and sequestration, and other new energies technologies and processes.

The North America Project Finance Group provides advisory, underwriting, structuring, and capital markets offerings to large corporations and financial sponsors. The group covers the growing infrastructure industry (including digital infrastructure, transportation, and social infrastructure), the power industry (including conventional power generation, renewable power generation, and storage), and new energies and natural resources sectors (including LNG terminals, midstream assets, and renewable fuels), with a growing focus on energy transition and ESG-themed projects.

SMBCs award-winning project finance franchise is an established global leader across advisory, bonds, and loans. The group is consistently ranked among the top tier in Project Finance league tables, both in North America and globally.

Role Objectives

The roles responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Lead the execution of project finance transactions in North America with the oversight of the sector head and/or other senior colleagues.
• Present transactions internally, lead the preparation of credit applications for all new transactions, manage the credit process with the Credit Department and back office, perform any due diligence activities, and negotiate documentation.
• Support marketing and origination of new transactions by preparing pitch books and marketing materials and attending client meetings with senior colleagues.
• Help market and execute project debt and equity financial advisory transactions.
• Continuously monitor and manage existing transactions, including the review and processing of waivers and amendments, internal reports, and special credit requirements.
• Help to cross-sell products (DCM, Financial Advisory, Ratings Advisory).
• Collaborate and coordinate with other departments with overlapping clients in order to develop new business opportunities and enhance our position in the market.
• Understand external regulatory matters and internal compliance and policies and procedures; pro actively escalate operational risk loss events to management as necessary.
• Delegate and review the work of junior members of the team and provide guidance and feedback.
• Attend bank meetings, industry events, conferences, and seminars.
• Present research and analytics to senior marketing officers that supports new business opportunities stay abreast of industry trends and current market conditions.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to deal team members and give guidance and feedback. Help train junior members of team.
• Ensure compliance of all internal and external matters in accordance with banking regulations, bank policy and best practices.

Qualifications and Skills

• Deep understanding of project finance, infrastructure finance, structured finance, loan sales & syndication, debt capital markets, financial advisory, investment banking.
• Proven analytical and financial modeling skills and experience with review and negotiation of project financing documentation.
• Experience in debt advisory, acquisition finance, bond and equity underwriting, private placements, foreign exchange, asset securitization, cross-border M&A, and export credit agency services.
• Proven credit analysis skills and track record; ability to efficiently analyze a vast and complex amount of information to quickly identify the key risk factors of highly structured transactions and draw from extensive knowledge of transactions to identify solutions.
• Knowledge in regulatory framework in region and fully versed in internal policies and procedures.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills both written and verbal; proven ability to present and negotiate externally with clients and key industry contacts and internally with senior management and other departments.
• Ability to build and maintain a strong network of relationships across the Bank to support and facilitate communication and/or execution of new business ideas and opportunities.
• Self-driven and motivated; takes personal ownership of specific assignments.
• Demonstrates leadership ability and can provide mentorship, guidance, and training to junior colleagues on the team.
• Demonstrates a high degree of attention to detail and an ability to complete work accurately and in a timely manner against strict deadlines.

Work Experience:

• 6+ years of specialized experience in financial services
• At least 5 years of experience in a project finance team at a mid-sized or global bank, advisory boutique, or asset management firm.
• Experience in originating loans, guarantees and/or equity transactions, managing due diligence, financial modeling, mitigating credit and other risks, negotiating term sheets and finance documentation and related activities. Demonstrated ability to lead a deal team.

Education:

• Required: BA / BS
• Preferred: MA / MS / MBA
• Formal credit training preferred

Additional Requirements

D&I Commitment

Responsible for fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, holding leaders accountable for creating an inclusive environment through awareness and practice of equity in recruiting, developing, and promoting diverse talent.