Head, Debt Capital Markets at United Capital Plc

Overview

• The Head, Debt Capital Markets is responsible for leading the firm’s DCM business, driving the achievement of approved financial and strategic targets, originating and executing debt capital market transactions, deepening issuer and investor relationships, and strengthening the firm’s market position while ensuring the highest standards of governance, regulatory compliance, and execution excellence.

Key Responsibilities
Leadership, Strategy & Business Management

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Debt Capital Markets business, ensuring alignment with the Group’s broader investment banking and corporate strategy.
• Drive the achievement of approved revenue, transaction volume, and market share targets for the DCM business.
• Translate Group and divisional objectives into executable business plans, priorities, and performance metrics for the DCM team.
• Build, lead, and retain a high-performing DCM team with strong technical capability, commercial judgement, and ethical standards.
• Oversee team structure, capacity planning, performance management, training, and succession planning within the DCM function.
• Promote collaboration across Investment Banking, Asset Management, Securities, Trustees, and Wealth Management to maximise franchise value.
• Act as a senior representative of the firm in high-level strategic engagements and industry forums.

DCM Origination & Product Advisory:

• Drive product-led origination of debt capital market transactions in partnership with the Client Coverage & Distribution team.
• Provide specialist debt capital markets advisory to issuers on funding strategy, instrument selection, market timing, and issuance approach.
• Lead the DCM input into pitches, proposals, and RFP responses, including transaction structuring concepts and market positioning.
• Support client coverage teams with market insight, transaction ideas, and innovative DCM solutions across sovereign, sub-national, corporate, and financial institution segments.
• Identify new issuance themes, structures, and products to expand the firm’s DCM franchise and wallet share.
• Participate in senior-level issuer engagements alongside Client Coverage as the firm’s DCM subject-matter expert, without primary relationship ownership.

Transaction Structuring & Execution Oversight:

• Provide overall leadership and oversight for the structuring and execution of DCM transactions, including bonds, commercial paper, Sukuk, and other debt instruments.
• Set transaction strategy, execution approach, and key commercial parameters, ensuring bankability and alignment with market conditions.
• Oversee the preparation and review of transaction documentation, ensuring quality, consistency, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide ratings advisory oversight, including engagement strategy with rating agencies and interpretation of rating outcomes for clients.
• Lead high-level commercial negotiations relating to transaction structure, pricing strategy, and key issuance terms.
• Ensure transactions are executed efficiently, on schedule, and in line with client expectations, internal approvals, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide escalation support and decision-making on complex or sensitive execution matters.

Investor Engagement, Distribution & Market Development:

• Oversee investor engagement strategy for DCM transactions, working closely with the Coverage & Distributions Team.
• Maintain and deepen senior-level relationships with institutional investors, including pension funds, insurance companies, asset managers, banks, and development finance institutions.
• Guide issuer engagement with investors, including roadshows, investor calls, and book-building processes.
• Monitor market dynamics including interest rate movements, liquidity conditions, investor appetite, and regulatory developments to inform issuance strategy and advice.
• Represent the firm at investor forums, market conferences, and relevant industry engagements to enhance brand visibility and thought leadership.

Regulatory, Risk & Governance Oversight:

• Ensure all DCM activities and transactions comply with applicable regulatory requirements, including Securities and Exchange Commission rules and other relevant guidelines.
• Maintain senior-level engagement with regulators and market authorities on DCM-related matters.
• Work closely with Risk, Compliance, Legal, Finance and Operations teams to manage execution, reputational, legal, and market risks.
• Ensure adherence to internal approval processes, risk frameworks, and governance standards across all DCM transactions.
• Uphold the firm’s reputation for integrity, professionalism, and regulatory discipline in all client and market engagements.

Stakeholder Management & Internal Collaboration:

• Act as the primary internal point of accountability for DCM matters across the Group.
• Provide regular updates to the Managing Director, Investment Banking on pipeline, execution status, market developments, and performance against targets.
• Support internal committees and governance forums with DCM insights and recommendations as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related discipline from a reputable institution.
• A postgraduate degree (MSc or MBA) and/or relevant professional qualifications (e.g. CFA, ACA, ACCA) will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 12 years’ relevant experience in investment banking, capital markets, or related fields, with significant exposure to debt capital markets.
• At least 4 years in a senior leadership or management role within a DCM, capital markets, or investment banking environment.
• Demonstrated track record in originating and executing debt capital market transactions, including bonds, commercial paper, and/or Sukuk.
• Experience engaging with regulators, institutional investors, and senior corporate or public-sector stakeholders.
• Registration as a SEC-Sponsored Individual will be an added advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and internationally as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:

• Deep expertise in debt capital markets, including the structuring and execution of bonds, commercial paper, Sukuk, and other fixed income instruments.
• Strong understanding of local and international fixed income markets, investor behaviour, pricing dynamics, and regulatory frameworks.
• Sound knowledge of capital structuring, pricing methodologies, yield curves, and interest rate risk.
• Proven ability to originate, structure, and oversee execution of complex debt capital market transactions.
• Strong leadership and people management capability, with experience building and managing high-performing teams.
• Excellent commercial judgement, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, collaborating across business lines and senior stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities under pressure.
• High ethical standards, strong governance mindset, and attention to detail.
• Clear, confident communicator with strong presentation and client-facing skills.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Leadership
• Commercial Judgment
• Stakeholder Management
• Deal Structuring & Execution
• Risk & Governance Orientation
• Team Development
• Market Insight
• Decision-Making