Head, Project Finance at United Capital Plc

Overview

• The Head, Project Finance is responsible for leading the firm’s Project Finance (PF) business, driving the achievement of the firm’s financial and strategic objectives, originating and executing project and infrastructure finance transactions, deepening relationships with sponsors, governments, lenders, and development partners, and strengthening the firm’s market position in project financing.

Key Responsibilities
Leadership, Strategy & Business Management:

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the PF business, ensuring alignment with the Group’s investment banking, infrastructure, and project finance strategy.
• Drive the achievement of approved revenue, mandates, and transaction origination targets for the PF business.
• Translate Group and divisional objectives into executable business plans and performance metrics for the PF team.
• Build, lead, and retain a high-performing PF team with strong technical and commercial capability, and ethical standards.
• Oversee team structure, capacity planning, performance management, training, and succession planning within the PF business.
• Promote collaboration across Investment Banking and other subsidiaries including Asset Management, Securities, Trustees, and Wealth Management to deliver integrated financing solutions.
• Act as a senior representative of the firm in high-level strategic engagements with governments, sponsors, multilateral agencies, and regulators.

PF Origination & Advisory:

• Lead the origination of project finance and structured lending opportunities across sectors including, but not limited to, infrastructure, energy, power, transport, oil & gas, telecoms, and industrials.
• Provide project finance advisory to project sponsors, developers, and governments on optimal financing structures, risk allocation, and bankability.
• Lead Project Finance workstream in pitches, proposals, and RFP responses, including financial structuring concepts, credit strategy, and funding solutions.
• Participate in senior-level client engagements as the firm’s lead Project Finance specialist.

Transaction Structuring & Execution Oversight:

• Provide overall leadership and oversight for the structuring and execution of project finance transactions, including greenfield and brownfield projects, refinancings, restructurings etc.
• Set transaction strategy and execution approach in coordination with sponsors, lenders and advisers to achieve bankability.
• Oversee the preparation and review of transaction documentation and financial modeling, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Lead engagement with lenders, DFIs, ECAs, multilaterals, and other capital providers on structuring, documentation, and risk-sharing arrangements.
• Oversee discussion and review of key project documentation, including financing agreements, security documents, and project contracts.
• Provide escalation support and decision-making on complex or sensitive execution matters.

Investor Engagement, Distribution & Market Development:

• Develop and oversee lender engagement strategy for project finance transactions, including banks, DFIs, ECAs, and institutional lenders.
• Maintain and deepen senior-level relationships with DFIs, multilaterals, infrastructure funds, and commercial banks
• Guide sponsors and borrower’s engagement, including presentations to lenders, due diligence processes, and negotiations with credit providers.
• Represent the firm at infrastructure, energy, and project finance forums and conferences to enhance thought leadership and market visibility.

Regulatory, Risk & Governance Oversight:

• Ensure all Project Finance activities comply with applicable regulatory, credit, and internal risk management requirements.
• Uphold strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, including compliance with applicable sustainability and responsible financing principles.
• Uphold the firm’s reputation for integrity, professionalism, and risk management in all project finance engagements.

 Stakeholder Management & Internal Collaboration:

• Provide regular updates to the Managing Director, Investment Banking on pipeline, mandates, execution status, and performance against targets.
• Act as the primary internal point of accountability for PF matters across the Group, providing clear leadership, coordination, and decision-making ownership.
• Serve as the senior interface between Project Finance and key internal stakeholders, including Investment Banking, and other divisions and subsidiaries within the Group.

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 or related fields, with significant exposure to project and infrastructure finance.
• At least 4 years in a senior leadership or management role within project finance, infrastructure finance, or investment banking environment.
• Demonstrated track record in originating and executing project finance transactions across infrastructure or real asset sectors.
• Experience engaging with DFIs, multilaterals, lenders, sponsors, government entities, and regulators.
• Strong experience in financial modeling and transaction structuring.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and internationally as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Deep expertise in project finance, structured lending, and infrastructure finance.
• Strong understanding and knowledge of project risk allocation, contractual frameworks, financial modelling, security structures and cross-border transaction experience.
• Proven ability to originate, structure, and oversee execution of complex project finance transactions across multiple sectors.
• 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 thinking with strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• High ethical standards, strong governance mindset, and attention to detail.
• Clear, confident communicator with strong presentation and stakeholder management skills.

Core Competencies:

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