Project Finance Associate at Distributed Renewable Energy Enhancement Facility (DREEF)

Job Summary

• The DREEF seeking to appoint a Project Finance Associate to support with the financial analysis and structuring of the selected DRE projects supported by the DREEF, ensuring that the projects are financially viable and attractive to local currency investors such as InfraCredit.  The Project Finance Officer will be responsible for developing viable project financial models that align with the DREEF's institutional model, which is designed to expedite access to long-term local currency capital.
• The objective of the Project Finance Officer is to assist in the achievement of timely financial close for each DRE project, while optimizing the cost of capital and ensuring compliance with all financial regulations and standards. This position requires a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of project finance, renewable energy markets, and the ability to navigate complex financial landscapes to support the facility's mission of fostering sustainable energy development. Working jointly with DRE Project Developers, the Project Finance Officer will provide expertise and leadership on all project finance considerations for the timely design of ‘shovel-ready’ DRE projects that will have minimal to zero due diligence issues while ensuring strict adherence to the agreed project development process.

This position is critical to the overall performance and success of DREEF and will report directly to the Project Finance Manager.

Job Details

• Review/assess the DRE Lender Due Diligence Criteria (toolkit) and incorporate them into the applicable standard operating procedures for the DREEF’s technical assistance support criteria and methodology.
• Work closely alongside and interface with the Project Finance counterpart officer at InfraCredit to ensure symmetry of information, knowledge exchange, and alignment on information/output requirements that meet project finance lenders' bankability requirements.
• Conduct comprehensive financial analysis and modelling to assess project viability, forecast returns, and evaluate risks, ensuring alignment with the facility's investment criteria.
• Provide support in developing and implementing strategies for the financial structuring and arrangement of capital for distributed renewable energy projects supported by the DREEF, including debt, equity, and grant funding.
• Oversee the financial due diligence process, including the review of project budgets, cash flow projections, and financial statements.
• Collaborate with the technical team to ensure that financial models accurately reflect project specifications, costs, and revenue projections that support project investment decisions.
• Assist with the preparation of financial documentation required for project approvals, due diligence, and compliance with investor requirements as well as investment memos.
• Prepare detailed project finance reports and presentations for clients, stakeholders, and internal teams.
• Support the engagement with project stakeholders, including developers, co-investors, and government entities, to build partnerships and expand the network of the DREEF.
• Provide support the knowledge management activities on all project finance aspects including documenting lessons learned from joint project development activities, recommending revision(s) to the project finance policies and procedures based on lessons learned, and providing project finance-related training and awareness to internal and external teams and partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline; an MBA or an equivalent Master's degree or relevant professional certifications is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience years of experience in project finance, with a significant portion of that experience in the renewable energy sector or related infrastructure projects.
• Good understanding of financial modelling techniques and the ability to build and interpret complex financial models.
• Knowledge of risk management principles and experience in conducting financial risk assessments and due diligence.
• Provide support to the legal and regulatory frameworks related to project finance, including tax structures, accounting standards, and environmental and social governance (ESG) criteria.
• Good analytical and quantitative skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Experience in the renewable energy sector, with a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to distributed renewable energy projects.
• Good stakeholder engagement skills, with the capacity to effectively collaborate with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Good written and oral communication skills including expertise in MS Office suite.
• Strong team player with a proven capacity to work independently