Senior Manager: Investments and Funding Group

The Senior Manager: Investment and Funding Group will be responsible for developing strategies related to the Company’s revenue. Including financial, commercial, economic and risk evaluation/analysis of projects that Pele Green Energy (“PGE”) has invested in. The role will lead the execution and evaluation of all projects that fall within the equity investments and project finance function of IFG.

The role will be responsible for the investment or acquisition and financing of multi-technology distributed energy projects. Will oversee commercial due diligence standards for bankability and negotiating financing solutions for individual projects and portfolios as well as be responsible for debt and tax equity capital raising.

Strategy Development

• Develop and oversee the Project and Corporate Finance strategy and direction and develop strategic objectives in accordance with the needs of the company and business unit.
• Develop innovative structure and techniques to enhance the companies’ funding competitiveness and ability to raise capital.
• Evaluate current and potential project acquisition and financing opportunities through forecasting cash flows, tax impacts, and investor returns and take ownership of the overall profitability of the financings of the projects and business unit.
• Oversee pipeline evaluation and analysis (ensuring a healthy pipeline for IFG investments), as well as project-related capital planning and forecasting.
• Ensure alignment with CFO and capital requirements of the Company through constant monitoring and evaluation of Pele projects to ensure:
• Operational projects always have best funding structures prevailing at the time.
• We recycle project and capital optimally to support our continued growth.
• Develop and implement budget and financial strategies in order to enhance the overall performance of the business and business unit.
• Provide strategic guidance and thought leadership to deal teams during capital raising and transaction execution.
• Conduct research based on existing and newly developed strategies within the project finance sector. Maintain current knowledge of tax equity legislation and guidance, financing & market trends and policy changes, and stay abreast of future conditions.

Business and Project Development

• Represent PGE as a board member in the underlying projects that the Group has invested in.
• Engage in ongoing negotiations in order to meet business goals. Lead the day-to-day negotiation, structuring, and execution of tax equity, construction and perm debt, and sponsor equity capital raise transactions.
• Oversee all Financial and economic feasibility studies of new potential projects. Strong Efficiency in building, interpreting and working with Financial models as well as in Financial Structuring Models (adept in various forms of energy Project Models).
• Developing, monitoring and execution of corporate finance (M&A etc) opportunities in the energy sector at a corporate level and project by project level.
• Lead the financial and commercial preparation of projects that will bid in the respective bidding windows.
• Lead the financial and commercial scope of works to ensure that all projects that have received Preferred Bidder Status successfully reach Financial Close on time and within required investment returns.
• Lead the financial and commercial scope of works to ensure that all projects that reach Financial Close get to Commercial Operation Date.

Stakeholder Management

• Relationship management with local and foreign utilities.
• Relationship management with commercial banks and development financial institutions at the appropriate executive level.
• Support project development BU in the development process.
• Establish external partnerships where required in order to meet business and strategic goals.
• Lead and manage key stakeholder relationships internally and externally.
• Manage coordination with other internal functions, including but not limited to Project and Corporate Finance transactions.
• Build and work with cross-functional teams by coordinating and motivating staff members to complete tasks according to deadlines.

People Management

• Manage all staff under supervision and conduct performance and talent management activities for direct reports.
• Coach and mentor direct reports. Identify team members for succession pipeline and career progression.
• Oversee effective utilization of systems and tools to ensure that knowledge is managed efficiently for continuous improvement.
• Recognize and make recommendations for the reward of high performing members; respects, promotes and accepts diversity.

Compliance & Governance

• Execute in adherence to all relevant regulatory and business practices.
• Active risk management by applying and promoting a culture of on-going detection and resolution of Statutory, Regulatory compliance breaches.
• Drive the resolution management of the identified top 5 IFG risks.

Desired Skills & Qualifications                                                                                                               

•  BCom, Bcom Acc, BBusSc, BSc (Commerce or Engineering degree)

• Minimum 10+ years of investment banking experience in particular; project or corporate finance experience in power and infrastructure (South African experience is a plus but any experience on the continent is beneficial)
• Problem Solving Skills
• Outstanding organizational and people skills
• Understanding of engineering and renewable energy systems
• Understanding of project and structured finance
• Attention to detail
• Excellent qualitative and critical thinking skills

Competences                                                                                                               

 Leadership Capabilities:

• Participative Leadership
• Planning & Organising
• Monitoring & Measuring

Cognitive Capabilities:

• Analysis & Attention to detail
• Problem Solving
• Critical thinking

Interpersonal Capabilities:

• Assertive
• Methodical
• Drive & Action Oriented
• Flexibility
• Excellence & Qualify Orientation