Principal Banker, Trade Facilitation Programme

Requisition ID 35977 Office Country United Kingdom Office City London Division Banking Sectors Contract Type Regular Contract Length Posting End Date 31/08/2025

Purpose of Job

The Principal Banker, TFP is competent in undertaking all tasks related to, and understands all aspects of, project development and implementation, including project origination, structuring, execution, implementation and monitoring, for all types of projects under the Bank’s Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP).
The Principal TFP Banker’s role focuses on active business/pipeline development, client/relationship management, operation leadership and policy dialogue.
The Principal TFP Banker will act both as a senior member of a project team or as an operation leader (typically on less complex transactions than a Senior TFP Banker).
The Principal TFP Banker, in his/her role as an operation leader, is expected to take responsibility for effective leadership of his/her projects, supervision of junior banking staff, while contributing to their coaching and providing mentoring assistance, as required.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

1. Business Development

Within an assigned geographical area the Principal TFP Banker analyses the trade finance requirements of TFP partner banks and their corporate clients and supports TFP partner banks in the development of their trade finance business.

In particular, the Principal TFP Banker
• Keeps regular contact with TFP partner banks and foreign correspondent banks and monitors their trade finance requirements, including the amount, tenor and pricing of TFP facilities
• Invites other foreign lenders, including foreign commercial banks, insurance underwriters, investment funds and other developmental financial institutions and donors, to co-finance with the EBRD
• Keeps TFP partner banks and foreign correspondent banks and their corporate clients, co-financing partners and providers of TC funds informed of the availability and conditions of TFP facilities; public relation work is an important part of the job and comprises publication of information leaflets, press releases and press articles on EBRD’s websites as well as in the trade finance press and through social media
• Organises information seminars, trade finance conferences and net-working events for TFP partner banks, foreign correspondent banks, corporate clients, co-financing partners, donors and press representatives

2. Structuring and Execution

• Work as a senior project team member with more experienced operation leaders on complex transactions, contributing to all aspects of project structuring and execution, including supporting the operation leader with the management of the project team

• As an operation leader:
• Identify the trade finance requirements and technical assistance requirements of existing and potential new TFP partner banks
• Lead structuring, negotiation (including review of legal documentation) and the execution of technical cooperation projects, , working with clients, authorities, consultants and internal units;
• Lead structuring, negotiation (including review of legal documentation documentation) and the execution of TFP facilities, working with clients and internal units;
• Lead structuring, negotiation and the execution of trade finance transactions financed under TFP facilities, working with clients and internal units;
• Lead structuring, negotiation (including review of legal documentation) and the execution of co-financing projects with other foreign lenders
• Manage the resources and the work load of the project teams under his/her supervision;
• Oversee the project due diligence process ensuring it meets the Bank’s standards;

• Ensure that all transactions within his/her responsibility are completed within the specified time frames to a high standard (including all internal memoranda and Board reports) and in line with the policies, procedures and objectives of the Bank.

3. Portfolio Monitoring, Value Creation and Reporting

• As a senior project team member perform all such tasks as may be assigned by the operation leader and provide constructive portfolio monitoring advice, guidance and supervision to more junior members of the project team.

• As operation leader:
• Take overall responsibility for the effective monitoring of TFP projects within his/her responsibility, including verifying the quality of regular monitoring reports; taking the lead in maintaining or supervising the management of client relationships; actively managing the resolution of any implementation/monitoring issues in cooperation with relevant Portfolio Managers; managing and supervising more junior bankers who assist in portfolio monitoring;
• Supervise implementation and monitoring of, and reporting on, relevant TC assignments to ensure their compliance with donor reporting requirements, operational objectives and that all reports are of a high quality;
• Take responsibility for ensuring timely notification of any critical portfolio issues to the relevant Portfolio Manager and/or Management, ensuring availability of adequate data and information for the Portfolio Manager and/or Management to be able to take timely decisions.

4. Policy Dialogue

• In cooperation with relevant units within the Bank (e.g., Policy VP, OCE) and Banking country teams (if applicable), contribute to policy dialogue, in a leading role (project level initiatives) or supporting function (national level initiatives);
• Assist in providing necessary support, in the form of relevant information or documentation or meeting participation, towards efforts to procure grants and technical cooperation funds to complement TFP facilities or required as part of policy dialogue efforts.

5. Staff Management

• Assist in recruiting, training, coaching and mentoring junior team members, in coordination with the team Director and Senior Bankers, involving them in all aspects of the project cycle (appraisal, execution, implementation, monitoring and business development), ensuring adequate quality of project work and appropriate work load distribution amongst the project team members; contribute to their professional and competency development;
• Develop productive relationships within the organisation to able to work effectively in a country/sector matrix structure and in a multi-cultural working environment.

The responsibilities of the Principal Banker are designed to allow for the development of transaction expertise and expansion of responsibilities, leading to assuming the role of Senior Banker.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred or equivalent experience in the areas of expertise.
• Professional qualification such as ACA, CFA, ACCA, CIMA or CDCS, CTIF desirable.
• Excellent relationship management and negotiation skills.
• Excellent business development and public relations skills
• Excellent organisation skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Good command over the local/country language is an advantage, especially in Russian, French and Arab language
• Strong quantitative/numerical skills are critical with the ability to interpret financial information.
• Credit analysis skills, with the ability to interpret accounts, understanding local and international accounting principles and practice of credit analysis.
• Computer literacy, conversant with Microsoft Office and spread sheet packages including financial analysis and modelling modules.
• Excellent understanding of relevant systems and processes.
• Stakeholder management skills.
• Coaching, mentoring & leadership skills.
• Ability to work to deadlines and under time pressure.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Significant relevant experience in trade finance from a commercial bank
• Practical experience of participating in and leading complex transactions through the full project life cycle.

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About EBRD

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high-performing environment.

The EBRD environment provides you with:

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background or disability.

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).