Debt & Trade Solutions (DTS) Transactor at Rand Merchant Bank

REF: RMBN/DTST/11/21
Level: Mid-Senior

Role Purpose

• RMB Nigeria is looking to appoint a Transactor within the DTS team.
• The individual must be an entrepreneurial self-starter that has the energy and passion to develop RMB’s Banking business.
• The successful candidate will be required to provide term lending, trade finance and DCM solutions to clients based in West Africa (primarily Nigeria and Ghana).

Responsibilities

• Responsible for achieving Strategy and Budget numbers for the product set, in conjunction with the team.
• Assist with developing innovative structuring solutions for trade finance using: Cash and Trade Collateral, Insurance, DFIs and other risk mitigants.
• Assist with growing loan solutions portfolio for the bank using various structured and plain vanilla lending products.
• Establishing new, and maintaining existing client/partner relationships, in conjunction with the Coverage team to ensure profitable investment banking styled, debt focused deal flow.
• Developing strategic relationships with Corporate Clients that have been identified as key to the Bank’s strategy together with Client Coverage
• Converting new leads into deals closed, from origination, through structuring, the soliciting of Credit Approval and deal implementation, closure and aftercare.
• Assist with the origination, structuring and implementation process around bespoke lending, trade finance and DCM solutions.
• Drafting detailed deal screen memos, including fundamental financial analysis and models and independent research using a variety of data sources
• Conducting debt capacity analysis as well as putting together pitches and proposals and executing them Participating in discussions with management regarding bespoke deal structuring
• Managing the transaction execution process for multiple ongoing deals
• Implementing transactions by the preparation or managing the preparation of complex multiple jurisdiction documents and compliance with all required procedures, laws and regulations.
• Close transactions by obtaining the relevant internal approvals for the transaction and leading or actively participating in the successful conclusion of negotiations
• Rating and pricing structured trade finance transactions and term funding according to a formalized Credit Rating Methodology, with assistance from Structuring team.
• Identifying transaction specific risks including credit, compliance, taxation, accounting and legal.
• Manage the credit approval process in conjunction with Client Coverage
• Building on the existing strong relationships with the Credit and Market Risk teams, Legal and Compliance functions and Middle and Back office areas.

Other:

• Cross-selling of bank products / opportunities to its clients
• Internal stakeholder relationship management.

Qualifications and Experience

• B.Sc. in Economics, Accounting and Finance or any Finance or Social Science related courses with a minimum of Second-Class Lower division.
• Additional relevant certification and a MBA are recommended
• At least 6 to 10 years experience in banking, working with Lending & trade solution products in Nigeria. Other African experience also advantageous.

Additional:

• Post-graduate studies / qualifications in banking, finance / financial markets
• Proven experience in structuring and implementing working capital and supply chain solutions for clients
• A sound understanding of forex markets will be beneficial.
• Existing strong Nigerian Corporate relationships.

Competencies:

• Good financial modeling skills
• Good analytical, numerical and writing skills.
• Advanced level product/processes knowledge
• Broad knowledge of Tax, Law and Accounting (an understanding of the taxation of companies, knowledge of the law of contracts, financial institutions and shareholders will be advantageous)
• Good understanding of credit analysis and debt structuring.

General:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• Good judgment and decision -making skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, and
• Listening, analysis and debating skills.

Business Skills:

• Good report writing skills (reports are presented to the business and FICC Credit Committees).
• Ability to critically assess the commercial viability of clients’ business models and operations, identifying viable lending / financing opportunities.
• Ability to originate, critically assess, develop and close structured trade and commodity finance transactions.
• Ability to analyze company financial statements, interpret corporate credit quality and to identify and quantify business and financial risks from a lending / credit perspective.
• A passion for structured lending and investment banking generally, and commodity markets and structured (trade) finance specifically.
• General understanding of a variety of financial derivative products and instruments will be a distinct advantage.
• A good understanding of corporate credit ratings, portfolio theory and credit pricing will be a distinct advantage.
• Effectively prioritizing and managing heavy workload in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Creating new trading strategy and improving the existing ones to cope with changing market scenario.
• Comprehensive understanding of industry regulations & all other regulatory requirements.

Human Relations Profile:

• Strong character & integrity paramount
• High degree of self-confidence; pleasant personality; well presented
• Well organized / good time management skills / disciplined/ detail orientated
• Self-starter able to work with minimal supervision
• Team oriented
• Flexible when necessary
• Ability to work under pressure
• A strong communicator who is deadline and solutions-driven.
• Strong work ethic and able to operate in a fast-changing environment (building a business).
• Able to work as part of a highly innovative and competitive team, meeting demanding deadlines.
• A high degree of professionalism and business acumen.