Associate Director, Senior Risk Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a multilateral development bank established in 199

• Its mission is to foster the transition towards open market-oriented economies and promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in countries from Central Europe to Central Asia. The EBRD operates in over 30 countries and employs approximately 2,000 staff members. The bank focuses on sustainable investment and development, aiming to improve the lives of people in the regions it serves through financial and technical assistance.

Job Overview:
The Associate Director, Senior Risk Officer is responsible for independently analyzing and appraising risks associated with the EBRD’s portfolio of financial institution (FI) debt transactions. This role involves identifying necessary due diligence, recommending risk mitigation measures, and advising on transaction structures, including security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, covenants, and pricing. The position requires a thorough understanding of banking projects to ensure compliance with the Bank’s sound banking mandate. The Senior Risk Officer will review portfolio projects, assign credit ratings, and communicate trends and lessons learned to management and peers, contributing to strategic decision-making and stress-testing processes. Additionally, the role may involve leading, coaching, and managing junior Credit Managers and analysts, as well as deputizing for the Director of the Country and FI Credit Risk Management Team when necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Associate Director, Senior Risk Officer include establishing an independent view on projects proposed to various committees, taking responsibility for credit risk across multiple country portfolios, and managing the credit risk assessment of major international banking groups. The officer will oversee product approval and management for key offerings to Partner Financial Institutions, ensure adequate data feeds and portfolio analytics are available, and analyze key risks of proposals while advising on risk mitigation measures. The role also involves reviewing compliance with internal guidelines, appraising assumptions of proposals, ensuring adherence to risk guidelines, and exercising independent authority regarding portfolio actions. Regular monitoring of assigned portfolio counterparties and market developments is essential, as is collaboration with other departments to ensure effective functioning across the organization. Participation in executive Bank committees and contributing to various initiatives within Risk Management is also expected.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong influencing skills to challenge the Banking team’s decisions regarding transaction selection and structuring. Extensive experience in analyzing financial institutions and knowledge of country risk and sovereign creditworthiness is essential. The role requires the ability to act as a risk expert for FI debt projects, delivering clear conclusions under tight deadlines. Proven skills in autonomous decision-making in high-risk environments, along with strong written and spoken communication abilities, are necessary. Proficiency in datafeeds, third-party models, and in-house model construction for quality credit analysis is required, as well as good Excel knowledge, ideally with experience in Python and Tableau. People management skills for overseeing junior staff are also essential.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in finance, business, economics, or equivalent on-the-job training is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of financial transactions and risk management in the context of the EBRD’s operations.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant experience in credit and equity risk management, particularly in high-risk environments. The role demands a proven track record of decision-making at a senior level, with extensive experience in analyzing financial institutions and understanding country risk dynamics.

Languages:
Strong proficiency in English is mandatory, both written and spoken. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to the EBRD’s operational regions would be considered advantageous, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a regular contract role with a contract length that is not specified. The EBRD promotes a flexible working environment, expecting employees to work in the office 50% of the time. The organization values diversity and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of their background. Due to the high volume of applications, detailed feedback will not be provided to candidates who are not shortlisted.