Principal Syndication and Financial Solutions at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The Principal Syndication & Financial Solutions Officer drives the DBSA’s syndication strategy by facilitating the structuring, execution and balance sheet optimisation structures for infrastructure development projects. The role collaborates with the frontline division in arranging and syndication opportunities, by crowding in commercial,b developmental, credit insurers and institutional investors. The role drives financial solutions such as balance sheet optimisation in support of long-term financial sustainability and balance sheet growth.

Key Responsibilities    
Key Performance Areas:

• Syndication, Balance Sheet Optimisation Strategy & Market Research
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the syndication strategy.
• Conduct research on key DBSA investment focus countries, including public/private sector clients, regulatory frameworks, DBSA investment sectors, macro/micro-economic trends, and financial markets.

Conduct research on DBSA’s key sub-Saharan Africa investment focus countries, covering:

• Public and private sector clients and players.
• Political landscape and regulatory frameworks.
• DBSA investment sectors and macro/micro-economic trends.
• Financial markets (currencies, fixed income, interest rates).
• Primary and secondary debt/equity market dynamics.
• Analyse research findings to generate actionable insights for internal decision-making and internal and external business use.
• Develop financial and dynamic instruments for balance sheet optimisation and risk capital limits.
• Keep updated on syndication market trends, including new structured products and services offered in the market and associated deal flow in sub-Saharan Africa.

 Execution of Syndicated Transactions

• Collaborate with the Frontline Division, coordinate syndicate participants in all transactions where DBSA is appointed Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) (or co-MLA).
• Support the frontline to secure Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) rights at an early stage in project development, particularly for projects financed by DBSA or third-party managed funds.
• Plan potential targets for syndication through funded and unfunded distribution.
• Provide structuring guidance to investment officers and participate in presenting proposals and mandate letters to clients.
• Mobilise credit risk insurance and related guarantees at origination, to amplify the Bank’s risk-bearing capacity at entry of operations into the portfolio, through risk transfer, co-guaranties, and re-guaranties from commercial and official insurers.
• Execute primary and secondary debt and equity syndications, respectively, to develop and issue internal and investor transaction price guidance.
• Structure transactions, develop investment cases, and prepare documentation for presentation to the Investment Committee (IC) and Board and Credit Investment Committee (BCIC) or other committees.
• Provide input during the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) phase to enhance syndication transaction structuring and bankability.
• Draft, negotiate, and execute Lenders’ Advisor Agreements, as well as Project and Financing Agreements.
• Collect and publish Conditions Precedent documentation as required.
• Execute all pertinent documents to close secondary debt and equity instrument transactions.
• Develop and periodically update debt and equity investors as well as preferred transferee databases.
• Compile and issue and/or collate client and/or investor Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and transaction term sheets.
• Originate and manage the process, provide input and collaborate with other DBSA Divisions and/or Business Units, as appropriate, in the drafting/negotiation/execution of DBSA Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) or other mandates.
• Develop and/or review and update transaction teasers/Information Memoranda (IMs) and financial models for corporate/project/structured finance transactions in collaboration with the Coverage, Transacting, Credit and Sector Specialist Business Units.
• Collaborate with Treasury and Frontline Divisions, arrange, schedule and facilitate debt and equity client/investor road shows.
• Document and disseminate internally and/or externally all call reports and client/investor input during syndication/distribution roadshows/book runs.
• Identify, secure and assign senior/junior syndicate participants, including setting and making pro-rata debt allocations.
• Create and populate physical or electronic transaction data room(s) and collaborate with other DBSA Divisions and/or Business Units to manage the transaction due diligence process.

Collaborate with or through Frontline, Liaise with co-MLAs and/or the Lender Group to:

• Develop the scope of work for, select, negotiate and contract with, and appoint Lenders’ Advisors.
• Appoint an Agent Bank(s), Security Agent(s) and other role players customary to debt transactions.
• Liaise with the Loan Management Unit and the Agent Bank(s) for the drawdown and closing of primary and secondary market debt and equity instruments.

Structured finance solutions

• Collaborate with Credit Risk and Frontline units to design/ support the financial products to provide structured finance solutions to clients to meet their evolving needs. Products include lending instruments, guarantees, derivatives, equities, credit enhancements and risk mitigation instruments to mobilise financing for projects.
• Support Frontline Division with mobilisation of capital through the deployment of guarantee instruments via partial credit and risk guarantees to complement lending instruments and attract private financiers to Sovereign projects’ financing
• Working closely with risk mitigation providers such as other MDBs, ECAs and the insurance market to provide risk mitigation instruments on large projects
• Providing support on financial and technical expertise on transactions involving originating, structuring, appraising, negotiating, and restructuring in support of investments across various sectors
• Deal execution, including transaction structuring, modelling and negotiation of transaction documentation
• Support investment officers to ensure compliance with relevant product policies and guidelines
• In charge of revision of the Bank’s existing products, including leading the revision of the Bank’s guarantee policy with new features to reflect evolving market structures, including accompanying Operational Guidelines.

Stakeholder Engagement and Management

• Build relationships and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to position DBSA as the preferred bank for infrastructure financing.
• In addition to working closely with the Frontline Division, form a strong alliance with the Treasury Division, Risk Division and Portfolio Management.
• Prioritise existing key clients while pursuing new client opportunities to generate non-interest fee income.
• Manage relationships with local and international banks, non-bank financial institutions, and syndication desks.
• Prepare pitch decks and conduct client transaction pitches/presentations.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

• The number and value of Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) (or co-MLA) mandates secured from clients.
• The number and value of syndication and distribution transactions approved by the Investment Committee (IC) and Board, and Credit Investment Committee (BCIC).
• The number and value of successfully arranged and distributed transactions through collaborative effort with other Divisions and Business Units within the DBSA.
• The non-interest fee income generated by the Syndication and Distribution unit.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Mathematics, Accounting, Engineering or Economics.

Minimum Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of broad financial markets experience, including, but not restricted to, appraising, negotiating and closing Project Finance, Corporate Finance or Structured Finance transactions or acting in a debt and/or equity instrument sales and distribution role in a financial institution.
• Experience in securing infrastructure investment deals in relevant sectors/geographies in SA and/or Africa.
• Experience in leading, initiating and developing new business strategies and opportunities to create a pipeline of development impact projects, ensuring deal flow and bankability.
• Experience in securing deals of appropriate size for the sectors and geographies in question.
• Strong networks and relations with clients, global and regional private investors and banks to identify and source viable projects/investments.
• Successful track record in leading project teams with high-level stakeholders and qualified professionals.
• Experience in developing/reviewing, and using corporate/project/structured finance financial models.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the complex financial and regulatory environments across Africa.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the infrastructure market, financial markets and the macro landscape.
• Demonstrable experience in identifying client challenges and playing an active part in finding innovative solutions.
• Experienced communicator and negotiator (expertise at senior level).
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to close deals.
• Proven experience in working with senior stakeholders in highly political environments in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Desirable Requirements

• Postgraduate qualification or CA, CFA, MBA.
• Experience with the syndication of debt and/or equity instruments.

Deadline:2nd April,2026