Top Jobs at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

• The role is responsible for the origination and structuring of complex credit transactions across various sectors, e.g. infrastructure, sovereign, sub-sovereign, public sector projects for investment considerations in South Africa, the Rest of Africa and High Impact. This role is instrumental in ensuring that new transactions align with the DBSA’s mandate, risk appetite and strategic objectives. Applying technical and commercial expertise, and legal knowledge, the role supports decision-making by appraising new transactions, through conducting due diligence, credit assessment of financial and non-financial risks, financial modelling and well-structured credit risk mitigation strategies. This role interacts closely with the Business teams and various Sector and Country Specialists in the origination process.

Key Responsibilities    
Key Performance Areas:

Deal Origination and Structuring

• Appraise the origination of complex credit transactions from a pipeline of potential projects sourced by the
• Business teams, assessing transactions against the Bank’s risk appetite.
• Appraise, structure transactions to optimise risk-adjusted returns whilst achieving development impact.
• In conjunction with the Business teams, engage internally with project teams and externally with borrowers, government entities, project sponsors, and other key risk-transfer / credit enhancing stakeholders to assess optimal financing needs and develop tailored solutions.
• Provide credit advisory at inception, deal screening or early review stages for indicative quantification of credit.
• Serve as a key member of the project team during appraisal stage, deal implementation and financial close stages in pursuit of achieving the Bank’s key corporate and strategic objectives.
• Serve as a key member of the project team to develop innovative risk mitigation structures (e.g. blended finance instruments, sustainable finance instruments, credit enhanced structures).
• Conduct market and industry research as needed to inform risk assessment and credit decision-making.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary sector experts and other teams to support client solutioning and the credit application process.

Credit Assessment, Financial Analysis and Risk Mitigation

• Undertake in-depth credit and financial analysis and due diligence on prospective transactions.
• Identify, mitigate and manage key quantitative and qualitative risks facing a prospective transaction.
• Apply credit rating methodologies aligned to underlying transaction structures to ensure that the credit profile is adequately encapsulated the risk-adjusted returns per policies.
• Contribute to due diligence activities, where required, including site visits, stakeholder interviews and due diligence data collection and synthesis.
• Collaborate with business, legal, technical and ESG teams to ensure comprehensive transaction evaluation.
• Prepare investment memos for new appraisals that succinctly communicates the overall credit opinion and recommended terms and conditions of the prospective transactions.
• Undertake in-depth financial and cash-flow analysis of portfolio companies, evaluating performance against initial projections and market benchmarks.
• Review portfolio performance reports, incorporating peer comparisons, sectors developments, and macroeconomic conditions affecting the Bank.
• Assess amendments to credit terms and provides recommendations for restructuring, covenant waivers, or rescheduling proposals as required.
• Conduct scenario analysis and stress testing on key exposures, feeding insights into credit risk appetite and capital allocation decisions.
• Support efforts to enhance risk-adjusted return through innovative solutioning of the prospective deal flow.

Financial Modelling and Analysis

• Build and/or review and challenge model assumptions in financial models for prospective transactions.
• Conduct cash flow analysis, stress testing, and scenario analysis to test financial viability and draw conclusions / make recommendations to mitigate financial risks identified.
• Assess financial compliance of key financial terms and/or recommend and implement credit risk mitigants (e.g. conditions, covenants, collateral, guarantees), as required.
• Perform peer benchmarking and sectoral credit comparisons in order to provide valuable insights for the review of the financial modelling assessment.

Portfolio Integration

• Ensure seamless transition of approved transactions into portfolio management.
• Monitor early-stage performance, facility and/or covenant compliance during onboarding of new clients.
• Provide feedback to portfolio, origination and risk teams on original learnings and risk signals.
• Maintain credit-related compliance with internal policies, regulatory standards, and investment mandates across all geographies.
• Maintain up-to-date credit ratings and internal loan classifications of new transactions, where required, prior to transition into portfolio management.

Strategic Engagement and Governance

• Liaise with teams to ensure seamless handover and continuous oversight of transactions post-disbursement.
• Support governance reporting by contributing to reports for Board committees, EXCO, and relevant committees.
• Participate in the maintenance and improvement of the credit value chain, identifying process inefficiencies and supporting enhancements to credit systems.
• Support audits by preparing necessary reports and documentation in line with best practice and standards.

Reporting and Monitoring

• Produce accurate, insightful reports that express key financial and non-financial metrics and analysis to support credit opinions for decision-making.
• Analyse data to identify trends, inform strategic decisions, and provide stakeholders with clear, actionable information that supports ongoing performance improvement and accountability.
• Utilise appropriate technologies and tools to enhance reporting efficiency and clarity, while also safeguarding the confidentiality and sensitivity of the information included.
• Maintain high standards of accuracy and timeliness to deliver reports that are timely, relevant and precise.

Key Measurements of Outputs:

• Percentage and number of credit memos for appraisals completed on time and in line with internal standards.
• Precision of internal credit ratings aligned with appropriate model methodologies and validated through backtesting or audit reviews.
• Timely identification of early warning indicators, escalating and actioned for new transactions in appraisal or deal implementation stage.
• Number of breaches identified and resolved and compliance rate for new facility agreements being onboarded.
• Average time taken to complete normal urgent risk assessment and recommend amendments or waivers.
• Quality of financial models built or reviewed, stakeholder feedback on model accuracy and usefulness for decision-making.
• Percentage of reports submitted on time with no material errors; percentage of submissions deferred as a result of substandard quality.
• Feedback from internal and external stakeholders on quality, communication, responsiveness, and problemsolving support.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    
Qualifications and Experience:

Qualifications

• Degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or Risk Management or related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in credit risk analysis, portfolio monitoring, or financial analysis within wholesale/investment banking or a development finance environment.
• Proven proficiency in credit analysis, financial modelling, and application of credit rating methodologies across similar credit portfolios.
• Strong capability in financial statement analysis, credit risk assessment, and the application of risk mitigation principles.
• Familiarity with development finance instruments and structured finance solutions is advantageous.
• Sound understanding of the credit lifecycle and loan value chain processes.
• Awareness of macroeconomic and political risk factors impacting country and credit risk is beneficial.
• Experience in credit origination, investment analysis, or structured finance is a plus.
• Demonstrated credit reasoning and credit writing skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex concepts clearly and effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, collaborate in teams, and manage stakeholder interactions effectively.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience working with municipalities, government programmes, or development finance institutions.
• Understanding and experience of sovereign risk, infrastructure finance, and public sector lending.
• Postgraduate degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting or a related field.
• Professional certification in Financial Risk Management, Chartered Financial Analysis or CA (SA) or equivalent.
• Familiarity with ESG, blended finance, and development impact frameworks.

Deadline:21st May,2026

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Job Description    

• The Principal Deal Originator is responsible for formulating and executing the strategic objectives of the business in collaboration with the Head Coverage, whilst being accountable for deal origination, building and owning client and partnerships and developing projects for the DBSA, ultimately leading to bankable deals.

Key Responsibilities    
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Deal Origination

• Lead the development and execution of origination strategies and sector initiatives to drive infrastructure investment.
• Identify, prioritise, and manage key client relationships to maximize revenue and strategic impact.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of high-quality investment opportunities through proactive business development and deep sector expertise.
• Collaborate with project preparation and transaction teams to ensure successful deal structuring and closure.
• Navigate and resolve partnership challenges, staying informed on market products and competitor offerings.
• Leverage political, sectoral, and regional insights to inform strategies and broaden business opportunities.
• Foster strong networks with internal and external stakeholders to position the bank as a leader in infrastructure finance.
• Lead competitor and market analysis to inform strategic decision-making and maintain competitive advantage.
• Drive new business development, including fee-generating projects, ensuring consistent deal flow and bankability.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and expert guidance to junior team members and represent deals at executive committees and boards.
• Prepare and provide documentation/reports for EXCO and Board(s) decision-making where applicable.
• Present at deal Committees where applicable, as and when required. 

Business Development 

• Drive business development to establish DBSA as the preferred lender, investor, and partner.
• Lead the drafting, approval and execution of strategies to build a strong pipeline of projects.
• Identify and originate viable projects by facilitating preparation, scoping, feasibility studies, and business plans to close deals.
• Develop approaches to secure concessional funding for infrastructure projects across Africa.
• Expand client base in target countries, fostering long-term relationships.
• Design and implement targeted marketing strategies to capitalise on growth opportunities for DBSA.

Relationship Management and Stakeholder Relations 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, global and regional private businesses, banking and multilateral partners and government officials to further develop specific investment opportunities.
• Facilitate continuous communication with clients/ projects that the DBSA has funded to adequately support the Division’s monitoring function.
• Network and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to develop specific investment opportunities further.
• Identify clients’ pain points and coordinate DBSA’s solution offerings to address them
• Undertake other tasks as assigned by the line manager, from time to time.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Value and number of new business deals originated
• Value and number of project approvals, commitments, and disbursements.
• Value of infrastructure catalysed.
• Value of projects prepared and committed for DBSA approval. 
• Value of funds under management secured (Infrastructure Delivery business).
• Quality of investment book (e.g., NPL ratio).
• Number of transactions that are committed for DBSA funding to black-owned entities (50% shareholding and above). 
• Number of jobs created or "to be created" by projects - Direct and Indirect jobs.
• Quality of signed agreements/mandates.
• Clean Audit. 

KEY INTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIPS (The list is not exhaustive)

• Divisional Executives and Unit Heads
• DBSA Committees, e.g., Deal screen, Investment Committees, Asset/Liability Committee
• Origination, Transacting, IDD, Project Preparation, Risk, Treasury & Finance

KEY EXTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIPS (The list is not exhaustive)

• National Government
• Provincial Government
• Local Government
• Knowledge partners – Universities, think tanks, local/international organisations
• Investment partners – commercial, DFIs
• SMMEs
• Sovereigns
• Service providers – e.g. EPCs, advisors, O&Ms

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Minimum Requirements:

• A postgraduate qualification or equivalent in Business (such as an MBA) or Finance (CA or CFA), or Engineering, or Economics.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in infrastructure project financing, structured finance or corporate lending, preferably in a development bank, commercial bank or financial institution focusing on infrastructure.
• 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.
• Proven track record in originating, structuring and closing large-scale infrastructure deals.
• 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.
• 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 developing/structuring 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.

Deadline:19th May,2026