AVP, Credit Officer Project Finance

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview:

Reviews, underwrites, and processes new Project Finance transactions in Specialty Finance, as well as managing the existing portfolio. The position holder has at least 5 years of experience in project finance.

Commitment to Internal Control:

The incumbent accepts the responsibility for establishing and maintaining the internal control system associated with the essential duties and responsibilities of the functional areas that the incumbent manages.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

(List in order of time spent)

• Participate in internal and external meetings with sponsors, financial institutions, advisors, and other stakeholders to support business development and transaction origination efforts. 
• Evaluate new business opportunities in partnership with the Origination team, with a primary focus on Project Finance transactions within MHCA’s strategic sectors, including renewable energy, data centers, and other infrastructure-related investments. 
• Prepare and present preliminary screening memoranda, including transaction overviews, key credit considerations, and initial risk assessments. 
• Review and analyze project agreements, including power purchase agreements (PPAs), engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, leases, concessions, operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements, and other material project documents to identify legal, operational, technical, and counterparty risks. 
• Analyze, validate, and challenge complex project finance financial models, including key assumptions, sensitivities, downside cases, and stress-test scenarios to assess transaction viability and credit risk. 
• Coordinate due diligence activities with sponsors, agent banks, technical consultants, legal counsel, insurance advisors, and other third-party professionals throughout the underwriting and documentation process. 
• Prepare comprehensive credit underwriting memoranda, including transaction structure analysis, debt service and cash flow analysis, key due diligence findings, identification of risks and mitigants, and financial assessments of project sponsors, counterparties, and other key stakeholders. 
• Present credit recommendations to senior management, including the SVP – Chief Credit Officer, Specialty Finance, EVP – Chief Credit Officer, and other approval authorities, and support approvals under local delegation or submission to the International Credit Division of MHC/Tokyo. Present transactions to local Credit Committee as required.
• Lead the documentation, closing, and funding process for approved transactions, including negotiation and finalization of key terms, coordination with internal stakeholders and external counsel, and verification that final transaction documentation conforms to approved credit terms and conditions.

• Monitor borrower and project performance following closing, including compliance with financial and reporting covenants, and proactively identify and escalate emerging risks, adverse developments, or performance issues to senior management. 
• Prepare periodic credit reviews, risk rating assessments, and portfolio reporting to ensure accurate ongoing evaluation of transaction performance and credit quality. 
• Track industry, market, regulatory, and economic trends across targeted sectors to support transaction underwriting, portfolio management, and origination efforts. 
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive Salesforce records, pipeline information, transaction files, and supporting documentation to ensure data integrity and effective portfolio management.

Management/Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Develop and train junior credit analysts, e.g., as part of a deal team on new transaction underwriting. 

Responsibility and Decision-Making Authority:

• Credit assessment, structure, and transaction communication needs to be within company prepared guidelines.
• Act independently; decision-making within MHCA policy.
• Delegated credit authority within MHCA’s local credit delegation (if applicable for the business segment). 

Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Deep understanding of the project finance industry, with significant experience in renewable energy, data center, and other infrastructure financing transactions. 
• Strong credit underwriting, financial analysis, and advanced financial modeling capabilities, including the ability to assess complex project finance structures and risk profiles. 
• Extensive knowledge of project finance transaction structuring, underwriting, syndication, documentation, and execution practices. 

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively present complex analyses and recommendations to senior management, credit committees, and executive stakeholders. 
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and relationship management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across business lines and with external counterparties. 
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully in a team-oriented environment while exercising sound judgment and independent decision-making. 
• Strategic and analytical thinker with the ability to develop innovative, practical solutions to complex financing and credit challenges. 
• Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple transactions and competing priorities while meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards. 
• Thorough understanding of MHCA’s credit policies, risk management framework, and operational procedures, with a commitment to maintaining strong credit discipline and regulatory compliance.
• Strong understanding of project contracts and due diligence disciplines, including legal, technical, operational, market, and environmental risk assessments. 
• Ability to evaluate industry, market, and macroeconomic trends and their potential impact on transaction performance, credit quality, and portfolio risk.

Competencies:

• Thinking Skills

• Analytical ability
• Ability to synthesize
• Problem-solving

• Communications

• Ability to transmit information
• Ability to listen

• Interpersonal Relationships

• Ability to work in a Team

• Technical and Professional

• Detail-oriented
• Ability to work independently

• Personal Qualities

• Action-oriented
• Resilient
• Adaptability
• Self-starter

• Entrepreneurship

• Business Acumen
• Client-oriented

Education and Experience:

• BS in Accounting, Finance or Economics or equivalent experience
• CFA candidate Level II/III or charter holder preferred
• Formal credit training, including financial modeling training (project finance)
• Minimum5years of experience in project finance.

Licensing and Certification:

• Not applicable

Tools and Equipment Used: 

• Personal computer, copier, phone, and other typical office equipment

Working Hours:

• Hours may vary and will require some evening work;frequently requires working 40-45 hours/week depending on business needs

Travel:

• Occasional travel related to transactions and attendance at industry seminars.

Physical Demands:

• Digital dexterity and hand/eye coordination in operation of office equipment
• Light lifting and carrying of supplies, files, etc.
• Ability to speak to and hear customers and/or other employees via phone or in person