Analyst Investments

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to provide an entry-level role for graduates who have completed the DBSA graduate programme, as a stepping-stone into other career opportunities. The incumbent will be provided with further practical on-the-job training and be expected to perform functions aligned to the requirements of the division. The Analyst is responsible for providing data and project administrative support to improve decision-making and conducting due diligence for potential and existing clients and projects.

Key Responsibilities

1. Deal Origination and Assessment:
   • Support the expansion of IF’s project pipeline, especially in infrastructure that is being targeted to mobilise public and private sector financing.
   • Liaise with clients to provide or request information, to assist in the deal execution and/or gathering critical information for the bank.
   • Conduct an initial review to assess mandate fit and submit to committees for approval.
   • Compile and analyse information regarding business pipeline and support the development of client plans.
   • Keep abreast of developments, trends and investment opportunities in specific priority sectors and make recommendations to management regarding the competitive dynamics and landscape.
   • Assist in the development of new business opportunities in blended finance infrastructure projects in line with relevant country strategies.
2. Deal Appraisal and Approvals:
   • Support Senior and Lead infrastructure/programme specialists during preparation, structuring, negotiation, and closing of transactions of investment and policy operations.
   • Undertake financial analysis and modelling tasks within project teams.
   • Develop an understanding of the financial, technical, legal and marketing due diligence aspects of the projects/programmes.
   • Research clients, their business, operations and performance, as well as trends in their specific industries.
   • Collaborate with the team to brainstorm and implement creative strategies to enhance the division's performance and provide input to the division’s initiatives.
   • Support Senior and Lead infrastructure/programme specialists in compiling and presenting proposals for funding approvals by various steering committees, Exco and Board.
   • Conduct periodic reviews of the Bank’s investment portfolio performance trends and provide comprehensive analytical inputs and reports.
   • Capture learning opportunities post transaction conclusion for continuous improvement and ensuring successful delivery of deals.
3. Project/Programme Administration:
   • Prepare and update project plan documents and assist in the preparation of the project execution plan.
   • Develop feedback reports, presentations and performance dashboards per project/programme.
   • Prepare various presentations and reports on project/programme performance updates for the various steering committees, Exco and Board.
   • Update scope change request register and applicable project documentation and registers.
   • Schedule meetings, consolidate information for meetings, maintain and disseminate minutes and ensure follow-up on the project action list by liaising with responsible parties to ensure delivery.
   • Review cost allocation to projects/programmes on the programme management system, follow up on possible omissions or incorrect allocations and process adjustments.
   • Monitor and track programme and/or project budget spending.
4. Analyst Generic Functions:
   • Participate in business-focused projects in the division and provide the team with technical support such as collating reports and presentations, preparing project dashboards, summarising project activities and proposing ideas and solutions.
   • Collate and generate reports from the system and management team, checking quality and engaging team on gaps identified and amend reports accordingly.
   • Assist in the maintenance of project-related documentation and systems information and data in line with specific project/deal execution plans.
   • Provide inputs in meetings and prepare presentations and reports in preparation for engagements.
   • Provide support for the procurement process by drafting the relevant procurement documents for review and approval in line with procurement requirements.
   • Participate in internal and external customer satisfaction surveys for the division by providing analysis of the results and providing ideas for customer satisfaction.
   • Liaise with the Specialist to support client/business engagements to provide or request information and setting up engagement plans according to client needs.
   • Network internally within the sphere of functional responsibilities.
   • Undertake tasks as determined by the Bank’s management from time to time.
   • Perform other strategic duties as assigned.
5. Key Measurements of Outputs:
   • Understanding financial modelling and key financial bankability of the projects.
   • Quality reports with accurate assessments.
   • Understanding of the financial, technical, legal and marketing due diligence aspects of the projects.
   • Successful project administration of agreed projects, programmes and assignments.
   • Support in the preparation of deal-specific documents and approval memos for funding approval committees in the bank and the broader ecosystem.
   • Assist in executing deals and transactions to financial close.

Key Internal Liaison Relationships:

1. Head: Infrastructure Finance
2. Chief Investment Officer: IF
3. CEO & Exco
4. DBSA Board & Committees
5. Relevant DBSA Divisions
6. IF Team

Key External Liaison Relationships:

1. Infrastructure South Africa
2. National Treasury
3. Government Departments and SOCs
4. Public & Private Sector Stakeholders
5. External Service Providers
6. Development Finance Institutions

Expertise & Technical Competencies

Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Climate/ Environmental, Business, Finance, Economics, Project Management or a relevant field.
2. A minimum of 2 years’ experience in Infrastructure Investments and relevant blended financing transaction activities.
3. Solid experience in Microsoft Office (MS Word, MS Excel (at an advanced level of proficiency), MS PowerPoint, SharePoint/MS Teams, MS Outlook).
4. Strong verbal and written communication skills as well as effective presentation skills and the ability to express complex concepts in business terms.
5. Strong abilities in relationship management, teamwork and people skills.
6. Enthusiastic initiative-taker with an ability to provide innovative solutions and problem-solve.
7. Client-driven, ensuring positive customer experience is at the core of all activities undertaken.
8. Knowledge and understanding of financial markets.
9. Demonstrable problem-solving ability.
10. Strong collaborator but also able to work independently and use own initiative.

Desirable Requirements:

1. Knowledge of development economics; micro and macro-economic analysis of infrastructure and/or industrial sectors.

Technical Competencies:

Planning and Organising:

• Uses time management procedures effectively.
• Can exercise independent judgement regarding all planning and organising issues.
• Uses specialised software to plan and manage own time.
• Plans and manages multiple priorities and deadlines.

Computer Literacy:

• Consistently uses relevant office software products such as word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and email packages to an acceptable standard for the job.
• Has the ability to use standard and/or program-specific the organisation databases, and merge/import data from one program to another.
• Adapts method of working to accommodate changes in the technological developments.

Written Communication:

• Technically experienced and fully competent writer: can write independently various technical and nontechnical documents.
• Uses a clear and easily understood writing styles when communicating technical information to nontechnical employees or individuals.

Verbal Communication:

• Able to explain procedures, or familiar concepts, adapting the words or explanation to suit the person or the situation.

Presentation Skills:

• Understands how to present objectives in a compelling manner and maintain the interest of the audience.
• Knows how to deliver presentations appropriately (e.g., maintaining eye contact, the appropriate use of hand gestures etc.) and at the correct pace.
• Knows how to clarify and confirm people’s feelings, concerns and needs.

Data Collection and Analysis:

• Based on knowledge of the reasons behind the analysis, is able to define the most appropriate means of data collection.
• Is able to develop formats for data collection.
• Is able to define the most appropriate internal and external data/information sources.
• Identifies key facts in an array of data, recognises when pertinent facts are incorrect, missing, or require supplementation or verification.
• Breaks down data into component parts to understand the nature and relationship of the parts.
• Has a broad knowledge of statistical data-handling techniques.
• Can undertake more comprehensive analysis of data/information but is not required to draw conclusions.

Detail Orientation:

• Identifies main concepts and ideas when reading simple, straightforward documents.
• Reviews own work for accuracy and completeness.
• Spots inconsistencies or discrepancies that indicate problem with quality of work.
• Verifies assumptions and information before accepting the solutions, considering applicable precedents.

Risk Identification and Assessments:

• Participates in risk assessment and identification efforts.
• Identifies and assesses the impact and likelihood of risks to achieving business objectives; monitors changes in risk environment.

Project Management:

• Demonstrates a practical knowledge of project management principles and techniques.
• Plans, defines, and manages projects within a department or area.
• Identifies resources required and their appropriate role and skills.
• Assists in the management of projects where the objectives, milestones and time scales have been defined.

Project Preparation:

• Basic understanding of the project preparation stages and activities.
• Basic understanding of project risks that have to be mitigated to develop bankable projects.

Deal Origination:

• Basic understanding of project identification, conceptualisation, structuring and value preposition for DBSA.
• Basic understanding of project risk and various mechanisms available to mitigate such risk.
• Demonstrates the basic skills in developing networks.
• Prepares and presents internal motivations and appraisal reports with support from seasoned staff.

Required Personal Attributes

Behavioural Competencies:

• Teamwork and cooperation:
  • Promotes a friendly climate and good morale, and resolves conflicts.
  • Creates opportunities for cross-functional working.
  • Encourages others to network outside of their own team/department and learn from their experience.
• Decisiveness:
  • Makes timely decisions about complex issues even when some information is missing.
  • Makes decisions and stands by them even when they are controversial or unpopular.
  • Grasps critical business opportunities when they arise by making timely decisions.
• Achievement Orientation:
  • Pays attention to detail, quality assures information and deliverables for accuracy and presentation.
  • Delivers work on time and follows through on agreed commitments.
  • Views new work experiences as an opportunity for growth and strives to overcome setbacks or obstacles in order to meet goals.
• Information Seeking & Analysis:
  • Asks direct questions to people who are directly involved in a situation/issue.
  • Uses available information.
  • Identifies the cause-and-effect relationship between two aspects of a situation.
  • Separates situations into two parts: advantages and disadvantages.