Job Description

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The Project Finance Specialist role is a project finance function located within the Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO).



The IPPO was established in 2010 to provide rapid solutions to South Africa's severe electricity supply constraints, by procuring new energy generation capacity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The IPPO was created as a project office hosted by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) under a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), National Treasury and the DBSA. The mandate of the IPP Office is to provide specialised services to government, including a) IPP Energy Procurement Management, b) Monitoring, Evaluation and Contract Management, and c) Professional Advisory Services. The IPPO's skills, expertise and success in mobilising and delivering on time is recognised domestically and globally.



The Project Finance Specialist will effectively advise on, assess, monitor and report on all the financial and funding aspects required for bankable project financed based procurement documentation. These will involve different power producing projects that will include Renewable Energy, Battery Energy Storage, Gas to Power, Coal, and Hybrid energy facilities.



The role will report to the Head of Infrastructure Finance and will collaborate effectively with all other departments within the IPPO to deliver timeously on the IPPO's mandates and strategy.

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Key Responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

1. Project finance management

Assess conceptual foundations of model specifications, limitations, underlying assumptions, variable selection, developmental evidence, underlying data and documentation

Monitor efforts to ensure the model meets business objectives and adheres to regulatory standards, verifying quality and accuracy by back testing and benchmarking

Confer with validators and developers to ensure the modeling process is efficient, recommending solutions to reduce expense, increase revenue and maximize efficiency when needed

Create detailed reports and budgets in written and verbal form for presentation to stakeholders, senior management and internal audit staff, maintaining records with risk management

Perform risk assessments and quantify results to influence strategic business decisions by management and key stakeholders

2. Reporting and administration

Report on analysis of risk allocation, bankability issues, optimisation & tax structuring of projects

Clearly articulate the risk and rewards of potential transactions to the executive management team and provide recommendations for mitigation

Generate the financial analysis, investment appraisal, economic evaluation and risk analysis of projects during and at end of bidding phase

The development, assessment and documentation of various project finance components (including request for proposal documents)

3. Financial Modelling & Analysis

Prepare or assist with financial models; financial analyses or reviewing; audit financial models as well as financial analyses of financial models prepared by other team members

Responsible for preparing or assisting with financing, accounting and tax-related inputs in financial models

The creation, operation and maintenance of complex models to analyse, value and price potential project-level and corporate-level investments

4. Financial & Risk Management

Assist with the preparation of the budget for the Bid Window in regards to the Financial Advisor requirements

Assist with the preparation of the annual departmental budget

Ensure all weaknesses are identified around project finance processes and remedial or risk mitigation measures are put in place

Follow up and implement recommendations of internal and external audit findings

5. Effective self-management and team work.

Apply knowledge and organisation systems, structures, policies and procedures to achieve results.

Demonstrate initiative in follow through to ensure that personal quality and productivity standards are consistently and accurately maintained.

Provide appropriate resolution for tasks or deadlines not met.

Support and drive the business core values.

Act in a customer centric manner.

Maintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedback.

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Expertise & Technical Competencies

The successful incumbent should have:



CA, CFA or CIMA or any other Hons Degree qualification which demonstrates high level of numeracy and analysis of numerical data.



Knowledge and understanding of financial business case management

Knowledge and understanding of the public sector

Knowledge and understanding of the principles of business strategy

Knowledge of the macro - economic environment of the county.



In-depth knowledge of various legislations related to the IPP Office



Presentation skills

Interpersonal & Networking skills

Financial and business analytic skills

Strong verbal and written skills

Problem Solving skills

Decision making skills

Coaching and mentoring skills

Attention to Detail

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Required Personal Attributes

Analysis and Judgement Numerical Reasoning Assertiveness Excellence Orientation Investigative Orientation Customer Responsiveness Business Acumen Planning and Prioritising Ability to Influence * Leadership