Senior Originator - Power & New Energies

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.
In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization's extensive global network. The Group's operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC Rail Services LLC, Manufacturers Bank, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.
The anticipated salary range for this role is between $237,000.00 and $263,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.
Role Description
SMBC's Global Structured Finance Department is looking for an experienced originator to join the energy and power sector group within the market leading North America Project Finance Group. Among other activities, this group leads SMBC's effort in advising and underwriting the financing of major projects across the broader energy sector. Asset types include renewable power, renewable fuels, hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon capture and sequestration, and other New Energies technologies and processes.
The North America Project Finance Group provides advisory, underwriting, structuring, and capital markets offerings to large corporations and financial sponsors. The group covers the growing infrastructure industry (including digital infrastructure, transportation, and social infrastructure), the power industry (including conventional power generation, renewable power generation, and storage), and New Energies and natural resources sectors (including LNG terminals, midstream assets, and renewable fuels), with a growing focus on energy transition and ESG-themed projects.
SMBC's award-winning project finance franchise is an established global leader across advisory, bonds, and loans. The group is consistently ranked among the top tier in Project Finance league tables, both in North America and globally.
Role Objectives
The role's responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Lead the origination and execution of complex project finance transactions in North America with new and existing clients and with little oversight from the group head.
• Market and execute project debt and equity financial advisory transactions.
• Structure and market capital markets and leveraged finance solutions.
• Working with our strategic partners, market equity and M&A advisory mandates for projects and project portfolios.
• Cross-sell other products provided by SMBC and our strategic partners (trade finance, equity advisory, deposits, etc).
• Build and maintain important client relationships within the region. Collaborate and coordinate client outreach with other departments within SMBC to develop new business opportunities and enhance our position in the market.
• Proactively develop new financing ideas and strategies that generate value for clients, and use such ideas to originate business opportunities and elevate SMBC's platform.
• Efficiently analyze key risk elements of project finance structures, in order to catalyze decision-making and effectively structure creative and feasible solutions for clients.
• Contribute to the development of new business opportunities across new and emerging sectors.
• Contribute to new product development, within the broader auspices of the Global Structured Finance franchise.
• Ensure the smooth origination and execution of new transactions, through application of best practices, efficient management of deal teams, and
• Effectively partner with other internal teams and product areas to offer solutions that will enhance and elevate SMBC's visibility with new and existing clients.
• Lead strategic discussions with internal senior management and key partners across the bank such as Credit, Syndications, Portfolio Management, Planning, etc. to garner support and approval for new business.
• Monitor and manage existing transactions, including the review and processing of waivers and amendments, internal reports, special credit requirements, etc.
• Act in partnership with senior management in creating a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement to maximize efficiency, profitability, customer service and risk management.
• Exhibit proficiency in external regulatory matters and internal compliance and policies and procedures.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to deal team members and give guidance and feedback. Help train junior members of team.
• Represent the bank as necessary and attend bank meetings, industry events, conferences, and seminars in order to keep abreast of industry trends and developments and to expand network of client contacts.

Qualifications and Skills

• Deep understanding of project finance, infrastructure finance, structured finance, loan sales & syndication, debt capital markets, financial advisory, investment banking.
• Proven experience in all aspects of transactions, including origination, deal analysis, negotiation of documents, closing and distribution, financial advisory, and financial modeling.
• Established relationships with key clients and relevant industry contacts in the North America region, including financial sponsors, institutional investors, and strategic players.
• Experience with institutional debt markets, including institutional term loans, high yield bonds, and mezzanine structures.
• Proven credit analysis skills and track record; ability to efficiently analyze a vast and complex amount of information to quickly identify the key risk factors of highly structured transactions and draw from extensive knowledge of transactions to identify solutions.
• Strong knowledge of finance and debt advisory, acquisition finance, bond and equity underwriting, private placements, foreign exchange, asset securitization, cross-border M&A, and export credit agency services.
• Expert knowledge in regulatory framework in region and fully versed in internal policies and procedures.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills both written and verbal; proven ability to present and negotiate externally with clients and key industry contacts and internally with senior management and other departments.
• Ability to build and maintain a strong network of relationships across the Bank to support and facilitate communication and/or execution of new business ideas and opportunities.
• Leadership skills, including the ability to manage time effectively, handle both internal and external conflicts; strong ability to organize effectively, delegate responsibility, solve problems quickly and communicate clearly.

Work Experience:

• 15+ years of specialized experience in financial services
• At least 10 years of experience in a project finance team at a mid-sized or global bank, advisory boutique, or asset management firm.
• Experience in originating loans, guarantees and/or equity transactions, managing due diligence, financial modeling, mitigating credit and other risks, negotiating term sheets and finance documentation and related activities. Demonstrated ability to lead a deal team.

Education:

• Required: BA / BS
• Preferred: MA / MS / MBA
• Formal credit training preferred

Licenses / Certifications / Registrations:

• Series 79 and 63

Additional Requirements
D&I Commitment
Responsible for fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, holding leaders accountable for creating an inclusive environment through awareness and practice of equity in recruiting, developing, and promoting diverse talent.
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SMBC's employees participate in a hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process.
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. SMBC provides reasonable accommodations for employees and applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at accommodations@smbcgroup.com.