Senior Associate - Investment Banking (Sovereign & Development Finance)
The Opportunity
An established international investment banking and advisory firm specialising in frontier and emerging markets is seeking an experienced Senior Associate to join its Sovereign & Development Finance team.
This is an exciting opportunity for an investment banking professional to work with governments, public sector institutions and development finance stakeholders – supporting the structuring and execution of innovative financing solutions across emerging markets in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The successful candidate will contribute to high-profile advisory mandates while helping clients access capital and strengthen sovereign financing strategies.
The position offers exposure to complex, cross-border transactions within a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment where professionals are encouraged to take ownership, build client relationships and contribute to business development.
Key Responsibilities
Support the origination, structuring and execution of sovereign financing and public sector advisory mandates.
Assist in the development of debt management and capital raising solutions for government and public sector clients.
Prepare financial models, market analysis, presentations and investment committee materials.
Support business development activities, including proposal preparation, client engagement and competitive tender submissions.
Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations and financial market participants.
Coordinate transaction execution with legal advisers, technical consultants and other external stakeholders.
Conduct sovereign credit analysis, debt sustainability assessments and macroeconomic research.
Assist with transaction documentation, due diligence processes and financial structuring.
Mentor junior team members and contribute to knowledge sharing across the wider business.
Maintain high standards of governance, compliance and professional integrity throughout all engagements.
Requirements
The successful candidate is likely to possess:
Approximately 4–7 years’ experience within investment banking, sovereign advisory, debt capital markets, structured finance or a closely related discipline.
Experience working with sovereign, public sector or development finance transactions.
Experience working across emerging or frontier markets, ideally including Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and/or Central Asia.
Strong understanding of African capital markets, regulatory environments, and macroeconomic dynamics.
Strong understanding of debt capital markets, credit structuring and financing instruments.
Excellent financial modelling and analytical capabilities.
Ability to operate independently in complex, frontier market environments.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to prepare high-quality client presentations.
Ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification would be advantageous.
Fluency in English is essential. Additional language skills, particularly French, would be beneficial.
Willingness to undertake international travel as required, including Africa.
Desirable Experience
Candidates with exposure to any of the following will be viewed favourably:
Sovereign debt management advisory.
Credit ratings or sovereign risk analysis.
Development finance institutions (DFIs) or multilateral development banks (MDBs).
Blended finance, guarantees or innovative financing structures.
Emerging market infrastructure, energy or sustainable finance transactions.
What’s on Offer
Opportunity to work on landmark sovereign and development finance transactions.
International exposure across multiple emerging markets.
A collaborative, high-performing team environment.
Genuine opportunities for career progression and professional development.
Exposure to senior decision-makers and complex cross-border transactions.
Competitive remuneration and benefits package.