About the Job
Summary The role holder will be advising on managing portfolio activities this includes providing operational and day-to-day asset management recommendations and support required by the investment team on Infra’s growing portfolio of infrastructure assets while ensuring compliance and adherence to industry and Infra’s standards.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities Operational Support: Guiding the development of the Portfolio Management’s strategy, ensuring its alignment with Infra’s mandate and broader objectives. Recommending an optimum organization structure and direct the development of the Portfolio Management structures so that resources are optimally utilized, and communication can take place in an efficient manner. Counseling the preparation and consolidation of the Portfolio Operations division budgets and monitor financial performance versus the budget so that the business is aware of anticipated costs/revenues, areas of unsatisfactory performance, and potential performance improvement opportunities are capitalized upon. Encouraging effective and continuous performance monitoring for respective divisions so that Infra is aware of anticipated challenges and potential performance improvement opportunities are identified. Instructing effective portfolio management practices to provide control and independence in supporting the timely processing, settlement and confirmation of investment transactions. Advising on the implementation of all investment operational activities to ensure that robust internal processes are implemented and adhered to in line with business requirements and service standards. Work closely with the investment team on final information and reporting covenants to meet Portfolio Management requirements. Collaborate with Infra's investment team on new transactions to develop portfolio management handover post execution plans to provide efficient portfolio management support. Improve and monitor periodic reporting by investee companies and identify material deviations and actions required. Guide the preparation and presentation of regular updates and reporting on development of portfolio companies to the executive management. Work with the Fund's investment team to provide accurate and timely reporting, including asset valuations, to senior management. Advise on the process of counterparty onboarding onto Infra systems while ensuring all KYC and legal due diligence requirements are satisfied. Recommend the Identification, development, and implement key initiatives, alongside company management teams and their investment and industry partner teams, to deliver business plans and generate value through pro-active asset management. Identify data and IT platform needs for portfolio assets and work with Information Technology team to acquire/procure such resources. Collaborate effectively with the Business, Legal, Finance, Risk and Investment team on to provide day-to-day asset management oversight for all Infra’s portfolio of infrastructure assets. Counseling transaction closing and settlement processes including closing checklists and verifying conditions precedent ensuring adherence to legal requirements. Monitor, advice, and report failed settlements, collections and other non-compliant transactions in order to ensure compliance with the operations controls and develop corrective action plan. Guide on the identification and resolution of problems related to transactions or investment data in a timely fashion following established guidelines. Transaction Operational Risk:Advise on the development of solid control environment to mitigate operational risk associated with all portfolio operation and agency activities and document relevant procedures. Review and monitor transaction errors and policy breaches in order to identify and correct operational issues, and to ensure timely resolution and minimize risk exposures. Review and seek to continuously improve the overall governance and control effectiveness of Portfolio Management, in collaboration with the Governance and Risk function, in order to mitigate and minimize operational risk exposure. Encourage the development and maintenance of effective relationships and partnerships with counterparties in order to assure disruption-free portfolio operations and provide support on operational queries.
Qualifications Bachelor of Finance, Business Administration, Economics or equivalent. Preferably, a Master degree from a top-tier higher education institution.
Experience Minimum of 12 years of professional experience in investment operations. Strong understanding of debt and equity products and portfolio operation activities. Background in infrastructure portfolio management or perhaps finance/ commercial role within an infrastructure company; possibly a banker with excellent infrastructure deal experience who is keen to move into a portfolio role, or a banker overseeing an agency function in a Bank. Strong understanding of the infrastructure sector and project finance Exposure to MENA is advantageous Experience in establishing PM or Agency function is advantageous Fluency in English is required, and Fluency in Arabic is preferred.