Manager / Principal Manager recruitment

Background

This role is offered as a short term contract ending in December 2012.

The Financial Strategy and Business Planning Department within Finance is responsible for the Bank's:

· budget and resource allocation

· financial policies and planning

· overall capital planning and adequacy

The department has around 12 staff covering these areas. Specific to this role, the department is responsible for:

· reviewing and updating of the Bank's financial policies including the economic capital policy, provisioning policy and limits management

· assessment of the Bank's capital adequacy requirements through a statutory and risk-based approach consistent with Basel regulatory capital guidelines

· assessment and implementation of capital instruments

· qualitative and quantitative approaches to operational and business risk

· providing analysis required to support the Bank's AAA credit rating

In these areas, the department works with other areas in the Bank, with particular close collaboration with the Risk Management Department. In particular, Finance and Risk Management are working closely to develop an improved risk and capital management framework for the Bank.

Through the above work, the department plays a key role in the Bank's strategy formulation, implementation and review processes.

It should be noted that as an International Financial Institution the Bank is not subject to any specific bank regulation, but aims to be in line with relevant best practice. A key capital management objective is the maintenance of the Bank's "triple-A" credit rating.

The Role

The Bank is in the course of setting out the necessary roadmap to deliver an improved risk and capital management framework. This will include:

· Economic capital measurement. Participate in the calibration of the Bank's economic capital model (the 'Risk Management Systems Programme') and take a lead in the interpretation and use of the outputs for capital planning purposes. The system estimates exposure at default and integrates credit and market risk measurement across banking and treasury counterparty exposures and has been developed and led by Risk Management with cross-departmental oversight.

· Regulatory capital. Whilst the Bank is not subject to any specific Bank regulation the Bank aims to refine its estimates of Basel capital ratios. This will include the validation of the Bank's approach by an external consultancy firm. The individual in this role would be the key co-ordinator of this work.

· Data and reporting enhancements. Work on fuller integration of financial, operational and risk data.

· Communication of concepts and results across Management and the Board of Directors.

The Bank continues to develop its economic capital methodologies and policies to support the Bank's capital adequacy framework in line with evolving market practice.

As a result of a maternity absence, a high calibre candidate is sought with thorough knowledge and relevant experience in areas of regulatory and economic capital management. This role demands practical expertise in the interpretation and implementation of Basel II Accord requirements based on in-depth knowledge of credit, market and operational risk measurement techniques.

It is likely that the candidate will come from a major financial institution, a regulatory or financial consultancy background.

Due to the growing importance of the capital management area and given the nature of the position, the successful candidate will gain exposure to, and be involved with, a wide range of internal clients and business lines of the Bank. In addition, he/she will be expected to engage regularly and confidently with the Bank's Senior Management. Therefore, strong written and verbal communication skills will be very important.

Key Functional Tasks and Responsibilities

The main tasks and responsibilities are summarised as follows:

· lead the department's work in the development and initial implementation of a roadmap for a Bank-wide risk and capital management framework

· contribute towards refining existing financial policies and operational guidelines taking account of the development of the Bank's economic capital policy and framework

· work on the annual review of the Bank's provisioning policy

· work on the analysis and implementation of the Bank's capital management requirements

This is a role with a focus on policy development and implementation, rather than being a detailed analytical or quantitative role.

Essential Skills, Experience Qualifications

· strong knowledge and understanding of financial regulation and related risk issues for modelling of (i) regulatory capital adequacy and (ii) economic capital

· qualified chartered accountant, or equivalent, preferred

· overview knowledge of credit portfolio models and finance theory in general

· understanding of products and financial instruments, including issues related to illiquid compared to liquid portfolios

· good grasp of financial and capital market fundamentals, credit analysis and accounting concepts

· understanding of statistical and quantitative analysis and their application in business

· strong knowledge of Excel and data systems

· an analytical and inquiring approach

Competencies Personal Attributes

· strong written and verbal English communication skills

· maturity and ability to work independently under own initiative and deliver high quality work

· dedicated to task at hand, delivery focused and results driven

· strong implementation skills

· ability to work efficiently as part of a team

· attracted to the multicultural environment of the EBRD as well as to the mission of the Bank