The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and most famous development bank in the world and is an observer at the United Nations Development Group. The bank is based in Washington, D.C. and provided around $61 billion in loans and assistance to "develop...

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Principal/Chief Credit Officer

Job Type

Full Time

Qualification

MBA/MSc/MA , Professional Certificate

Experience

15 years

Location

Nairobi

Job Field

Finance / Accounting / Audit

Duties and Accountabilities:

• Provide objective and independent risk assessment for transaction approvals and portfolio monitoring, while meeting the Standard Level Agreements in the Credit Client Service Framework.
• Serve as a second pair of eyes throughout the investment cycle, partnering with business teams from early review through post-disbursement on transaction structure, documentation, financial performance, covenant compliance, ratings, portfolio trends, and risk mitigation tools.
• Ensure new transactions and portfolio actions comply with IFC policies, procedures, and best practices in support of IFC’s financial and development objectives.
• Help maintain a sound risk-reward balance consistent with IFC’s risk appetite and portfolio quality standards.
• Approve the initial credit risk rating and facility rating for new transactions and review sample portfolio ratings on an ongoing basis.
• Visit transaction teams and/or clients in key office locations to get a first-hand understanding of market conditions and risks.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and staff development through training, investment FAQs, and other departmental initiatives, and mentor more junior staff.
• Participate in reviews and discussions of credit standards, pricing, deal acceptance criteria, and business process improvement, and represent the department on relevant working groups.
• Advise the RCRO and VP Risk on new transactions or portfolio developments, which could adversely affect IFC’s asset quality, developmental impact, or future performance.

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in finance, business, with a minimum 15 years of experience in lending and investing at a major international financial institution, including 5–10 years as a decision-maker; equity experience is an advantage.
• Experience in Emerging Markets, particularly Africa, is preferred.
• Significant credit risk management experience across sectors and products, including the ability to assess and apply risk procedures judgmentally on a case-by-case basis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to synthesize complex information clearly.
• Strong experience across debt and equity products, with deep expertise in financial analysis, deal structuring, and documentation.
• Strong investment judgment, analytical rigor, and independence of thought, with sound deal sense and a consistent record of high-quality decisions.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing, and negotiation skills, with the ability to collaborate across the organization, build buy-in, and deliver results under pressure.
• Demonstrated capacity to resolve conflicts constructively, exercise sound judgment in complex decision-making, and convey outcomes clearly to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong people management and mentoring skills, with openness to feedback and innovative ideas.
• Sound understanding of global, regional, and market dynamics, with the ability to build effective external relationships.
• High integrity, strong results orientation, and the ability to work independently and effectively in a complex matrix and multicultural environment.
• Recognized team player and leader with the ability to build strong relationships across boundaries.

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• Provide objective and independent risk assessment for transaction approvals and portfolio monitoring, while meeting the Standard Level Agreements in the Credit Client Service Framework.
• Serve as a second pair of eyes throughout the investment cycle, partnering with business teams from early review through post-disbursement on transaction structure, documentation, financial performance, covenant compliance, ratings, portfolio trends, and risk mitigation tools.
• Ensure new transactions and portfolio actions comply with IFC policies, procedures, and best practices in support of IFC’s financial and development objectives.
• Help maintain a sound risk-reward balance consistent with IFC’s risk appetite and portfolio quality standards.
• Approve the initial credit risk rating and facility rating for new transactions and review sample portfolio ratings on an ongoing basis.
• Visit transaction teams and/or clients in key office locations to get a first-hand understanding of market conditions and risks.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and staff development through training, investment FAQs, and other departmental initiatives, and mentor more junior staff.
• Participate in reviews and discussions of credit standards, pricing, deal acceptance criteria, and business process improvement, and represent the department on relevant working groups.
• Advise the RCRO and VP Risk on new transactions or portfolio developments, which could adversely affect IFC’s asset quality, developmental impact, or future performance.

• Credit risk management
• Financial analysis
• Deal structuring
• Documentation
• Investment judgment
• Analytical rigor
• Independence of thought
• Interpersonal skills
• Influencing skills
• Negotiation skills
• Conflict resolution
• People management
• Mentoring skills
• Understanding of global, regional, and market dynamics
• Building external relationships
• High integrity
• Results orientation
• Ability to work independently
• Team player
• Leadership

• Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in finance, business
• Minimum 15 years of experience in lending and investing at a major international financial institution
• 5–10 years as a decision-maker
• Equity experience is an advantage
• Experience in Emerging Markets, particularly Africa, is preferred
• Significant credit risk management experience across sectors and products
• Ability to assess and apply risk procedures judgmentally on a case-by-case basis
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to synthesize complex information clearly
• Strong experience across debt and equity products
• Deep expertise in financial analysis, deal structuring, and documentation
• Strong investment judgment, analytical rigor, and independence of thought
• Sound deal sense and a consistent record of high-quality decisions
• Strong interpersonal, influencing, and negotiation skills
• Ability to collaborate across the organization, build buy-in, and deliver results under pressure
• Demonstrated capacity to resolve conflicts constructively
• Exercise sound judgment in complex decision-making
• Convey outcomes clearly to diverse stakeholders
• Strong people management and mentoring skills
• Openness to feedback and innovative ideas
• Sound understanding of global, regional, and market dynamics
• Ability to build effective external relationships
• High integrity, strong results orientation
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a complex matrix and multicultural environment
• Recognized team player and leader
• Ability to build strong relationships across boundaries