Principal: Property Finance Africa

Job Purpose

To originate, structure, execute and manage complex property finance opportunities across selected African markets, while building trusted client, partner and internal stakeholder relationships. The Principal is accountable for leading opportunities from strategic engagement and early-stage assessment through credit approval, financial close, portfolio stewardship and value realisation, within Nedbank risk appetite, governance and conduct standards.

The role will initially carry a focused mandate to work with the Divisional Executive and relevant East African stakeholders to size, structure and activate the East Africa opportunity. This includes identifying real-estate businesses and missed opportunities within the existing client base, establishing practical cross-bank origination and revenue-sharing mechanisms, determining participation and co-funding appetite, and defining migration criteria for opportunities that should move from term lending into structured Property Finance Africa solutions.

Job Responsibilities

Origination and client franchise development

• Build and maintain a high-quality pipeline across priority property sectors, clients and jurisdictions.
• Develop senior relationships with property companies, developers, investors, funds, financial institutions, advisers and ecosystem partners.
• Identify client needs and convert them into bankable financing, investment, hedging, transactional banking and broader CIB opportunities.
• Represent Property Finance Africa credibly in client engagements, industry forums and internal coverage discussions.

Transaction leadership and execution

• Lead multidisciplinary deal teams through screening, due diligence, structuring, valuation review, financial modelling, credit submission, documentation, conditions precedent and financial close.
• Structure local- and foreign-currency solutions appropriate to asset cash flows, country risk, tax, legal, regulatory and funding considerations.
• Challenge key assumptions, identify downside risks and propose mitigants that create an acceptable risk-adjusted outcome for the client and Nedbank.
• Coordinate internal specialists, including Credit, Legal, Tax, Treasury, Sustainability, Transactional Services, Operations and Compliance.

Credit, risk and portfolio stewardship

• Prepare and sponsor clear, decision-useful credit papers and recommendations.
• Ensure transactions comply with delegated mandates, applicable policies, risk appetite, country limits and approval conditions.
• Monitor assigned exposures, covenants, asset performance, valuations, market developments and emerging risks.
• Lead early intervention, restructuring or remediation where risk indicators deteriorate, and ensure accurate, timely reporting.

Commercial and financial performance

• Deliver agreed balance-sheet deployment, revenue, return, fee and cross-sell outcomes within risk appetite.
• Optimise pricing, capital usage, funding structure and ancillary revenue across the life of each relationship.
• Maintain disciplined pipeline management and realistic forecasting of approvals, drawdowns and revenue.
• Identify portfolio optimisation, refinancing, syndication, sell-down and distribution opportunities.

Leadership and capability building

• Provide day-to-day leadership to deal teams and coach Senior Associates and Associate Principals in origination, analysis, structuring and execution.
• Set clear work standards, allocate responsibilities appropriately and review outputs before submission.
• Contribute to the development of sector knowledge, templates, playbooks, market intelligence and repeatable solutions.
• Promote constructive challenge, inclusive teamwork, ethical conduct and accountability.

East Africa strategic assignment

• Size, define and integrate the East Africa opportunity into the Property Finance Africa strategy and operating model.
• Develop strategic client and stakeholder relationships to build a qualified and sustainable joint opportunity pipeline.
• Unlock growth through portfolio optimisation, opportunity conversion and structured property finance solutions.
• Enhance transaction structures and portfolio quality through risk-informed analysis and governance oversight.
• Establish and embed commercial, funding, participation and operating frameworks that enable scalable collaboration between East Africa stakeholders and Property Finance Africa.

Essential Qualifications - NQF Level

• Relevant bachelor’s degree in finance, commerce, economics, accounting, property studies, law, engineering or a related discipline.

Preferred Qualification

• Chartered Accountant (SA), Chartered Financial Analyst, Masters Degree in Commerce, Sciences, Legal or other relevant field
• Relevant postgraduate qualification, professional designation or specialist property-finance credential would be advantageous.

Minimum Experience Level

• 8-12 years relevant sector / industry experience is mandatory
• 5 or more years experience in the East African property market is mandatory
• Substantial experience in property finance, corporate and investment banking, structured finance, real-estate investment or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience originating and executing complex, material transactions through credit approval and financial close.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary deal teams and engage credibly with senior executives, clients and risk stakeholders.
• Experience working across African markets and with cross-border, multi-currency, tax, legal and regulatory considerations.
• Experience in portfolio management, early-warning identification and restructuring would be advantageous.

Technical / Professional Knowledge

• Property and corporate credit analysis, cash-flow assessment, financial modelling and sensitivity analysis.
• Real-estate valuation methods, market analysis, leasing fundamentals and asset-level performance drivers.
• Debt structuring, security packages, covenants, intercreditor considerations, syndication / participation and local- versus foreign-currency funding.
• Credit process, risk-adjusted pricing, capital and return assessment, country and transfer / convertibility risk.
• Facility documentation, conditions precedent, legal due diligence, tax considerations, compliance and sustainability requirements.
   

Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic Mindset
• Customer Focus
• Driving Execution
• Decision Making and Risk Management
• Building Partnerships
• Developing Talent

Employment Equity Statement

Preference will be given to individuals from underrepresented groups.