Project Finance Agency Vice President - SMBC
New York, NY 10172
About the Job
SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.
In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.
The anticipated salary range for this role is between $225,000.00 and $225,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.
Role Description
The Specialized Finance Department's Agency team is responsible for acting as liaison between borrowers and lenders on transactions in the Americas agented by SMBC. In that capacity, the successful candidate will coordinate the flow of information between each borrower and the lending syndicate to ensure the smooth operation and administration of the loan. To the extent that a borrower requires approval from lenders regarding any matter, the Agency team works with the borrower to advise on requests so as to be acceptable from a credit perspective and works with the lenders to ensure that receipt of lenders’ approval is obtained within the scheduled time frame. The role also entails coordinating with external counsels, independent engineers, consultants, and internal legal, tax, syndications, and operations departments. This is a role with significant client contact.
Role Objectives: Delivery
Advise on and coordinate amendments, consents and waivers with the Borrower, Lenders’ Counsel, outside experts, the origination and portfolio monitoring teams, the lender group and Export Credit Agencies
Review draft legal documentation and provide comments to origination teams and counsel
Coordinate and approve loan activity (borrowings, rate settings, rollovers, repayments/prepayments) and letter of credit activity (issuance, amendments, draws, terminations) with the operations teams. In order to do so, candidate must be familiar with all the conditions precedent (“CPs”) for such flows of funds and evaluate whether the presented materials satisfy each of the required CPs
Check CPs, review cash waterfall activity and approve Collateral Account transfer requests for operating expenses, distributions, etc.
Follow up on delivery of Borrower’s reporting requirements (i.e. compliance items)
Review compliance documents submitted by borrowers for completeness and satisfaction of requirements in loan documents
Distribute compliance items and other documentation to lender groups using DebtDomain, e-mail, etc.
Work with portfolio and special credits teams to ensure all information needed for credit review and monitoring is obtained
Respond to ad hoc information requests from lenders
Maintain key deal information, contact lists, update compliance and collateral tracking
Prepare marketing materials for new transaction proposals
Provide training and guidance to junior members of the Agency team
Role Objectives: Expertise
Proficient with Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, Debtdomain
Familiarity with LoanIQ a plus
Spanish fluency strongly preferred
Very strong organizational skills with a high degree of attention to detail
Ability to balance competing deadlines
Strong communication skills, both written and oral
Strong follow-through on tasks
Qualifications and Skills
7+ years in Project Finance agency position
Experience with Project Finance transactions and associated legal documentation
Experience with Export Finance Agency supported credits
Experience with workout and distressed transactions
Familiarity with non-recourse Commercial Real Estate transactions
Additional Requirements
D&I Commitment
Responsible for fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, holding leaders accountable for creating an inclusive environment through awareness and practice of equity in recruiting, developing, and promoting diverse talent.
SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. SMBC provides reasonable accommodations for employees and applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at accommodations@smbcgroup.com.