Operations Analyst

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Description

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IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record US$43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

The IFC 3.0 strategy aims to stimulate more investment activity across emerging markets, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected States (FCS). This strategy aims to create new opportunities for private investments in riskier markets and sectors by proactively working “upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and design and develop potential investment projects. Achieving these growth and impact ambitions at scale requires a different approach to business development, deal sourcing, and client support that relies on 1) a broader product offering to engage earlier in the project cycle and secure opportunities; 2) a greater focus on preparing clients in nascent markets and sectors for investment; 3) a greater focus on value addition and risk management of portfolio investment clients to enhance their performance; and 4) a longer time horizon and a more patient, longer-term perspective. 

IFC is seeking an Operations Analyst to support project teams in the preparation, administration, and supervision of client projects, working in close collaboration with project leads and specialists managing client relationships. Operations Analysts work as part of a pool supporting the FIG Upstream and Advisory with specific responsibilities for key admin functions at the business line level (finance, budgeting, monitoring & evaluation, portfolio, communications, knowledge management, etc.), but with responsibilities on projects for implementation teams to encourage focus and professional development. The Operations Analyst will report to a designated staff member relevant to their primary function. 

Duties and Accountabilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Business Development Support

• Perform desk research and analysis with respect to the market landscape across the Africa region (with a focus on East & Southern Africa), considering various in-country data sources to get granular country level understanding of issues and advisory opportunities. 
• Keep abreast of the market intelligence and developments globally, conducting desk research and preparing initial reports with findings, graphs, etc.
• Develop financial modeling and budget analysis for projects and business line, as relevant.
• Participate in key projects and take a lead on project/client analytics and report generation. 
• Participate in diagnostic missions, conduct quality review of the diagnostic reports of banks’ work streams, and help refine output quality. Help add market context and detailed analysis in the presentations and reports.
•  Support project teams to organize, manage and budget scoping and appraisal missions, and prepare meeting minutes.
• Based on appraisal mission findings, support development of proposals for clients (including budget, pricing, and costing research).
• Contribute to the development of project concept notes and implementation plans and assist with approval processes.
• Support project leads in conducting IDD on clients.
• Calculate and report on IDGs. 
• Prepare request for funds memos and legal agreements.
• Assist in procurement of appropriate experts for advisory assignments and develop TOR in coordination with project leader and middle office.

Portfolio Management Support

Project Support

• Assist in the preparation of project supervision and completion reports, particularly tracking of key performance indicators against targets established at the outset of the project.
• Monitor project timelines to ensure objectives updates are completed within the allowable timeframe.
• Ensure adequate data quality in all project documents and provide supplementary data gathering support for evaluations.
• Assisting in planning the contents and context of conferences and other knowledge management events, including training and workshops.
• Collaborate with project team and senior consultants to conduct specific tasks including desk reviews, data analysis, financial projections, preparation of notes, taking minutes of meetings, writing memoranda, preparation of briefs and presentations.
• Work in partnership with Project Leads and the donor relations team to prepare initial drafts of semi-annual donor reports, based on project supervision documents.

Finance and Budgeting

• Monitor and update project budgets regularly to ensure that financial reporting is accurate, timely and aligned with SAP/IBIS reports produced by the finance team.
• Manage interface with finance team on timely collection of client fees in line with legal agreements and submission of consultant invoices to ensure accurate financial reporting within a quarterly period.
• Manage allocation of consultant and other project costs.
•  Monitor charging of staff time to ensure accurate cost allocation against available budget.
• Monitor and update budgets and spend at both the project and aggregate levels and contribute to the financial projections’ reports.
• Track Trust Fund spend and availability monthly and alert the project manager when funds are running low and support process of topping up trust funds. 
• Liaise with donor team and FIG Upstream/Advisory Middle Office team for ESA on establishing new trust funds and charge codes to ensure optimal TF structure.

Practice Group Support

• Assist relevant practice group lead(s) in strategy building, coordination, and implementation of projects
• Work closely with project managers and analysts on selected projects and provide analytical and technical support. 
• Proactively collect and share data with practice group and middle office, ensuring a strict adhesion to timelines around CNs, IPs, change memos, PSRs, PCRs, etc. 
• Support project leads to achieve a high degree of standardization in client deliverables (pitch, proposals, workshops, product programs, strategy documents etc.) and enhance the quality in terms of contents and analytics.

Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 3-5 years of relevant experience, preferably working with consultancies, bilateral/multilateral development institutions, and/or financial institutions.
• Demonstrate some technical capability and professional knowledge of the financial sector and (ideally) one or more of the aforementioned themes (base of the pyramid, banking, financial infrastructure).
• Team player with good problem solving, organizational and analytical skills, with an ability to execute tasks in a timely and effective manner.
• Strong communicator with good writing skills and the ability to convey ideas clearly, confidently, and properly.
• Strong command over English (written and verbal) is necessary. A command of French would also be preferred.
• Ability to analyze, collect and aggregate information from a variety of sources in to distill and present data effectively to internal and external clients.
• Advanced user level proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, Word is necessary.
• Proficiency in relevant research tools (e.g., Factiva, IBM, MIX, Bloomberg, EIU, advanced google search, WBG databases).

Source:https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=27186&site=1

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