About Us:
UpEnergy delivers high-impact, emission-reducing projects that accelerate decarbonization and create long-term benefits for local communities. We focus on making life-improving clean technologies available across Africa, impacting millions of lives and significantly reducing CO2 emissions. With a growing team spread across multiple countries, we seek motivated and entrepreneurial talent eager to help us deliver even more impact.
Role Overview:
The Project Finance Manager leads the structuring and execution of complex project financing transactions across equity, debt, and blended finance structures. The role owns financial modeling, drives investor and lender engagement, coordinates cross-functional teams through financial close, and ensures projects are structured for bankability, optimized returns, and long-term capital sustainability.
Key Responsibilities
Financing & Transactions
- Play a leading role in structuring and executing project financing transactions across equity, debt, and blended finance structures.
- Own and maintain detailed project-level financial models used for investment evaluation, transaction structuring, and transaction execution.
- Lead financial workstreams for active transactions, including valuation, capital structuring, sensitivity analysis, and returns optimization.
- Support and coordinate investor and lender due diligence processes, including preparation of data rooms, financial analyses, and responses to information requests.
- Participate in transaction structuring, negotiations, and documentation in collaboration with senior leadership, legal counsel, and external advisors.
- Collaborate and coordinate internal stakeholders (Operations, Product, Carbon teams, etc.) to ensure timely and accurate deliverables throughout the investment process.
- Manage transaction timelines, track key deliverables, and coordinate cross-functional stakeholders through to financial close.
- Contribute to the development and execution of financing strategies, including engagement with new capital partners and innovative financing mechanisms (e.g., climate finance, carbon-linked structures, results-based financing).
Investor & Lender Engagement
- Serve as a key point of contact for prospective investors, lenders, and financing partners during transaction processes.
- Prepare and present investment materials, including financial models, investment memoranda, and risk/return analyses.
- Support the negotiation of term sheets, credit agreements, shareholder agreements, and other financing documentation.
- Build and maintain relationships with new and existing capital providers, identifying opportunities to diversify and optimize funding sources.
- Support post-closing financing compliance, including investor reporting and ongoing engagement as needed.
Financial Modeling & Project Analysis
- Develop and refine complex project finance models incorporating multi-layer capital structures, cash flow waterfalls, and downside/upside scenarios.
- Evaluate project risks and mitigants, including construction, operational, market, and regulatory considerations.
- Assess project bankability and support the optimization of capital structures to improve project returns and resilience.
- Collaborate with Carbon and Operations teams to ensure financial assumptions are robust, well-documented, and aligned with project realities.
Strategic Finance & Capital Planning
- Analyze new markets, financing instruments, and strategic partnerships to enhance access to capital.
- Provide financial insights to inform go/no-go decisions on new project investments and partnerships.
Desired Skills, Characteristics, and Experience
Education & Professional Background
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
- Several years of relevant experience in project finance, infrastructure finance, investment banking, private equity, development finance institutions, or a similarly transaction-focused environment.
- Demonstrated experience working on complex financing transactions from origination through financial close.
- MBA or other advanced degree is a plus.
Transaction & Financing Experience
- Strong hands-on experience structuring and executing debt and/or equity financings, preferably in infrastructure, renewable energy, climate, or impact-driven sectors.
- Solid understanding of lender requirements, credit processes, and due diligence standards.
- Experience engaging directly with investors, lenders, and external advisors.
- Familiarity with blended finance, climate finance, carbon markets, or innovative financing structures is highly desirable.
Financial Modeling & Analytical Skills
- Advanced project finance modeling capabilities, including debt sculpting and cash flow waterfall analysis.
- Ability to structure capital stacks and evaluate risk-adjusted returns under multiple scenarios.
- Strong analytical judgment, with the ability to translate complex financial structures into clear investment insights.
Communication & Stakeholder Management
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial concepts clearly and confidently.
- Comfortable leading discussions with investors, lenders, legal counsel, and senior executives.
- Strong negotiation support skills and ability to operate effectively in high-stakes transaction environments.
- Coordinate with internal team to drive positive financial and commercial outcomes
Strategic & Personal Attributes
- Transaction-oriented mindset with strong ownership and accountability.
- Proactive, self-driven, and comfortable operating in fast-paced, deal-driven environments.
- Strong attention to detail, particularly in financial models and transaction documentation.
- Collaborative team player who can coordinate cross-functional stakeholders while independently driving financing workstreams.
Why Join Us?
Your Impact, Amplified
Joining UpEnergy means becoming part of a mission-driven team dedicated to making a tangible difference in the world.
Our focus is on ensuring that the world's poorest are not left behind in global decarbonization efforts, and that sustainable, life-improving technologies reach those who need them most. As a fast-growing organization, we provide the unique opportunity to work on innovative projects that directly impact millions of lives across Africa.
Whether you're on the ground implementing projects or supporting our global expansion, you'll be part of a dynamic team where your work contributes to reducing CO2 emissions and fighting energy poverty.
This is more than just a job - it's a chance to create lasting change and be at the forefront of a global movement towards equitable decarbonization.
