Associate Investment Officer - Financial Institutions Group, Bucharest

Associate Investment Officer Job #: req36999 Organization: IFC Sector: Investment Grade: GF Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Bucharest,Romania Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 6/18/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.
The International Finance Corporation (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 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit:
The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) is one of IFC’s key Departments responsible for a significant portion of IFC’s business volume, profitability, and development reach, approximately 40%. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Microfinance, SME, Gender, Climate, Insurance, Capital Markets, Housing, Distressed Assets, and other areas, with both investment and advisory services delivered globally to IFC’s clients through IFC’s global network.  FIG has three main objectives: 1) financial inclusion 2) servicing the real economy and 3) mobilizing third-party resources.
FIG’s Europe team is based across the region with main offices in Vienna, Bucharest, Warsaw and Belgrade, as well as other offices across the region. The team members work on both new business development (including transaction processing) and portfolio supervision/client relationship management across the region. Both new business and portfolio supervision activity of the FIG team entails engagement with all types of Financial Intermediaries (e.g. commercial banks, microfinance companies, insurance companies, NBFIs, etc.) across multiple products ranging from senior debt to straight equity investments.
FIG Europe Regional Industry Team is recruiting an Associate Investment Officer to be based in Bucharest, Romania with good regional market and industry experience, as well as diverse investment structure experience.
Duties and Accountabilities:
• Collaborate in developing client strategies/ engagement plans and pitch books for industry and countries.
• Establish and maintain relationships with mid-level clients and other stakeholders (government, development partners, WBG) to explore straightforward business opportunities.
• Analyze operational and financial performance as well as credit and integrity risks of potential clients/ projects.
• Build complex financial models, perform due diligence and financial analysis, and/or provide quality control over financial analysis/ projections developed by an analyst to evaluate the benefits and risks of straightforward transactions.
• Assess and articulate development impact and IFC’s role/ additionality in straightforward transactions.
• Lead straightforward investment transactions incorporating lessons learned from IFC’s earlier investments and portfolio management.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (Legal, E&S, sector specialists and Economists) to identify ways to strengthen the development impact and financial sustainability of projects.
• Perform credit and risk assessments, financial projections, covenant compliance reviews, and monitor changes to risk flags to determine the performance of the assigned portfolio with limited supervision.
• Responsible for rating reviews or loan loss reserves on a quarterly basis for the overall assigned portfolio. Run models for equity valuations to determine the need to modify the exit strategy.
• Supervise and ensure the quality of portfolio reporting information prepared by junior staff, providing broader industry, sub-sector and country perspective into project risks and issues.
• Engage with mid-level clients on straightforward projects to understand their business directions and challenges that may lead to new opportunities, and support the design of client engagement plans, as applicable.
• Follow up with mid-and-senior level clients to resolve problems on straightforward projects.

Selection Criteria

• MBA or other equivalent master’s degree in finance or management.
• At least 4 years of experience in finance with a proven track record of sourcing, structuring, and closing investments, as well as active portfolio management of debt and equity investments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of industry trends and opportunities in the sub-region countries, and understanding of local issues.
• Strong financial and credit skills; experience working with different financial instruments (debt and equity, structured finance).
• Good understanding of IFC’s financial instruments, including typical investment conditions and key structuring terms.
• Business development and client relationship skills, track record, and ability to focus on clients’ needs effectively.
• Ability to interact directly and independently with the management of potential clients, financial and technical partners, as well as government officials.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Fluency in any other European languages will be a strong plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to interact effectively with clients and colleagues from various cultural backgrounds.
• Genuine commitment to sustainable development and to the highest ethical standards.
• Willingness to travel extensively.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.