Financial Officer

The Financial Officer will serve as a sustainable bond structuring adviser within the World Bank Group Treasury's Sustainable Finance Program. The role involves providing structuring and execution advice to public-sector borrowers on labeled thematic bonds, contributing to product innovation, research, and knowledge development in sustainable finance.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with relevant government ministries, central banks, and debt management offices to integrate Sustainable Finance Frameworks and strategies into the client's broader debt management strategy.
• Advise clients on optimal capital market solutions, propose financing solutions to sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact in line with the WBG’s vision and mission.
• Advise clients on issuance of labeled thematic bonds; develop bond/loan frameworks, advise on governance arrangements, and how to meet international standards and market expectations.
• Guide clients through the Second Party Opinion (SPO) process, helping clients understand the scope, requirements, and implications of external review processes and providing quality assurance support to identify gaps and advise on remediation prior to issuance.
• Monitor evolving global sustainable finance trends and relevant regulatory developments and market standards and assess their implications for client strategies and WBG advisory approaches.
• Engage with institutional investors — including asset managers, pension funds, insurance companies, and ESG-focused funds — to understand their investment criteria, appetite for sovereign sustainable finance instruments, and expectations regarding framework quality and reporting.
• Active relationship management with underwriters and arrangers in multiple jurisdictions.
• Facilitate investor consultations and roundtables.
• Source and onboard a strong pipeline of emerging market clients.
• Develop and provide training and guidance to WBG operational staff and clients.
• Support the WBG's broader market development agenda by contributing to thought leadership, market outreach events, and knowledge products related to sovereign sustainable finance.
• Undertake research to promote the integrity of the sustainable bond/loan market and write market updates, reports/papers, and guides on sustainable financial solutions.
• Collaborate with the WBG Knowledge Bank to establish priority areas for joint efforts; integrate sustainable finance advisory into broader country engagement strategies; and maintain effective working relationships with all.
• Draft briefing notes, presentations, framework documentation, and advisory reports with high standards of clarity and technical rigor.
• Contribute to the development of TREFP's internal knowledge base on sustainable finance, including preparation of case studies, lessons learned, and best practice guidance notes.
• Represent TREFP in internal working groups, external conferences, and forums related to sustainable finance, capital markets, and sovereign debt management.
• Mentor and train junior staff.
• Assist with other projects or strategy-related activities, as the need may arise.

Requirements

• Master's degree in finance, economics, or other related areas.
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in debt capital markets, with an in-depth understanding of industry trends in sustainable capital markets, sustainability challenges and opportunities, and financial products offered by multilateral development banks.
• Solid track record of structuring public sector (especially sovereign) labeled thematic bonds in emerging markets.
• Demonstrated experience advising sovereign, state-owned, and institutional clients on sustainable finance (bond) frameworks, labeled sustainable bond instruments, and national taxonomies.
• Ability to interact directly and independently with senior government officials and financial and technical partners.
• Strong understanding of sustainable finance taxonomies, international sustainable finance standards (e.g. ICMA Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles, Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles, LMA Green Loan Principles, LMA Social Loan Principles, CBI Taxonomy, ICMA Harmonization Guide), and sustainability reporting standards.
• Understanding of public financial management and government budget systems.
• Direct experience supporting second-party opinion and independent verification processes.
• Proficiency in financial data analysis, with the ability to synthesize complex information and translate it into clear, client-ready recommendations.
• Experience engaging with institutional investors, ESG rating agencies, or capital market participants.
• Experience of working in a commercial bank’s structuring team or Second Party Opinion provider firm.
• Excellent English writing and oral communication skills; ability to present complex technical content clearly to non-specialist audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with experience working across diverse geographies and institutional contexts.
• Ability to manage multiple client engagements simultaneously and deliver high-quality outputs under time pressure.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working in multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to independently set priorities and manage an intense, rapidly changing work program;
• Fluency in English is required. Spanish, and/or French is a plus;
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to development work;
• Highest ethical standards;
• Proactivity.

Skills

• Debt Capital Markets
• Sustainable Capital Markets
• Sustainable Finance
• Bond Structuring
• Public Sector Finance
• Sovereign Bonds
• Labeled Thematic Bonds
• Sustainable Bond Frameworks
• Sustainability Reporting Standards
• Financial Data Analysis
• Second-Party Opinion Processes
• Independent verification
• Engagement with Institutional Investors
• ESG Rating Agencies
• Financial Product Structuring
• Public Financial Management
• Government Budget Systems
• Client Advisory Support
• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration

Languages

English, French, Spanish