Project Finance Associate
JOB OVERVIEW
The Project Finance Associate (PF Associate) is a key member of the Project Finance team. The Project Finance team is charged with monetizing portfolios of renewable energy projects originated and developed by Forefront Power. Deal flow includes structuring financings to hold and operate projects for long-term ownership, as well as selling portfolios (M&A). The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative team and have the opportunity to grow with a dynamic and evolving deal mandate. The PF Associate directly assists the team in analyzing and closing the sale and financing transactions that monetize our portfolios. This position will also support the Project Finance team in various pricing analytical needs, and in analyzing the credit quality of potential counterparties. The PF Associate will use analytic, problem-solving, and financial acumen to structure creative solutions that help our business grow in the rapidly expanding and evolving US renewable and clean energy market.
JOB LOCATION AND REPORTING TO
This position will ideally be based in our San Francisco office, though there is a possibility to be remote for the right candidate. (Currently, ForeFront Power is operating with a hybrid office-remote model.) The Project Finance Associate reports to the Director of Project Finance and will interact directly with the Sales, Legal, Project Development, Engineering, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and Asset Management teams at ForeFront Power, and externally with investors and consultants.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support Sales and Project Development teams in developing, running, and updating pricing models based on current monetization options
- Provide backup analysis to Sales and Development teams when presenting projects for executive committee approval through the Forefront Power project capital commitment process
- Interface closely with internal Sales, FP&A, Development, Engineering, Legal, and Asset Management teams to help guide projects forward quickly and efficiently
- Support Project Finance team in all aspects of driving project finance transactions and portfolio sales processes to close, from initial prospecting through negotiation and contract signing
- Assist in modeling and compiling final asset economics for FP&A and corporate objectives in various financial structures
- Directly engage in and support Project Finance team’s interactions with third-party clients, customers, and consultants in a professional manner
- Review, prepare, and maintain project documentation and data rooms for diligence by potential investors or buyers
QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for highly motivated individuals who want to be part of a fast-paced and fluid company poised for growth in one of the country’s most rapidly changing industries.
Forward-thinking, innovative approaches and comfort with complexity are what define the ForeFront Power team. We are looking for individuals eager to run at the front with us.
- Minimum one year and preferably two or more years relevant financial experience in solar or another clean energy field
- Desire to work in a growing distributed generation company in the renewable energy field
- Ability to perform accurately (data analysis) and timely (deliverable deadlines) in a highly detail-oriented environment
- Desire to be part of a high-energy, lean team in a role supporting time-sensitive transactions (it’s exciting!)
- Willingness to coach and mentor junior analysts, while developing one’s own skillset
- Bachelor's or advanced degree with high academic achievement
- Strong computational and analytical skills
- Strong financial modeling capability
- Excellent communication skills in both oral and written English for various target audiences
- Self-motivated and strong work ethic with the ability to proactively manage diverse relationships and multiple, complex projects simultaneously
- Exceptional time-management skills to balance multiple high priority items at once
- Potential to be creative, flexible, and think critically in tackling a variety of challenges, from the industry level to counterparty-specific issues
- Positive, team-oriented attitude, considerate and professional at all times, with desire and willingness to learn
- Advanced Excel, Word, and PowerPoint skills
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This position is primarily sedentary in nature and requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk in front of a computer. Though the Project Finance Department believes in long term work/life balance, we also encounter short term imbalances. Long hours will be needed from time to time as dictated by transaction and other deadlines.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE
The organization promotes an open and collaborative work atmosphere. Cross functional teams work closely together to solve problems and move the company forward. Our culture at ForeFront Power encourages employees to be authentic and to embrace our core values that celebrate passion for our work, a commitment to our planet, a winning attitude, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a community of respect for each other and our partners.
BENEFITS
This is a regular, full-time position eligible for benefits. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive base salary and bonus potential; health, vision, and dental coverage; commute assistance; professional development; Paid Time Off; and 401(k) with employer match.
ABOUT FOREFRONT POWER
ForeFront Power is a leader in the United States for solar and energy storage solutions. The ForeFront Power team holds more than a decade of experience working together across over one gigawatt-DC (GW) of renewable electricity, spanning more than 1,300 distributed generation and community solar projects. Serving business, the public sector, and community solar customers in the U.S. and Mexico, ForeFront Power is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York City and Mexico City. ForeFront Power is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. Ltd., a global energy infrastructure and investment leader with a robust balance sheet and an “A” credit rating from Standard & Poor’s. For more information, visit forefrontpower.com.
ForeFront Power is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity of thought, gender, and race. We believe our continued success depends upon the equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, military or veteran status, pregnancy, or any other classification protected by country, federal, state, or local law.