Project Finance Associate

Summary

The Project Finance Associate supports the overall strategy, execution, and profitability of solar project financings, including construction debt, permanent debt, and tax equity. This role demands a high level of autonomy, initiative, and the ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment where tight deadlines are common. An ideal candidate will be a motivated self-starter who enjoys complexity, operates independently, and is energized by working across multiple functional areas to close complex transactions. Project-level finance expertise will be necessary to work collaboratively across the company with project development, in-house construction team, legal, accounting, as well as our external partners. 

Job Responsibilities  

• Supports Project Finance Director and Legal Department in structuring, managing, and closing debt and tax equity financings for all distributed generation projects. 
• Manages legal & corporate processes and project-level diligence to support financing efforts. 
• Collaborates cross functionally to present portfolios to potential tax equity investors. 
• Tracks the flow of debt and equity proceeds through various stages of funding. 
• Provide leadership to the project finance closing process, including modeling analysis, preparing RFP packages, managing due diligence questions, reviewing transaction documentation, and supporting negotiation with counterparties. 
• Be able to build, maintain, and improve various project finance and other models including, but not limited to debt modeling, tax equity structures, operating models, and other types. Evaluate current and potential project acquisition and financing opportunities through forecasting cash flows, tax impacts, and investor returns. 
• Coordinate with Novel’s in-house project development, EPC, legal, and accounting to improve project closing processes and communications with external partners. 
• Prepare marketing materials, manage third party consultants, and assist in negotiating transaction documents. 
• Perform preliminary due diligence and coordinate with finance providers on due diligence and documentation. 
• Coordinate the closing process and project communications with respect to construction debt, permanent debt, and tax equity providers. 
• Partner with the business development team to assist in assessing economic viability of acquisition opportunities and facilitating the structuring of acquisition proposals. 
• Lead efforts to identify risks and develop mitigation strategies throughout each stage of financing. 
• Other duties as assigned.  

Competencies  

• Technical or professional proficiency 
• Putting the team first, working well with others, 
• Relationship building and interpersonal skills 
• Using Company tools and processes 
• Daily discipline of time management, learning on the fly, and accepting feedback 
• Problem solving. 
• Deliver results consistently. 
• Creates a process for one’s own work and creates process for improving the work and incorporating into existing processes. 
• Communication skills: Written and verbal, presentation, running meetings, email, conflict management building a business case and listening. 
• Resilience under pressure 

Work Environment  

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.  

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work  

This is a full-time position. There will be peak times outside of regular work hours depending on deadlines and required month-end or year-end closings.?  

Travel  

No travel is expected for this position.  

Required Education and Experience  

• At least 3 years of relevant FP&A or investment banking experience working within the renewable energy, real estate, or construction industries.  
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or relevant degree  
• Project finance modeling experience.  
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytical skills.  
• Experience management an FP&A team.  
• Ability to work independently, multi-task, think critically, prioritize, and meet assigned deadlines in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.  
• Proficiency with O365.  

Preferred Education and Experience  

• Solar or renewable energy experience.  
• SQL and/or other data related querying languages.  
• Experience with Procore or other construction management software.  

Novel Energy Solutions is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.