Head of Sustainable Finance Corporates (all genders)

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Erste Group was founded in 1819 as the first Austrian savings bank and today it is one of the largest banking groups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). As an attractive employer, Erste Group offers interesting career opportunities in an international environment.

Large Corporates (LC) represents the high-performance client coverage unit for national, regional and multinational large corporates clientele within Erste Group. The LC Team takes group-wide responsibility for overall relationship management, business origination and execution.

LC’s client service approach combines sector/industry specialization with regional intelligence and product expertise to act as a trusted advisor for and to enter into a continuous strategic dialogue with the client’s decision makers. ESG risks and Sustainable Finance opportunities are by now an integral part of our business model and risk assessment and coverage model. 

As Head of Sustainable Finance Corporates, you will manage a matrix team of sustainability experts and provide practical guidance to your colleagues in the sustainability-specific client engagement process. You will take responsibility for managing sustainability efforts internally with relevant stakeholders as well as externally. You will cover a distinct client portfolio highly relevant from a sustainability perspective.

In the Sustainable Finance role you will report directly to the Head of LC and for the client coverage role to the Sector Head Consumers.

Your Tasks

• Steer the sustainability-specific client engagement process, providing tools and practical guidance to Account Managers to develop strategic, best-in-class dialogues.
• Oversee the implementation of the sustainability strategy from business perspective.
• Manage a matrix team of sustainability experts across LC industry teams, internal product and risk units, and potentially external collaboration partners.
• Ensure adherence of the LC portfolio to sustainability targets and strategic milestones.
• Challenge and promote sustainability-linked innovative financing solutions, fostering sector-wise transition and decarbonization efforts across sectors.
• Represent Erste Group in relevant events.
• Engage in and contribute to the development and adherence to Erste’s Responsible Finance Policy concerning sustainability topics.
• For your own client portfolio, act as act as a Parent Account Manager and central point of contact, define take group-wide responsibility of overall relationship management and business origination, client engagement strategy and risk/return for a portfolio of defined client groups highly relevant from a sustainability perspective.
• Oversee LC strategy execution progress in terms of ESG/sustainability and act as an advisor to the Head of LC and Head of Group Corporates (GC) in such matters including preparation for relevant decision-making.

Your Background

• A master degree is of advantage, but in any case at least 10-15 years of corporate banking/corporate finance and/or sector/industry experience; Healthcare expertise would be of benefit
• Extensive knowledge in sustainable finance market practices and product offerings as well as the regulatory framework (i.a. CSRD, ESRS, EBA Guidelines)
• Proven track record in a senior (banker) role
• Ability to deal with complex tasks and issues, to structure them, subsequently, to develop fact-based opinions and to communicate/represent them internally/externally incl. complex stakeholder-management
• Open, communicative and collaborative mindset, able to build trust
• Drive, enthusiasm, creativity and excellent interpersonal skills with the motivation to work as a team player in multidisciplinary and cross-cultural transaction teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and in German
• Willingness to travel (CEE, Europe)

Our Offer

• We offer to work in one of the most successful corporate clientele coverage units in the region, embedded in one of the leading and most innovative banking groups in Austria and CEE with a 200+ years history
• We enable working in an international, diverse and value-oriented environment with special commitment towards the CEE region and a culture of trust
• We offer the opportunity to gain visibility on the market through sector/industry leadership and high-value impact transactions and client relationships
• We offer the opportunity to contribute to the strategic and group-wide development of one of Erste Group’s most relevant business lines
• We offer continuous personal development based on a culture of feedback and a comprehensive and structured learning concept
• Your hub will be at the Erste Campus in Vienna, one of the most modern working places in the region
• Discover and enjoy the benefits of Erste Group 
• The minimum wage for this full-time position in accordance with the collective agreement with complete fulfillment of the functional profile is EUR 55.176,-- gross per year. But this is just a formality - we would be happy to talk about your actual salary in person! 
• We offer our employees the opportunity to divide their hours between working from home and at the office.
• We consider the diversity of our employees as key to innovation and success. As employer we are proud to offer everyone equal chances, irrespective of age, skin colour, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation or origin.