Principal Risk Management Specialist

Overview

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

The position is assigned in the Treasury and Operational Risk Unit (RMTO) within the Office of Risk Management (ORM). ORM has a broad mandate and ensures that ADB’s Treasury, Sovereign, and Nonsovereign operations are sustainable by safeguarding ADB’s rating, advising Board and Management on risk exposures and issues, and implementing and promoting a strong internal risk culture.

RMTO is responsible for the proper management of treasury market and credit risk exposures in ADB; monitoring and measuring the performance of ADB’s internally and externally managed investment portfolios; and performing independent middle-office functions of derivative transaction confirmations, position valuations/analyses, collateral management operations and compliance monitoring. RMTO also supports ADB in the management of operational risks through risk identification, measurement, monitoring, and reporting.

To view ADB Organizational Chart, please click here.

Job Purpose

The Principal Risk Management Specialist leads (i) the monitoring of treasury market and credit risk related to liquidity portfolios as well as valuations and collateral management for borrowing and derivative portfolios; and (ii) in managing risk information technology (IT) systems, including development, improvement and maintenance of reporting and analytical tools for treasury market and credit risk management. Work within a framework of broad policies, principles and goals, applying a high degree of autonomy in selection of work methods, guidelines and processes.

The incumbent will report to Advisor, RMOD and Head, RMTO and will supervise national and administrative staff.

Responsibilities

a. Risk Management

• Take a leading role in identifying, formulating, and reviewing risk management policies and ensure that appropriate systems, procedures, limits and guidelines are in effect to implement those policies so as to pre-empt and avert financial stresses and crises. • Take a leading role in the identification, monitoring, measurement, and reporting of market and credit risk exposures arising from treasury investment, funding and treasury service operations and ensure Treasury risk exposures remain in compliance with approved limits. • Lead in promoting the application of advanced risk analytics available to measure and monitor risk exposures and update the methodology or process, as appropriate, to reflect new information, policies, and preferences. • Lead in the daily valuation of all treasury risk positions (mark-to-market or mark-to-model) including internally and externally managed investment portfolios, structured bond issuance and related swap transactions, and the integration of these valuations into the risk modeling exercise. • Take a leading role in the identification, assessment and management of the credit risk of counterparties related to ADB’s market activities in treasury’s investment and funding operations. • Oversee the monitoring of changes of counterparties’ credit ratings, undertaking of credit researches and analyses, reviewing of the requests for new swap counterparty, and evaluating the valuation methodologies for credit risk. • Lead in the preparation of regular management reports measuring the performance of investment operations and related attribution analysis and contribute to the formulation of investment policy. • Lead in the risk administration of the External Asset Management (EAM) program, including the monitoring of external managers’ activities, the generation of portfolio management reports, and administering the risk reporting to monitor the performance and risk assumed by external managers. • Take a leading role in supervising the functions related to investment and funding activities by ensuring a timely and accurate confirmation of swap transactions and a correct capturing of the trade terms and conditions. • Take a leading role in the management, contract administration, and user support of information services such as Bloomberg and Reuters, as well as vendors employed by RMTO. • Lead in the maintenance and implementation of analytical systems and reporting requirements of market and treasury risk to enhance the timeliness and accuracy of information to end-users via report automation, query access to data, and web-based reporting solutions. • Lead in the project management of system implementations, data warehousing projects and other specialized projects to meet RMTO’s operational requirements, and transition to a more efficient digital work environment. • Lead in working with OGC, PSOD and TD to discuss and negotiate with new derivative counterparties on the ISDA Master Agreement (MA) and Credit Support Annex (CSA) for document executions, particularly for which deviates from ADB’s standard template to successfully onboard the perspective entity as an eligible counterparty for ADB’s swap transactions. • Oversee regular and Ad-Hoc stress testing and scenario analysis to assess the potential impacts by historical or predictive events to ADB's Treasury portfolios. • Lead in conducting risk parameters back testing to ensure the appropriateness and efficacy of RMTO’s market risk measurement and reporting. Collaborate with TD to undertake external 3rd party independent validations periodically on the methodology, data input, and process of quantitative system’s valuations and exposure calculations. • Lead to prepare and circulate Information Papers and timely updates to the Senior Management and the Board Committee/members, articulating ORM’s risk assessments, views, and exposure analysis on impactful events in the market. • Lead the team to adopt new policies, systems, and processes related to Treasury portfolio’s market and counterparty risk management in a timely and constructive manner. Guide the reporting staff to consistently seek more effective and practical ways to deliver high quality output in risk measurement, monitoring, and reporting.

b. Knowledge Sharing

• Maintain knowledge of emerging best practices and standards in risk management. • Lead and support in organizing and conducting risk training to promote a risk culture in ADB. • Liaise with other multilateral development banks in sharing of information and knowledge on policies, methodologies, and related techniques used in treasury market and counterparty risk management. • Maintain liaison with other financial institutions to obtain best practices on market and treasury risk management policies and guidelines. • Lead in preparing regular risk reports for Management and Board consumption. • Facilitate effective team coordination and provide support for relationship management and coordination with the Board, Senior Management and other departments. • Provide up-to-date technical concepts and practices and specialist value related to the area of treasury risk management, while developing other staff in the team and/or client department as appropriate. Take independent action as and when needed to enable the team to achieve quality results by providing practical solutions and strong leadership. • Lead to effectively address client departments’ feedback and adjust approach/methodology as appropriate to meet various needs. Build up recognition for the breadth/depth of risk management expertise demonstrated in managing risk-related issues by proposing effective solutions under existing constraints. • Develop collaborative relationships within and outside ADB. Maintain and extend good internal and external relationships with peer, senior staff, and all organizational levels. Communicate openly with all relevant stakeholders.

c. Staff Supervision

• Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance. • Provide coaching and mentoring to staff to ensure on-going learning and development of reporting staff. • Promote effective teamwork through sharing relevant experiences from prior projects in various organizations and different countries to help the team enhance the performance. • Develop the reporting staff with technical skills and advanced knowledge for more effective and efficient outcomes. • Maintain and promote high morale of the reporting staff and team through timely recognitions, knowledge sharing and related skill-training arrangements. • Lead team members to engage and benefit from diverse views and backgrounds to commit to delivering timely and high-quality work to accomplish team’s success. • Ensure the on-going learning and development of reporting staff.

Qualifications

Relevant Experience & Requirements

• Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Finance, Economics, or related fields; or a university degree in Finance, Economics, or related fields and at least 5 years specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered. • A professional qualification in Risk and/or Finance (Financial Risk Manager, Chartered Financial Analyst or other related certifications) would be an advantage. • At least 12 years of relevant capital market experience, preferably with specific experience in investments and funding. • Thorough understanding of a multilateral development bank’s treasury operations, financial policies, as well as the global capital markets and their products, especially complex derivatives (e.g. interest rate and cross currency swaps). • Strong knowledge of swap valuation models, Solid knowledge of financial concepts and quantitative tools of fixed income valuation, risk and performance measurement, particularly as related to the areas of portfolio and asset management, derivatives and structured products, and understanding of mortgage-backed, asset-backed and corporate bonds, structured products and options, among others. • Ability to ensure and improve upon the flow of information for management regarding the ongoing risk, compliance and performance of investment and funding operations. • Strong analytical capabilities, leadership qualities and interpersonal skills. • Ability to work in a multicultural environment. • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. • International experience working in several countries. • Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for IS6.

General Considerations

The selected candidate, if new to ADB, is appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

ADB offers competitive remuneration and a comprehensive benefits package. Actual appointment salary will be based on ADB’s standards and computation, taking into account the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.

ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please note that the actual level and salary will be based on qualifications of the selected candidate.