Industry Specialist - Financial Services

Industry Specialist - Financial Services

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The World Bank Group’s greatest asset is not its capital – it’s our people, their experience, and the lessons drawn from more than 80 years on the front lines of development. The new WBG Knowledge Bank brings the collective expertise together into a single, integrated system—combining insights from IBRD/IDA, IFC, and MIGA to deliver solutions that drive jobs and impact at scale.
The Knowledge Bank is organized into five Verticals—Digital and AI, Infrastructure, People, Planet, Prosperity - each combining public and private sector expertise under a unified leadership structure.

The WBG Prosperity Vertical helps countries accelerate inclusive growth and job creation; strengthen macro-fiscal foundations, including debt sustainability, debt management, domestic resource mobilization, and expenditure efficiency; promote a resilient and inclusive financial sector, business enabling policies and regulations, and trade facilitation; while advancing transparent, effective, accountable institutions.
Within the Prosperity Vertical, the Financial Services Sector (FSS) department promotes sound financial systems which in turn underpin economic growth and are crucial to the World Bank Group’s mission of alleviating poverty. Furthermore, deep and vibrant capital markets fund investment is needed to support jobs, human capital and infrastructure.

To support the growth of this business, we are seeking an experienced investment professional with strong technical expertise, sound investment judgment, and the ability to contribute independently to IFC’s insurance, Housing and Banking related investment, advisory, and knowledge agenda. 
The position will be based in Washington, DC, and will report to the Manager, Banking, Housing and Insurance, Solutions & Impact.

Duties and Accountabilities:

•  Lead or co-lead technical workstreams supporting IFC’s insurance, Housing and Banking businesses, including market / macro assessments, regulatory positioning, competitive dynamics, company analysis, financial and operational benchmarking, product reviews, and sector diagnostics across emerging markets. 
•  Support business development through both top-down sector and market analysis and bottom-up client-level opportunity identification, helping translate sector insights into actionable investment and advisory opportunities.
•  Contribute to designing innovative solutions and identifying investment opportunities leveraging the full range of WBG products, instruments and capabilities.
•  Provide technical inputs to concept preparation, due diligence, appraisal, approval, and portfolio monitoring for investments and advisory engagements.
•  Prepare high-quality written outputs for internal and external audiences, including investment-related documents, technical notes, market intelligence briefs, and portfolio reviews.
•  Support strategic client and partner engagement by preparing technical materials, contributing to discussions with financial services clients and global partners, and helping identify opportunities for repeat/new business, product innovation, and market creation.
•  Work closely with teams across the Prosperity VPU to identify, design, and deliver joint solutions that bring together public and private sector expertise, including opportunities linked to insurance market development, risk management, financial resilience, and broader WBG client engagement.
•  Support portfolio management by monitoring sector and company-level developments, maintaining portfolio datasets and KPIs, identifying emerging risks or performance issues, and preparing concise recommendations for investment teams and management.
•  Identify emerging risks, sector trends, and portfolio issues, and prepare concise recommendations for senior specialists, investment officers, and management consideration.
•  Contribute to knowledge curation and knowledge management, including by leveraging AI-enabled tools to organize, synthesize, and provide timely access to sector insights, lessons learned, market intelligence, and analytical resources for investment teams.
•  Mentor and guide junior analysts or consultants, where relevant, by reviewing analytical outputs, sharing technical knowledge, and helping maintain quality standards across team deliverables.

Selection Criteria

•  Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Actuarial Science, Risk Management, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field, with at least 6-8 years of relevant professional experience in banking, insurance, reinsurance, investment, advisory, consulting, or development finance.
•  Strong knowledge of the financial services sector, especially banking and insurance, including business models, financial statements, regulatory frameworks, risk management practices, distribution channels, and emerging trends in developing markets.
•  Knowledge of WBG products and instruments, and/or experience with IBRD products, guarantees, or risk management solutions, would be an advantage.
•  Demonstrated ability to independently conduct technical analysis and translate findings into practical recommendations for investment, advisory, portfolio, or strategy decisions.
•  Experience in preparing high-quality written outputs, including investment documents, due diligence notes, sector briefs, market assessments, portfolio reviews, or knowledge products.
•  Ability to manage multiple workstreams, coordinate inputs from stakeholders, and deliver high-quality outputs under time pressure with limited supervision.
•  Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including proficiency with financial analysis, Excel-based modeling, market data, and portfolio monitoring tools; familiarity with analytical packages or coding tools would be an advantage.
•  Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with investment teams, technical specialists, clients, and external partners.
•  Demonstrated experience in knowledge management or knowledge curation, with the ability to use AI-enabled tools and digital platforms.
•  Fluency in English required; fluency in French or Spanish desired.
•  Willingness to travel extensively as needed.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.