Real Estate Finance - Director in London

The Director is responsible for originating, executing and managing Real Estate financing opportunities across EMEA, supporting the growth of the Real Estate Finance franchise in line with the broader CIB strategy. The role covers both direct real estate lending and CRE securitisation activities, including financing solutions for sponsors, real estate private equity firms and private credit funds.

Working closely with the Head of Real Estate Finance, the Director will lead senior client relationships, represent Mizuho in the market and oversee complex transactions from origination through to execution and portfolio management. The role also contributes to the development of business strategy and product capabilities, working closely with Syndications and other product partners to enhance client delivery, capital efficiency and portfolio returns.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with real estate borrowers, sponsors, private credit funds, and other market participants across EMEA.
• Originate, evaluate, structure and execute commercial real estate financing opportunities across a range of asset classes and financing structures.
• Lead client engagement, business development activities and commercial negotiations to generate new transaction opportunities and revenue streams.
• Assess opportunities across both direct lending and CRE securitisation (Loan-on-Loan) transactions, including financing solutions for private credit and debt fund clients.
• Take overall responsibility for transaction underwriting, financial analysis, pricing, credit approval materials and internal approval processes.
• Work closely with Syndications and other product partners to support the originate-to-distribute strategy where appropriate, optimise balance sheet utilisation and enhance client delivery.
• Support the ongoing management of the REF portfolio, including risk monitoring, client engagement and identification of emerging risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of REF strategy, sector focus and new product initiatives, including collaboration with CIB Structured Financing and other partners.
• Provide leadership, coaching and oversight to junior members of the team, supporting their development and contributing to overall team performance.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Significant experience in Real Estate Finance with a strong track record of originating, structuring and executing transactions across EMEA.
• Established relationships across the real estate sector, with the ability to originate opportunities and develop business with sponsors, borrowers, private credit funds and other market participants.
• Strong understanding of commercial real estate lending, syndicated loan markets, real estate capital markets and financing structures.
• Experience of structuring and executing complex financing transactions, including direct lending, syndicated financings and real estate securitisation transactions.
• Strong credit, underwriting, financial analysis and cash flow modelling skills, with the ability to assess risk and return across a range of asset classes and structures.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transactions from origination through to execution, managing multiple stakeholders and workstreams simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of portfolio management, balance sheet optimisation and regulatory considerations relevant to real estate lending.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to represent the Bank credibly with clients, advisers and internal committees.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop junior team members while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• High level of commercial judgement, professionalism and integrity, with a strong client focus and ability to identify attractive risk-adjusted opportunities.

What Mizuho can offer you

Here at Mizuho, there are fantastic progression opportunities and clear paths to promotion. We will give you ample opportunity to affect change and to help grow our business.

In addition to the great opportunity outlined above we are also currently able to offer:

• Competitive starting salary, plus discretionary bonus.
• Non-contributory pension.
• 27 days’ annual leave.
• Core working hours.
• Hybrid working - office and home based.
• Virtual GP.
• Wellbeing benefits, including Mental Health Allies and First Aiders.

At Mizuho, we embrace flexible ways of working when the role permits. We offer different working arrangements like part-time, job-sharing and hybrid (office and home) working. Our purpose-led culture and global infrastructure help us connect, collaborate, and work together in agile ways to meet all our business needs.

At Mizuho we are committed to supporting equality, diversity and equality, and seek to create a workplace that is fully inclusive. We welcome applications from all sections of the community that we operate in and from all ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation, beliefs, gender identities and disabilities.

If you require more information about our equal opportunities policy or wish to discuss any accessibility requirements or reasonable adjustments please contact the recruitment team – recruitment@mizuhoemea.com and we will be happy to help.