Capital Markets Senior Associate

About this role

First Circle is the leading SME financial services company in the Philippines. We are building a credit-led, full-service SME neobank providing business banking, corporate cards, FX and payroll to increase customer wallet-share, customer lock-in and lower funding costs through deposits (retail and corporate). We have a $90m loan book today, up 150% yoy, and expect to end 2026 with $150m+ of assets and $350m+ in 2027.
We received approval to acquire a rural bank in April, and the World Bank (our largest shareholder) gave the green light for a $110m securitisation to help fund the growth in our assets. We also brought corporate cards product on line and have term sheets to acquire lending licenses in new SEA markets.

Our business is growing rapidly in scale and complexity as we approach 400 staff and develop into a multi-product, multi-market company. We have $500m+ of financing needs across equity and debt over the next 2-3 years.

The Role
We are looking for a Capital Markets Senior Associate to drive end-to-end origination of new funding.
You will work closely with senior leadership across Finance, Legal, debt and equity funding, development of funding structures, relationship building, business intelligence, investor reporting. This is a hands-on, problem-solving role ideal for someone who wants to meaningfully contribute and grow within a high-growth fintech environment.
You will report to the CFO, Josh O'Donnell. Your role will require a significant amount of meetings with external parties and some travel across SEA to meet prospective investors.

Key Responsibilities
Source and close new funding relationships inside target cost of funds
Maintain and build a funnel of debt and equity investors
Prepare clear, concise marketing materials to communicate with internal decision-makers and external investors, including pitch decks, teasers, and data rooms
Support the structuring and execution of debt facilities and securitisations, working alongside legal counsel and lenders
Own investor reporting and covenant compliance, ensuring accurate and timely delivery to funding partners
Build and maintain financial models for facilities, structures, and scenario analysis
Own negotiation of term sheets and facility agreements
Build systems and processes that scale the capital markets operation
Requirements
3-6 years of experience in investment banking, structured finance, private credit, capital markets, or a related field
Strong financial modelling and analytical skills
Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to produce investor-grade materials
A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
Comfortable with ambiguity and able to solve unfamiliar problems with minimal guidance
Interest in fintech, financial inclusion, and emerging markets
Willingness to travel across SEA as required
Benefits
The opportunity to play a pivotal role in building a category-defining SME neobank
Direct exposure to senior leadership and world-class investors, including the World Bank
A steep learning curve across capital markets, structured finance, and fintech operations
Competitive compensation and equity
A hybrid working environment based in Hong Kong