T.P.｜Employee Interview｜Vena Energy Japan Recruiting Site

To undertake work that would have been difficult to do in a consultant capacity

I worked in project finance for a water utility company before moving into consultancy where I performed financial modelling for consulting firms in Japan and Chile.

At that time, our clients were mainly from the infrastructure industry, such as civil engineering and energy. Especially in Chile, with its large desert and long coastline, renewable energy such as solar and wind power were developing rapidly. I was fascinated by this business, which supports people's lifelines, has a prosperous future and is also environmentally friendly. However, as a consultant, I could only be involved in one aspect of a project. I wanted to take my involvement one step deeper and more comprehensive, so I chose Vena Energy, an independent renewable energy power producer (IPP), as my next step.

The development of renewable energy is a global interest, yet the Japanese market has only been in existence for about 10 years, and I felt that there were many opportunities unparalleled in the world. In addition, I could sense the sincerity of the company's selection process, which allowed me to participate remotely from Chile and included practical tests to assess financial modelling skills and thinking, rather than just looking at work history. I felt that this attitude must be reflected in the way the company deals with business and human resources, which was also crucial in my decision to join the company.

Process

'Try First' culture, even for unprecedented projects

I am currently a senior manager in the Investment Team of around 12 people. The team is mainly involved in assisting investment decisions through due diligence and financial analysis for new M&A deals, project financing for the development and construction of renewable power plants, as well as providing budgetary support for ongoing projects.

One of the important parts of our job is to communicate with external parties based on an understanding of the business and financial situation of each project. For example, in M&A we are involved in negotiations with the counterparty to the transaction, in project finance we play a coordinating role with bank representatives. There are many opportunities to hold meetings with internal and external experts, engineers and lawyers to make risk decisions. I feel that this position is uniquely interesting because it allows me to acquire knowledge from multiple perspectives.

Another unique attraction of our company is that we can take on unprecedented projects. In particular, for cutting-edge projects such as offshore wind power, storage batteries and utilization of hydrogen gas, there are only a limited number of reference cases in the world, let alone in Japan. Naturally, it is not an easy task to consider the risks and returns, but we seek answers and accumulate our own know-how by thoroughly gathering information and holding discussions, and then "trying it out first".

Taking on the challenge of an unknown market through trial and error with a sense of speed is one of the things I could never have experienced when I was a consultant. Going down a difficult path with no right answer, we can expect the rewarding opportunities that come with it. The fact that the results of my challenges are directly linked to solving social issues is one of the most exciting aspects of my job.

Mission

Cosmopolitan environment that accelerates growth

A new and rewarding aspect of my job these days is to train Investment Team members and guide them to success. The team is made up of an international mix of people from Japan, South Korea, China, Mongolia, France, Indonesia and the Philippines, with a variety of backgrounds, including former bankers, former consultants and people with private equity experience. At the same time, they all have one thing in common: they are highly motivated to grow. In fact, they are always sharing their expertise with each other in the office, fostering a pleasant relationship.

There are also plenty of opportunities to join project teams in other countries on the initiative of the Head Officer of the Investment Team at the Singapore head office. I myself recently travelled to South Korea to participate in a wind power auction project as part of the local team. As such, it should be an attractive place to work for those who want to gain a wide range of experience with a global mind-set.

The renewable energy industry is changing at breakneck speed, with interesting business models such as Corporate PPA, where companies and municipalities purchase renewable energy directly from power producers. My goal for the future is to research and analyze these new mechanisms for business development, and to actively provide my team members with opportunities to take on challenges that will lead to their growth.

Future joiners will also thrive if you have a background in finance and an interest and curiosity in renewable energy and enjoy challenges and adventures. We look forward to growing with you.

Challenge