Experienced Summer Intern - Intermediated Financial Services (MBA, MSc or equivalent)

About BII

British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution, owned by the UK Government. With a mission to solve the biggest global development challenges, we aim to create a virtuous circle of investment and impact. Your contribution will be essential.

It won’t be easy: we do the hardest work in the most complex markets. Be prepared to test your skills, get creative and say your piece as you take on high-profile work as part of a diverse team of exceptionally smart, passionate people.

In return, you can take your career to all-new places in a culture that rewards curiosity and collaboration, and balances high performance with wellbeing.

BII at a glance

75 years supporting sustainable business growth in developing and emerging markets

£8.1 billion in net assets

1,400+ businesses invested in

950,000 workers in the businesses we support

£9 billion in new investments planned in the next 5 years

600+ people in our diverse global team

3 key development objectives: Productive | Sustainable | Inclusive

BII’s investment activities are organised across 3 principal groups:

Financial Services Group – this group oversees our investment activity via financial institutions and into financial services companies (further detail provided below).
Infrastructure and Climate Group – this group oversees our investment activity in energy sectors and wider infrastructure sectors such as transport. They also develop our capability in climate-focused investing.
Industries, Technology and Services Group – this group oversees our investment activity in other sectors including manufacturing, telecommunications, and agriculture.

Team and role overview

Purpose

The Financial Services Group (FSG) plays a key role in contributing towards inclusive development, including filling the SME financing gap and supporting the inclusion of significant numbers of people that remain unbanked, particularly women. With the full product suite within one department – from fund investing to providing equity, debt and trade finance – the group decides how to invest BII’s capital into financial services for the most impact.

There are 5 job levels in our teams – Associate, Executive, Manager, Director & Team Head and we are looking for a summer intern to support the team in supporting the building of businesses in Africa and Asia, to create jobs and make a lasting impact on people's lives.

Within the Financial Services Group, the Intermediated Financial Services team is responsible for originating and executing:

Structured credit transactions: using new credit vehicles, securitizations, CLOs, tranched structures, guarantees, etc. to channel capital into markets which BII cannot adequately reach with existing products and/or to mobilise commercial investors into our markets.
Risk-sharing facilities (RSFs): with partner financial institutions, with the aim of enhancing access to credit for target segments (e.g. MFIs, SMEs).
Private credit funds (PCFs): broadening BII’s fund investing capability to include private credit funds, primarily in Africa, to catalyse the growth of this nascent asset class – with a particular focus on mobilising commercial investors.
Private Equity Funds – Investing in and managing a portfolio of private equity funds, which invest in the financial services sector, including fintech / digital financial services.
Co-investments – Investing in underlying portfolio companies alongside the funds we have invested in.
Alternative vehicles – Setting up alternative vehicles (e.g. single managed accounts, side-cars) with mission-aligned, best-in-class strategic and financial partners.

This role will primarily be focused on supporting the team’s investments through debt products.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities will be driven by priorities and needs of the team at the time, but are expected to include some or all of the following:

Transaction structuring and execution

Supporting senior members of the team and colleagues on working on new RSFs, fund proposals and other intermediated transactions.
Analysis, including: macro-economic analysis; sector / market analysis; counterparty analysis (including credit assessment and financial modelling).
Reviewing potential new transactions to assess relevance to BII, structure, risks, returns, and market comparables.
Preparing relevant sections of investment proposals / papers and presenting investment recommendations to BII’s Investment Committee.

Portfolio management

Supporting monitoring of the portfolio of existing facilities and projects.
Responsibilities include: reviewing company reports; monitoring compliance with covenants; flagging any potential fund or credit issues and preparing monitoring papers for review by BII’s investment committee.
Active engagement with relevant fund managers, banks and a broad range of investors.

Research and strategy

Assisting in the design and implementation of market scoping studies as relevant.
Keeping up-to-date with deal flow, deal management and portfolio monitoring databases for all transactions covered by the team.

The Candidate (please note, this programme is not for undergraduates)

Background, skills, aptitude

University degree or equivalent and currently enrolled in an MBA, or equivalent, programme.
Strong relevant experience a banking, investment or DFI environment with exposure to origination and structuring of FI/corporate debt transactions.
Demonstrable business experience in an international environment, including exposure to emerging market finance.

Technical and Personal Skills

FI/Corporate credit analysis skills and ability to analyse financial statements and make commercial assessments.
Strong analytical and research skills.
Good report writing, business communication and presentation skills.
Financial modelling and Excel skills.
Familiarity with diligence processes, financial and legal terms.
Demonstrated professional approach and ability to develop relationships both within BII and with external parties.
As a member of a growing team, a flexible and “hands on” approach is a prerequisite.
Ability to work on multiple projects across products and sectors while working to deadlines and managing time effectively.
Active interest in financing in developing countries and understanding of emerging market environments with a willingness to travel within Africa and South Asia.
Candidates should be strongly motivated by BII’s development mission and ideally demonstrate some commitment to development or social goals.

Desirable skills

Foreign language skills, particularly those spoken in BII’s geographies (e.g. French, Portuguese, etc) would be an additional advantage.

Our cultural values

We look for team members who aspire, as we do, to work at our best and to be:

Impact-led, commercially rigorous.
Tenacious in the face of challenges.
Collaborative and caring.

British International Investment is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or educational background.

Application Process

Please provide a cover letter with your application, and tell us why you would like to join the Summer Internship at BII, and why you have chosen to apply for this business area / team
Please apply for one internship only
Position opened: 27 October 2025
Position closes: 17 November 2025
Salary: £67,780 (pro-rated over 8 or 10 weeks)

Please note BII will pay for flights to London for those studying internationally

Apply now