_{28th October, 2026}

Ship Finance & Investment Associate
Tokyo

THE OPENING
Japanese capital stands behind a large part of the world fleet, and owners who know how to work with it have a real edge. An international shipowner is adding to its Tokyo team to bring more Japanese investors, lenders and partners into its deals. This person will work on those deals from structuring to closing.

THE ROLE
You’ll work directly with the senior lead in Tokyo on the transactions that fund the fleet: investment vehicles, joint ventures, equity raises and vessel financing. Investor money and fleet financing depend on getting this work right.

• Take deals from term sheet to closing. You’ll prepare transaction summaries and step plans, track conditions precedent, handle capital calls and funds flows, and keep legal, tax and audit advisers on the timetable.
• Look after the vehicles once they’re live. That covers investor reporting, distributions, audits, regulatory filings, KYC and sanctions checks, and the cash flow and return models behind them.
• Work with Japanese banks, leasing companies and investors. You’ll prepare the materials for performance meetings and credit reviews, and help find the next partner.

THE RIGHT PERSON

• Required: 3 to 7 years in Japan on funds, joint ventures, equity raising or ship or asset finance, at a bank, leasing company, trading house, securities firm or asset manager. You know LPS, TK or JOL/JOLCO structures and have reviewed or negotiated transaction documents with external advisers.
• Required: business Japanese and English strong enough to draft, negotiate and report in both, plus solid Excel modelling and PowerPoint. You’ll often explain Japanese practice to international colleagues and group decisions to Japanese counterparties.
• Preferred: fund administration or investor reporting experience, an understanding of how charter rates and vessel values drive returns, a network among Japanese financial institutions, or a CPA/USCPA, CFA or securities analyst qualification.

You run several workstreams at once and handle confidential information with care. You must have the right to work in Japan.

WHY THIS ROLE
If you’re coming from a Japanese bank or leasing house, this puts you on the owner’s side of the table. You’ll see how a vessel’s earnings turn into returns for the investors you report to. The team is small, so you’ll deal with senior management across the group from the start, and your responsibilities will grow as fast as you can take them on.

Reach out to Jarah Ligan or Soeren Salling at one@sallingsearch.com directly. All conversations are confidential.

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