Morningstar DBRS is seeking an Assistant Vice President to join its Private Corporate Credit team. This role offers an opportunity to apply fundamental credit analysis, assess the creditworthiness of small to medium-sized, highly leveraged companies, and contribute to independent credit opinions across a diverse range of industries.
Working closely with senior analysts and management, you will lead the ongoing surveillance of a portfolio of corporate credits, evaluate financial performance and credit risks, and develop well-supported recommendations for rating committees. You will also engage with senior leaders and market participants, including lenders, investors, and bankers, while gaining exposure to developments across the private credit and leveraged finance markets.
What you'll be doing:
- Lead the ongoing credit surveillance of a portfolio of small to medium-sized, highly leveraged companies across various industries.
- Conduct fundamental credit analysis, including financial statement analysis, cash flow assessment, leverage evaluation, and identification of key credit risks.
- Prepare comprehensive rating committee materials, develop well-supported credit recommendations, and lead discussions to communicate analytical conclusions and credit views.
- Produce timely, high-quality written credit reports and research that clearly articulate credit fundamentals, key risks, and rating considerations.
- Monitor financial performance, industry developments, and market trends to identify emerging risks and changes in credit quality.
- Build and maintain relationships with market participants, including lenders, investors, and bankers, to support credit analysis and market intelligence.
- Manage a diverse portfolio of credits, ensuring timely reviews, accurate analysis, and adherence to established analytical methodologies and processes.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including enhancing analytical workflows, data management, and internal research capabilities.
What we're looking for:
- Four to six years of relevant experience in corporate credit analysis, leveraged finance, corporate lending, or a related field, preferably with exposure to high-yield or middle-market corporate issuers.
- Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, business, or a related discipline. CFA designation is preferred.
- Strong fundamental credit analysis skills, including financial statement analysis, cash flow modeling, leverage assessment, and evaluating corporate credit risk.
- Solid understanding of corporate debt and capital markets, including familiarity with high-yield bonds, leveraged loans, and related financing structures.
- Experience reviewing and interpreting legal documentation associated with corporate debt and loan issuance.
- Strong analytical judgment and the ability to develop, articulate, and defend credit recommendations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex credit analysis clearly and confidently to internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated interest in private credit and private capital markets, with a desire to deepen expertise in this evolving area.
- A proactive, collaborative approach, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
The Group:
Our Private Corporate Credit team focuses on assessing the creditworthiness of middle-market and highly leveraged companies within the evolving private credit market. Through fundamental credit analysis, financial data, and ongoing research and surveillance, the team provides insights into borrower performance, credit trends, and emerging risks to support informed investment and lending decisions.
About Us
Morningstar DBRS is a leading provider of independent rating services and opinions for corporate and sovereign entities, financial institutions, and project and structured finance instruments globally. Rating more than 4,000 issuers and 60,000 securities, it is one of the top four credit rating agencies in the world.
Morningstar DBRS empowers investor success by bringing more transparency and a much-needed diversity of opinion in the credit rating industry. Our approach and size allow us to be nimble enough to respond to customers' needs in their local markets, but large enough to provide the necessary expertise and resources they require. Market innovators choose to work with us because of our agility, tech-forward approach, and exceptional customer service.
Morningstar DBRS is the next generation of credit ratings.
Compensation and Benefits
At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:
Financial Health
100% 401k match up to 6% of salary
Stock Ownership Potential
Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
Physical Health
Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages
Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual
Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
Emotional Health
Trust-Based Time Off
6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Leave
Adoption Assistance
Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses
Tuition Reimbursement
Social Health
Charitable Matching Gifts program
Dollars for Doers volunteer program
Paid volunteering days
15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups
Total Cash Compensation Range
$105,050.00-149,000.00Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive
If you receive and accept an offer from us, we require that personal and any related investments be disclosed confidentiality to our Compliance team (days vary by region). These investments will be reviewed to ensure they meet Code of Ethics requirements. If any conflicts of interest are identified, then you will be required to liquidate those holdings immediately. In addition, dependent on your department and location of work certain employee accounts must be held with an approved broker (for example all, U.S. employee accounts). If this applies and your account(s) are not with an approved broker, you will be required to move your holdings to an approved broker.
Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.
R06_DBRSInc DBRS, Inc. - US Legal EntityMorningstar Chicago, Illinois, USA Office
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Research at Morningstar spans markets, asset classes, and disciplines, all connected by the same purpose: give investors what they need to make confident decisions. Our independent research covers equities, managed investments, fixed income, alternatives, private markets, ESG and climate, and credit ratings. Analysts bring their own judgment to complex questions, and that independence is central to how the work gets done.
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