GLOBAL SOVEREIGN RATINGS, PUBLIC FINANCE – VICE PRESIDENT
Summary
Morningstar DBRS’s Global Sovereign Ratings group is seeking a highly motivated individual with an interest in government finance and credit analysis to join its Public Finance team in Toronto as a Vice President. The ideal candidate will have at least five years’ experience as a lead analyst covering public finance credit ratings in the U.S. and Canada. Working closely with the Sector Lead and the other members of the Global Sovereign Ratings team, the successful candidate will be responsible for the coverage of a broad range of public sector entities in North America, including states, provinces, territories, municipalities, public and not-for-profit (NFP) universities and hospitals, and other government-related entities.
Primary Responsibilities
- Assume lead analyst coverage of existing public finance ratings, including states/provinces, municipal governments, universities, hospitals, and other government-related entities.
- Perform issuer and industry research, financial statement analysis, assess issuer forecasts and management strategy to inform rating recommendations.
- Produce timely, high-quality credit reports and commentaries on rated issuers and industry trends; engage with media and handle investor queries on rated issuers.
- Interact with and maintain relationships with issuers, investors, and intermediaries.
- Respond to and lead new rating opportunities and assignments in both the Canadian and U.S. public finance sector.
- Contribute to the refinement of research products and rating methodologies.
- Oversee the work of junior analysts; help train and mentor less experienced team members.
- Adhere to rigorous regulatory requirements, including detailed record-keeping, training, and compliance with Morningstar DBRS policies and procedures.
Requirements
- Seven years of public policy or finance experience, with a minimum of five years in a public finance credit or analysis role.
- Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, Public Administration, or another relevant discipline.
- Knowledge of broader public sector and not-for-profit entities and of the functioning of various levels of government.
- Solid research and analytical skills, with a thorough attention to detail.
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
- Self-starter and strong team player.
- Ability to meet deadlines while producing high quality work.
*French language skills and completion of the CFA program would be a plus.
*The above is for a Vice President position. An attractive but less experienced candidate may be considered for an Assistant Vice President position
Base Salary Compensation Range:
$110,000.00-$160,000.00 CAD
Incentive Target Percentage:
30% Annual
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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.
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.
R08_DBRSLtdCanada DBRS Limited - Canada Legal EntitySkills Required
- Seven years of public policy or finance experience, with a minimum of five years in a public finance credit or analysis role
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, Public Administration, or related discipline
- Experience as a lead analyst covering public finance credit ratings in the U.S. and Canada
- Knowledge of public sector and not-for-profit entities and the functioning of various levels of government
- Financial statement analysis, issuer and industry research, and credit assessment skills
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Self-starter and strong team player; ability to meet deadlines while producing high-quality work
- Adherence to regulatory requirements, detailed record-keeping, and compliance with company policies
- French language skills
- Completion of the CFA program
What the Team is Saying
Morningstar Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off policies include flexible PTO and a paid sabbatical every four years, often highlighted as a standout perk. Feedback suggests this structure supports strong work–life balance and meaningful breaks.
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Parental & Family Support — Policies advertise a global minimum of 16 weeks for primary caregivers, up to 8 weeks for secondary caregivers, and at least six weeks of paid caregiving leave. These offerings signal above-average support for family and caregiving needs.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs feature employer 401(k) contributions/matching, with some postings citing a 75% match on up to 7% of pay. Feedback suggests these offerings are a strong pillar of the package.
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We are a global investment research and financial data company with 40-plus offices across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Our products and services are used daily by individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, retirement plan providers, and institutional investors. We provide data, research, and analysis across managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data. The financial system can have real barriers—hidden information, friction that can slow decisions, and forces that can limit transparency and access. We work to remove them, bringing independent research, connected data, and investor-first tools to a system that needs more clarity. The people doing this work span research, technology, design, product, sales, and functional areas. We build many of our products in-house, so the work can connect directly to the tools investors use to make real financial decisions.
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