Leveraged Finance Associate

GENERAL FUNCTION: 

A Leveraged Finance Associate performs a wide range of responsibilities including complex financial analysis, financial modeling, transaction due diligence, and preparation of screening memos and approval documents in support of the underwriting and execution of senior debt transactions. The Associate will support the Leveraged Finance deal team by synthesizing large amounts of information to help senior members of the deal team analyze the risk/reward of a transaction. The Associate exhibits a strong work ethic, is capable of working under tight deadlines and is proactive in assuming additional responsibilities. Demonstrates knowledge of the leveraged finance market and is able to support multiple concurrent complex transactions.

Provides oversight and training of Leveraged Finance Analysts to ensure production of a high quality work product. The Leveraged Finance Group structures and underwrites bank debt supporting acquisition, recapitalization and refinancing transactions for public/private companies, often involving financial sponsors. The transactions include bilateral commitments, prorata bank executions and large syndicated transactions. The Leveraged Finance Group works closely with the Financial Sponsors Group, Debt Capital Markets, Leveraged Finance Credit Risk, Industry Verticals and middle market teams.  

Responsible and accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and personally following policies and procedures as defined. Accountable for always doing the right thing for customers and colleagues, and ensures that actions and behaviors drive a positive customer experience. While operating within the Bank's risk appetite, achieves results by consistently identifying, assessing, managing, monitoring, and reporting risks of all types. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Perform detailed due diligence on companies, industries, management teams, and other relevant information. 

• Build detailed financial projection models to analyze capital structures, performance trends and credit metrics. 

• Prepare succinct underwriting memorandums, including company and industry descriptions, key credit risks, historical analysis, base and downside case projection assumptions/rationale and terms and conditions. 

• Establish strong working partnerships and routines with key internal partners including the Financial Sponsors Group, Debt Capital Markets, Leveraged Finance Credit Risk, Industry Verticals and middle market teams. 

• Manage multiple transactions/projects and communicate effectively with deal team members, including assisting Analysts with prioritization. 

• Gain familiarity with legal documentation involved in underwriting leveraged loans. 

• Demonstrate proficiency with credit policies and procedures. 

• Interact with important constituencies to execute and close loan transactions. 

• Ability to excel in both team and self-directed settings. 

• Assist senior team members with ad hoc projects. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: 

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: 

• 4+ years Leveraged Finance, Private Equity, Investment Banking or related financial services. 

• Bachelor's degree required (MBA or CFA a plus), ideally with concentration in Business, Finance or Accounting. 

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. 

• Strong analytical, financial modeling and Microsoft Excel skills. 

• Exhibits attention to detail and ability to work well under pressure with tight deadlines. 

• Knowledge of private equity, capital markets, merger and acquisition structures.