Associate Director - Global Infrastructure and Project Finance - Complex Credits Group (Chicago)

Associate Director - Global Infrastructure and Project Finance – Complex Credits Group (CCG) - Chicago

Fitch Global Infrastructure and Project Finance Group is currently seeking an Associate Director or Director based out of our Chicago office.

The Global Infrastructure and Project Finance Group (GIG) covers approximately 650 credits across transportation, power & energy, social, digital and water infrastructure, as well as sports facilities and UK whole business securitization. The group comprises approximately 85 analysts, based in Fitch’s offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Austin, London, Milan, Toronto, Sao Paulo, Dubai, Madrid, Monterrey, Ciudad del México, Singapore, and Sydney.

The primary responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to lead the analysis of infrastructure and project finance transactions and assist in efforts to enhance rating approaches and criteria development for complex and non-standard credits, in particular relating to emerging infrastructure sectors and alternative/core+ infrastructure, in addition to complex transportation and energy sectors in the US and Canada and across the EMEA region.

What We Offer:

• This role will have the opportunity to take a lead role analyzing cutting-edge infrastructure transactions and be part of a growing credit team in the ever-evolving infrastructure space.
• An exciting time to work in the sector as significant investments in the infrastructure space are resulting in a diversity of new and interesting projects to work on. 
• The position has high global visibility and solid growth potential. The role will have exposure to both GIG in the Americas and across EMEA and the successful candidate will interact with senior analytical members across the different regions.

We’ll Count on You To:

• Work on ratings analysis and research on new and existing transactions.
• Evaluate innovative credit structures and participate in global rating criteria development.
• Identify and research relevant trends, assessing their credit impact and highlighting these trends in updated industry and market focused reports/presentations.
• Gather and analyze quantitative and qualitative data and legal documents for the purpose of producing ratings, publishing credit reports, and contributing to special research reports.
• Interact with other Fitch analytical groups (i.e. Corporates and Structured) to help develop rating approaches and criteria to bespoke projects
• In conjunction with senior members of the team, the candidate will meet with senior management of entities and/or project sponsors, investment bankers and financial advisors, to produce these ratings and reports for general publication
• Maintain a strong external network and profile that continues to build Fitch's reputation for analytical excellence by representing Fitch in a compelling and persuasive manner at industry conferences, webinars, issuer meetings/site visits and through media communication.
• Develop and grow strong relationships with the other analytical groups at Fitch to ensure analytical consistency and efficient execution of transactions that involve multiple groups.

What You Need to Have:

• Bachelor's degree at minimum, advanced degree a plus;
• 7+ years relevant experience in a capital markets and/or credit analysis role;
• A healthy sense of intellectual curiosity and a life-long learning mindset;
• A demonstrated willingness and ability to attack and explain topics of analytical complexity;
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and organizational skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; 
• Excellent modelling skills and thorough familiarity with spreadsheet-based financial models.
• Ability to read and fully comprehend complex structures and to ask probing questions to issuers and their advisers.
• Ability to shift fluidly between multiple projects as priorities change; 
• Ability to excel in a team-oriented environment.

What Would Make You Stand Out:

• Previous experience covering the infrastructure or project finance sectors and focusing on credit whether on the buy-side, sell-side, a credit department at a bank, or another rating agency.
• The ability to effectively and constructively challenge existing mindsets to assist the group in formulating innovative rating approaches on complex credits, sectors or topics.

Why Fitch?

At Fitch Group, the combined power of our global perspectives is what differentiates us. Our global network of colleagues comes together to accomplish things greater than they ever could alone.

Every team member is essential to our business and each perspective is critical to our success. We embrace a diverse culture that encourages a free exchange of ideas, guaranteeing your voice will be heard and your work will have an impact, regardless of seniority.

We are building incredible things at Fitch and we invite you to join us on our journey.

Fitch Ratings is a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary and research. Dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, Fitch ratings offers global perspectives shaped by strong local market experience and credit market expertise. The additional context, perspective and insights we provide have helped fund a century of growth and enables our clients to make important credit judgements with confidence.

Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Wholly owned by the Hearst Corporation, we are comprised of three main businesses: Fitch Ratings | Fitch Solutions | Fitch Learning.

For more information please visit our websites:  

www.fitchratings.com | www.fitchsolutions.com | www.fitchlearning.com

Fitch is committed to providing global securities markets with objective, timely, independent and forward-looking credit opinions. To protect Fitch’s credibility and reputation, our employees must take every precaution to avoid conflicts of interests or any appearance of a conflict of interest. Should you be successful in the recruitment process at Fitch Ratings you will be asked to declare any securities holdings and other potential conflicts prior to commencing employment. If you, or your immediate family, have any holdings that may conflict with your work responsibilities, you may be asked to divest yourself of them before beginning work.

Fitch Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law.

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