Director, Structured Finance Ratings, Sydney

Fitch Ratings is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director to join our dynamic Structured Finance and Covered Bonds team in Sydney.

As one of the world’s top three credit ratings agencies, Fitch Ratings plays a critical role in global capital markets by providing supplementary credit analysis, ratings, research, and commentary to financial market participants. For over 100 years, Fitch Ratings has been creating value for global markets through its rigorous analysis and deep expertise, which have resulted in a variety of market leading tools, methodologies, indices, research, and analytical products. Fitch Ratings is part of Fitch Group, a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries, which also includes Fitch Solutions. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by Hearst.

At Fitch Ratings, credit analysts play a pivotal role in moving markets, as quality credit analysis is the lifeblood of our organization. With a legacy of over a century, our unique approach to credit ratings offers unmatched opportunities for professional growth. Embracing a “challenger mindset,” you'll join a team dedicated to innovating service to our clients. Our people-driven analysis thrives on collaboration across all levels and locations, surpassing traditional financial modeling. Lastly, as part of our global community, you'll find inspiration, challenge, and support, with ample opportunities for visibility and influence in the global financial marketplace.

Want to learn more about a career as a credit analyst at Fitch Ratings? Visit: https://careers.fitch.group/content/Credit-Analysts/

About the Role

As part of a 14-analyst team, you will cover all asset classes across the Australian and New Zealand structured finance and covered bond markets. This senior role offers:
 

• Join in an established and experienced team of professionals.
• Exposure to majority of issuers in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
• Work across a variety of asset classes, including highly complex transactions, new products entering the markets, and new issuers to Fitch, with responsibilities in both new ratings and ongoing transaction monitoring.
• Opportunities to lead and shape the future of structured finance and covered bonds in the region.
• An excellent opportunity for candidates to leverage their extensive experience in structured finance, providing leadership and expertise in a collaborative, market-leading environment.
• Significant development opportunities for those passionate about structured finance and covered bonds.

How You’ll Make an Impact: 

• Lead the rating of highly complex new transactions, including those involving new asset classes and issuers, by leveraging your deep understanding of structured finance.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and support to the team throughout the execution of new transactions and ongoing surveillance and ensure consistently high-quality document preparation and robust committee discussions.
• Manage the team’s workflow to ensure all structured finance transactions and covered bond programmes are reviewed on a continuous 12-month schedule, with all transactions/programmes reviewed at least once a year by the due date.
• Prepare high-quality analytical documentation and present findings in committee meetings.
• Provide timely commentary on market and transaction performance.
• Manage queries from issuers, bankers, and investors, representing Fitch as a subject matter expert and communicating effectively with external transaction parties.
• Participate in originator/servicer review meetings.
• Contribute to ad hoc projects, reporting, and authoring of reports.
• Champion best practices and foster a culture of continuous improvement within the team.

What You Need to Have:

• Deep understanding of securitisation markets.
• Minimum 7+ years’ structured finance experience (issuer, arranger, lawyer, investor, or trustee), ideally in a credit or analytical role.
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following:
• Credit analysis and proposal memo preparation
• Structuring advice and deal execution
• Legal review of transaction documents
• Cash flow modelling of securitisation transactions
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including report writing.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel
• Excellent time management and attention to detail.
• Interest in managing and mentoring staff (previous experience preferred but not essential).
• Professionalism, a deep understanding of the structured finance market, and an insatiable curiosity to understand the “why” behind every question.
• A relentless drive, determination, and commitment to ongoing growth and learning, ensuring success in this senior role.

What Would Make You Stand Out: 

• Expertise in Structured Finance: Demonstrated experience and a deep understanding of securitisation markets, credit analysis, and transaction structuring across a variety of asset classes.
• Leadership and Team Guidance: Ability to mentor, guide, and support colleagues, fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring high-quality outcomes for complex and new transactions.
• Analytical Curiosity and Problem-Solving: An insatiable desire to understand the “why” behind questions and challenges, coupled with a commitment to robust analysis and continuous improvement.
• Professional Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to represent Fitch externally and provide clear, insightful commentary to issuers, investors, and other stakeholders.
• Drive for Growth and Excellence: A never-ending drive, determination, and commitment to personal and professional growth, staying ahead of market developments and contributing to the team’s success.
• Adaptability and Openness to New Opportunities: Willingness to embrace new products, asset classes, and issuers, and to take on complex or novel transactions as the market evolves.

Why Choose Fitch: 

• Hybrid Work Environment: 3 days a week in office required
• A Culture of Learning & Mobility: Dedicated trainings, leadership development and mentorship programs designed to ensure that your time at Fitch will be a continuous learning opportunity
• Investing in Your Future: Tuition reimbursement programs that empower you to achieve your short and long-term goals
• Promoting Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive healthcare offerings that enable physical, mental, financial, social, and occupational wellbeing
• Supportive Parenting Policies: Family-friendly policies, including a generous global parental leave plan, designed to help you balance career and family life effectively
• Inclusive Work Environment: A collaborative workplace where all voices are valued, with Employee Resource Groups that unite and empower our colleagues around the globe
• Dedication to Giving Back: Paid volunteer days, matched funding for donations and ample opportunities to volunteer in your community

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 interest 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 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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