Credit Opinion Group - Director (Toronto)

Fitch's Global Infrastructure and Project Finance Group (GIG) is currently seeking a Director based out of our London, New York, and Toronto offices.

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 with backgrounds particularly in project finance, structured credits and corporate finance, 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 portfolio includes public and private ratings and credit opinions covering a variety of transaction types, including project finance, corporate finance and structured credits. The issuers include owners of airports, toll roads, ports, rail infrastructure, power plants, oil and gas facilities, renewable assets, digital infrastructure or public private partnerships. The team’s output consists mainly of annual surveillance reviews, new ratings, internal credit assessments and sector research reports which are published primarily through Fitch’s website. The senior analysts present regularly to market participants at conferences and other events.

GIG is in the process of setting up a standalone group to deliver credit opinions on infrastructure loans globally.  The primary responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to develop and manage a team of analysts in multiple regions who will be tasked with evaluating loans across infrastructure sector.  It will be an excellent management opportunity to build-out a group by hiring analysts and developing analytical processes within the larger Global Infrastructure and Project Finance team.

What We Offer:

• High value for independent opinion
• Collaborative work environment
• Opportunity for career growth in one of the fastest growing sectors
• Great company culture with strong believe in DEI
• Hybrid working

We’ll Count on You To:

In this role, you will have the lead analytical responsibility for analysing project finance loans across infrastructure sectors such as Transportation, Public Private Partnerships, and Power & Renewable sectors and any unique project finance structures across broader alternative infrastructure sectors.

Your involvement will take the form of leading the analysis for new loans and reviewing surveillance of existing rated loans on your allocated portfolio.

Specific responsibilities will include but may not be limited to the following:

• Build and manage a global team of analysts and provide guidance on how to execute credit assessments.
• Develop and oversee administrative processes associated with delivering credit assessments to other analytical groups.
• Coordinating internally with the structured finance team to ensure timely completion of credit assessments.
• Interact with external parties, including asset managers, as part of the credit assessment process.
• Undertake, as Primary Analyst, credit opinions on newly assigned transactions as well as monitoring any existing credit opinions on your allocated portfolio.  Present credit recommendations to rating committees.
• Closely follow market developments in the relevant sectors and assessing the potential impact on the allocated loan portfolio.

What You Need to Have:

• A keen interest to deepen your understanding of infrastructure and project finance
• Ability to identify quickly the key risk factors in a transaction
• Good understanding of capital structures and financial documentation with exposure to both project finance and corporate-style construct
• Ability to read and fully comprehend complex structures and ask probing questions
• Keep fully up to date with sector trends in order to assess the impact on particular transactions
• Ability to formulate and deliver clear and concise opinions within robust analytical rationale as you will have regular interaction with ratings committees;
• Excellent Excel skills to support analysis; Equally, Word and Power Point skills are a requisite
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to shift fluidly between multiple projects as priorities change and work in a team-oriented setting
• Have initiative, propose solutions and ideas as well as be able to work with tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment to achieve clear goals

Given the requirement for rating agencies to provide independent opinions, strength of character and discipline is required and you must be able to appreciate the wider regulatory environment in which Fitch operates. You should be able to work independently in an international environment while also being a good team player, being able to cope with time pressure and deadlines and handle multiple assignments simultaneously.

What Would Make You Stand Out:

• A degree in Finance, CPA/CFA qualifications are beneficial but not essential.
• Relevant experience covering infrastructure or project finance in a bank, financial institution, credit rating agency, investor/asset manager or other credit role

Why Fitch?

At Fitch, we have an open culture where employees are able to exchange ideas and perspectives, throughout the organization, irrespective of their seniority. Your voice will be heard allowing you to have a real impact. We embrace diversity and appreciate authenticity encouraging an environment where employees can be their true selves. Our inclusive and progressive approach helps us to keep a balanced perspective.  Fitch is also committed to supporting its employees by advancing conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion.  Fitch’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have been established by employees who have joined together as a workplace community based on similar backgrounds or life experiences.  Fitch’s ERGs are available to connect employees with others within the organization to offer professional and personal support.

With our expertise, we are not only creating data and information, but also producing timely insights from every angle to influence decision making in this ever changing and highly competitive market. We have a relentless hunger to innovate and unlock the power of human insights and to drive value for our customers. There has never been a better time to make an impact and we invite you to join us on this journey.

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.