Associate, Leveraged Lending ****

HIKINEX, in collaboration with Knight & Associates, a premier executive search firm, is seeking a highly motivated Associate, Leveraged Lending to join the Capital Markets division of one of North America's most established and stable financial institutions.

As part of the Leveraged Lending team within Corporate Banking, you'll play a vital role in underwriting and managing private equity-backed syndicated loans and direct lending transactions. The group allocates capital across revolvers and term loans, supporting both product and coverage partners, and participates across the full capital structure, including unitranche, delayed draw, and second lien term loans. You'll collaborate with deal teams and senior stakeholders on all stages of the transaction lifecycle, from initial screening, due diligence, and credit approval to portfolio management and cross-sell opportunities for hedging and traditional banking solutions.

Note: We are only considering Chicago based candidates meeting the requirements of having prior experience in investment banking, corporate banking, corporate credit, or capital markets or leveraged finance. Institution name and over key details will be shared once mutual interest is established.

Key Dimensions

• New Underwritings: 60%
• Portfolio Management: 40%

Primary Function and Responsibilities

New Underwritings

• Digest comprehensive data rooms and use critical thinking to pull out and analyze key files
• Work across groups to compile diligence lists; lead diligence calls with financial sponsors as well as with company management teams
• Collaborate with colleagues on different teams (Leveraged Finance; Industry Coverage; Sponsor Coverage) on materials for committee meetings attended by senior leaders across the bank
• Create LBO Models based off Management / Sponsor projection models to use in Credit Memos
• Use independent critical thinking skills to analyze and sensitize financial models, develop risks and mitigants, business strengths, and credit rationale for completing a transaction
• Complete risk / return models for new deals
• Address questions from the Investment Committee and Credit team to support new transactions

Portfolio Management

• Review and monitor Borrowers' financial statements for potential changes which may affect the Borrower's performance through detailed review of quarterly financial statements, participation in quarterly lender calls, and ongoing dialogue with sponsor/management teams
• Prepare concise credit analysis and other correspondence on a quarterly basis for certain Borrowers, and on an annual basis for all Borrowers
• Assess Borrowers' internal risk rating on a regular basis based on their financial performance and changes to the qualitative aspects of the business
• Conduct ongoing analysis of amount of allocated capital and credit risk
• Evaluate opportunities for new business (ancillary products such as FX and interest rate hedging and cash management) with existing Borrowers
• Conduct analysis and comprehensive review of industry trends and comparable transactions in the industry

Education/Professional Experience

• An undergraduate degree with academic coursework in finance, economics, or accounting and an outstanding academic achievement
• 2 - 4 years of relevant experience within investment banking, corporate banking, corporate credit, or capital markets. Leveraged Finance experience is preferred.
• Completion of a financial analysis credit training program preferable

Skills

• Excellent analytical skills to include business, financial, and credit analysis areas
• Skilled in building complex LBO financial models
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office products, notably MS Excel
• Ability to be creative, insightful and resourceful in performance of duties
• Strong interpersonal skills used within a demanding team environment
• Strong ability to attentively review, assess, and provide detailed information daily on multiple projects in an organized manner
• Excellent capability to independently function as part of a team through self-motivation

Interested? We'd be happy to connect. If this role sounds like a fit, click Apply! We look forward to learning more about you!