Investment Analyst

Chicago, Illinois

Kemper is one of the nation’s leading specialized insurers. Our success is a direct reflection of the talented and diverse people who make a positive difference in the lives of our customers every day. We believe a high-performing culture, valuable opportunities for personal development and professional challenge, and a healthy work-life balance can be highly motivating and productive. Kemper’s products and services are making a real difference to our customers, who have unique and evolving needs.

By joining our team, you are helping to provide an experience to our stakeholders that delivers on our promises.

The Investment Analyst supports the Investments team by conducting fundamental credit and investment research across a range of asset classes, which may include corporate bonds, municipal bonds, structured securities, private debt, private equity, and alternative investments. This role assists with issuer analysis, portfolio monitoring, market research, valuation support, and the development of written and verbal investment recommendations for portfolio managers. The position requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, financial statement analysis capabilities, and the ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative information within a relative value framework.

• Conduct fundamental credit and investment research on issuers across sectors and asset classes, which may include corporate bonds, municipal bonds, structured securities, private debt, private equity, and alternative investments.
• Prepare and maintain written credit memos, including issuer overviews, industry and competitive analysis, financial statement analysis, relative value analysis, key risks, and investment considerations.
• Monitor existing portfolio holdings by reviewing issuer performance, market developments, ratings actions, financial results, covenant compliance, and other relevant credit or investment-related information.
• Maintain investment research files, internal databases, and documentation to support portfolio monitoring, reporting, and investment decision-making.
• Support analysis of primary and secondary market investment opportunities, including review of offering materials, pricing, credit fundamentals, and relative value.
• Assist in developing buy, sell, and hold recommendations for portfolio managers through written research, financial analysis, and verbal discussion.
• Perform quarterly valuation support for private debt, private equity, and other alternative investments under the guidance of senior investment professionals.
• Collaborate with portfolio managers, analysts, and other investment team members to support portfolio objectives and investment strategies.
• Track market, economic, industry, and company-specific trends that may affect current or prospective investments.

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of full-time professional experience in credit research, investment research, trading, financial analysis, or a related field required.
• Active CFA Program participation required, defined as having passed CFA LevelI, being registered for an upcoming CFA LevelI exam, or currently pursuing CFA LevelII or LevelIII; or municipal bond credit research, trading, surveillance, underwriting, or portfolio management experience.
• Basic knowledge of financial statements, credit analysis, and investment concepts.
• Strong analytical, written communication, and Excel skills.

• Experience analyzing municipal bonds, healthcare issuers, not‑for‑profit hospitals,…