Vice President, Fund Finance Ratings - Surveillance

About the Role

Morningstar DBRS is seeking a Vice President to join the Fund Finance Ratings team, which is part of the U.S. Structured Credit team, focusing on the surveillance of existing credit ratings. This credit analyst will serve as a lead analyst supporting a growing portfolio of investment fund debt credit ratings.

A successful candidate will have relevant experience in fund finance and/or credit ratings. The role requires strong sector knowledge, analytical and quantitative skills, sound credit judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.

U.S. Structured Credit is a credit ratings analytics team that assigns and monitors credit ratings, develops research, and maintains credit rating methodologies for investment fund debt, including feeder fund debt, subscription lines and collateralized fund obligations (CFOs), as well as collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), other corporate securitizations and bespoke credit rating opportunities.

• Serve as lead analyst responsible for monitoring transaction performance and surveilling existing credit ratings, including but not limited to feeder fund debt, secured facilities, unsecured debt, subscription loan facilities and collateralized fund obligations.
• Prepare and present detailed analysis, recommendations and committee materials to credit rating committees.
• Conduct portfolio analysis using Morningstar DBRS-developed predictive models and credit rating methodologies.
• Draft credit rating letters, press releases and other relevant disclosures.
• Prepare for and lead management meetings and maintain issuer and client relationships.
• Participate in meetings and calls with market participants and issuers.
• Assess legal, regulatory, counter party and other risks related to Fund Finance and U.S. Structured Credit ratings.
• Exercise independent credit judgment and develop well-supported credit recommendations.
• Train and mentor junior analysts.
• Collaborate with other Morningstar DBRS credit teams to support credit rating surveillance, analysis, administration and research.
• Adhere to compliance, regulatory and company policies and procedures.

• Undergraduate degree in finance, accounting, business, economics or a related discipline required.
• 7+ years of relevant experience, which may include:
  • Credit ratings experience covering funds, BDCs, CLOs or related asset classes;
  • Fund finance, private credit, investment banking or legal experience focused on funds-related transactions;
  • Credit risk management experience covering credit funds, private credit or related strategies; or
  • Other relevant experience as a market participant within fund finance, private credit or structured credit.
• Strong knowledge of and experience with credit funds, BDCs, CLOs, private credit and/or private equity.
• Demonstrated ability to independently analyze credit risk, exercise sound credit judgment and develop well-supported recommendations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel skills such as building complex formulas or models, pivot tables and charts.
• Strong research and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present clear, concise and well-supported committee materials, reports and credit recommendations.
• Ability and willingness to proactively learn and apply new analytical approaches and methodologies.
• Self-starter with the ability to prioritize competing demands, work independently and complete high-quality work with a sense of urgency.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams and mentor junior analysts.

• Rating agency experience, including familiarity with credit rating methodologies, committee processes and the broader ratings framework.
• Knowledge of analytical programming languages or tools, such as VBA or Python.

Morningstar DBRS is a leading provider of independent rating services and opinions for corporate and sovereign entities, financial institutions, and project and structured finance instruments globally. Rating more than 4,000 issuers and 60,000 securities, it is one of the top four credit rating agencies in the world.
Morningstar DBRS empowers investor success by bringing more transparency and a much-needed diversity of opinion in the credit…