Senior Credit Analyst (Leveraged Credit)

Summary of Responsibilities:

The Senior Credit Analyst (Leveraged Credit) is responsible for the ongoing analysis of assigned sectors within the Fort Washington corporate bond and loan portfolios.  Analysis will focus on both industry and company-specific fundamentals as well as relative value, risk positioning, and security-specific trade ideas that support the overall client mandate. 

Position Responsibilities:

• Researches assigned credit sectors and evaluates fundamental characteristics, trends, opportunities, and risks therein.  Research activities include frequent collaboration with peers across the firm’s investment research teams; including investment grade credit, leveraged credit, emerging markets debt, and equity.
• Presents timely purchase, sell, and position sizing recommendations with regard to both security selection and sector allocation to the portfolio manager(s), trader(s), and credit research team(s) with a focus on relative value, strategy objectives, risk, liquidity, and ability to execute.
• Stays current on industry news, trends, and controversies within assigned coverage areas.  Provides relevant, frequent, and timely updates to the credit research team(s), portfolio manager(s), Head of Credit, and CIO(s).  This includes, but is not limited to, new issue commentary/recommendations and regular sector and positioning reviews for credit investment strategies.
• Functions as the “sector PM” for assigned sectors; associate works directly with portfolio manager(s) to determine positioning (credit, curve, and/or CUSIP-level) within assigned sectors of various fixed income strategies. 
• Cultivates and maintains relationships with external research, sales, trading, and industry management teams where possible.
• Understands third-party total return and internal insurance asset-liability management (ALM) fixed-income portfolio strategies, objectives, risk-tolerances, and constraints.
• Actively contributes to team discussions of corporate credit valuation and strategy.  Collaborates with the portfolio manager(s) and peers to assist in top-down risk allocations to credit sectors.
• Works with portfolio manager(s), account administrators, operations, and marketing staff within Fort Washington as well as a variety of other Western & Southern departments.

Selection Criteria:

• Typically eight plus years of proven successful experience in fundamental credit and/or equity analysis.
• Track record of outperformance.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to convey information to internal and external customers in a clear, focused and concise manner.
• Proven ability to effectively interact and communicate with all levels of staff and management.
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills.
• Proven ability to conceptualize and use new methodologies.
• Ability to work under multiple deadlines and minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated experience effectively influencing a group to a recommended course of action.
• Proven strong quantitative and mathematical skills.
• Demonstrated desire and initiative to strive for continuous improvement and excellence.
• Proven strong team orientation.  Must provide examples from working experience of going above and beyond the call of duty to assist team members.

Work Setting:

• Works in an office setting and frequently remains in a stationary position for long periods of time while working at a desk, on a computer or with other standard office equipment, or while in meetings.
• Visual acuity to read a variety of correspondence, reports and forms, and to prepare and analyze data.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or quantitative-related field.
• MBA preferred.

Computer Skills and Knowledge of Hardware & Software Required:

• Proficient in Bloomberg and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong Excel modeling skills, VBA knowledge a plus.

Certifications & Licenses (i.e., Series 6 & 63, CPA, etc.):

• CFA preferred.

Position Demands:

• Extended hours required during peak workloads or special projects.