Associate Director, Ratings Advisory

Position Overview

The Associate Director in Ratings Advisory is responsible for providing analytical and operational support on ratings advisory engagements involving corporate, institutional, financial institutions, and sovereign clients. This role contributes to the preparation of financial analyses, materials for rating agencies, benchmarking reports, and credit narratives, facilitating meaningful client and rating agency communications. Collaboration with senior personnel in areas including Ratings & Debt Advisory, Debt Capital Markets, Corporate Finance, Coverage, and Risk is essential to ensure delivery of accurate and compliant advisory solutions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist with preparation of analyses, presentations, and supporting documents for ratings advisory projects under senior supervision.
• Review and analyze clients' financial statements, capital structures, cash flows, and business models.
• Develop peer benchmarking, conduct market research, and summarize rating agency methodologies to enhance credit discussions.
• Contribute to the creation of rating presentations, information packets, and materials for client engagement.
• Coordinate interactions with rating agencies including meeting arrangements, data requests, and follow-up processes.
• Perform base-case and adverse scenario analyses, sensitivity assessments, and evaluate rating implications.
• Liaise with Debt Capital Markets, Corporate Finance, Coverage, and Risk departments to gather required data and harmonize outputs.
• Maintain accurate documentation including mandate files, engagement logs, data references, and advisory records.
• Support internal updates related to rating trends, market conditions, and client prospects.
• Adhere to organizational policies, confidentiality commitments, governance protocols, and regulatory expectations throughout all work.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Accounting, or related fields.
• Fundamental knowledge of regional financial markets and rating agency criteria across corporate, financial institution, and sovereign categories.
• Competency in financial modeling, credit evaluation, and scenario analyses with a commitment to expanding technical skills.
• Basic familiarity with capital market products such as bonds, sukuk, hybrid capital instruments, and structured finance solutions.
• Effective presentation abilities, credit report writing, and analytical communication skills.
• Capacity to professionally interface with internal teams and clients, guided by senior professionals.
• Strong coordination, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to handle assigned tasks within deadlines, producing precise deliverables.
• Integrity-driven, team-oriented with a dedication to governance, confidentiality, and risk controls.
• Capability to collaborate across organizational divisions supporting broader ratings and debt advisory initiatives.

Preferred Experience

• Entry-level to early career exposure in credit analysis, ratings, debt capital markets, corporate finance, credit risk, or related financial services.
• Experience or familiarity with rating agency engagements, credit evaluations, or preparing stakeholder communications is advantageous.