Retail Associate Director / Director recruitment

Position Title: Retail Associate Director / Director

Working Location: US - Chicago, IL

Employment Status: Full-Time Regular

Required Experience: 5 years

Required Education: Bachelors Degree

Travel Required: 10

Job ID: Corp032912Ret

Position Description:
Dual-headquartered in New York and London with 50 offices worldwide, Fitch Ratings is a global rating agency dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, research and data. Offering a world of knowledge and experience behind every opinion, we transform information to deliver meaning and utility to investors, issuers and other market participants. Fitch Ratings' global expertise draws on local market knowledge and spans across the fixed-income universe. The additional context, perspective and insights we provide help investors make important credit judgments with confidence.

Fitch Ratings, along with Fitch Solutions and Algorithmics, a leader in enterprise risk management solutions, is part of the Fitch Group. The Fitch Group is a majority-owned subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A. headquartered in Paris, France.

Position Requirements:
Fitch is seeking an Associate Director / Director for coverage of the retail sector. We are looking for someone 1) who has a demonstrated understanding and/or keen interest in this industry 2) who can demonstrate strong credit analysis and finance skills 3) who wants to deepen their exposure to the debt capital markets and 4) who has a strong pattern of leadership and ability to interact successfully with upper management. Qualitative credentials such as enthusiasm, energy, interpersonal skills, and passion for learning and achievement will weigh meaningfully in the selection of the candidate. Individuals with a team mind-set, strong focus on results, a high productivity-based work ethic, and a sense of humor will thrive in this opportunity.

The individual who fills this position will potentially have lead analyst responsibility for a number of companies in the specialty retail sector. They will also have additional responsibilities related to special projects, including enhancing internal processes and cross-sector initiatives. The individual will have the opportunity to conduct, author and publish research on companies under coverage and on important credit-related themes. The role will be initially tailored to the candidate's prior qualifications and there will be significant opportunity for accelerating responsibility as the candidate demonstrates capacity for an enhanced role responsibility.

Essential Functions:
Primary duties include:
*Developing and enhancing comprehensive financial models
*Performing analysis of key quantitative and qualitative factors influencing credit quality
*Conducting and/or participating in on-site meetings with senior management teams
*Presenting analysis of companies to Fitch's internal credit rating committees
*Involvement in communicating rating rationale to external audiences (primarily institutional investors, sell-side analysts and media) in meetings, conference calls, press releases and written research reports
*Participating in the evaluation of other credits within Corporates, as well as other related credit groups

Qualifications:
*Must possess at least 3 to 8 years of relevant experience
*Coverage or knowledge of retail sector and credits is a plus
*Excellent written and verbal communication skills
*Proficiency in Excel and Word
*A strong foundation of analytical skills
* Self-motivation and the enthusiasm for synthesizing highly complex information and concepts into straightforward, concise and insightful research
*MBA/MPA and/or CPA/CFA preferred
*Position will require about 5-10% travel

This position can be filled in either NY or Chicago.

Fitch Ratings complies with federal, state, and local laws governing employment, and provides equal opportunity to all applicants and employees. All applications will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, domestic partnership, sexual orientation, and other status protected by applicable laws.