Structured Finance - Asset-Backed Securities, Senior Director (Chicago)
About The Position
Fitch Ratings is seeking an emerging assets professional to join the Asset-Backed Securities Group in our Chicago or New York offices. Fitch Ratings is adding an experienced and highly motivated professional to the Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) team as a Senior Director. The position is within the North American ABS team, with a primary focus on transactions collateralized by novel asset types—including GPU computing infrastructure financing and intellectual property (IP) monetization structures. This role requires deep familiarity with unique asset financing and the ability to pioneer structured finance rating approaches where limited historical performance data exists. This is a senior leadership position responsible for a wide range of initiatives including: sector analytical leadership for emerging asset classes, direct responsibility for analytical activities including rating and monitoring a wide range of asset based financing and regular direct engagement with bankers and issuers operating at the frontier of securitization. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong senior leadership in a structured finance credit role, combined with relevant experience in structured credit and/or project credit markets. Candidates must clearly demonstrate the ability to analyze novel collateral types and apply macro and sector-specific trends. In this leadership role, strong communication skills (verbal and written) are essential, given the broad internal and external responsibilities to articulate and disseminate credit views on asset types that require significant market education.
Requirements
- A credit professional with a BA/BS degree and a minimum of 10 years of work experience, with previous experience rating ABS transactions or evaluating structured credit.
- Direct experience with technology assets, intangible asset valuation, or equipment-backed financing is strongly preferred.
- Experience managing a team, with the ability to inspire, strategically plan workflows, and progress multiple projects in parallel—particularly in environments requiring first-principles analytical thinking.
- Fitch is a team-oriented work environment, so excellent interpersonal skills are essential, as is a high-productivity work ethic and a results-oriented mindset.
- A knack for communicating credit views (particularly in writing) and the ability to analyze large and unconventional data sets—including asset utilization metrics, technology adoption curves, licensing revenue concentration, and residual value assumptions—and form defensible conclusions.
- Strong understanding of structured finance transaction mechanics, combined with a demonstrated ability to critically analyze complex legal documents and contracts—such as indentures, servicing agreements, and security interest opinions—to assess structural protections, enforceability risks, and documentation adequacy.
Nice To Haves
- Direct experience evaluating technology-backed financings, equipment leasing structures, IP monetization vehicles, or novel ABS transactions, whether buy-side, sell-side, or at a rating agency
- Background in project / corporate finance or credit analysis covering technology, semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, data center operators, or media/entertainment (royalty and licensing)
- CFA candidate, CPA, or other professional designations highlighting strong analytical capacity for the role
- Thoughtful views on asset based finance trends and direct experience in underwriting new assets
- Passion for reviewing legal docus and understanding structure risks
- Desire to define and lead a new frontier in structured finance with the leading team in ABS, building frameworks that will shape market practice for years to come
Responsibilities
- Lead deal teams to analyze critical credit, legal, and structural elements across emerging asset based finance sectors
- Contribute to dynamic rating workflows by leading rating analysis on a growing portfolio of emerging-asset ABS transactions and participating externally with investors, issuers, and bankers to build market confidence in Fitch's approach
- Deploy and implement various credit tools and cash flow models to form analytical views and recommendations on a wide array of collateral and financing types, usage-based revenue models and more operation business models
- Lead the development and refinement of ratings criteria for emerging-asset ABS, including forming recommendations to bolster analysis, calibrate stresses, and make strategic sector decisions where historical performance benchmarks are limited or nonexistent
- Manage and mentor analysts, strategically plan workflows, and drive progress on multiple parallel projects across a rapidly evolving deal pipeline
Benefits
- A rewarding leadership experience to expand your managerial talents and lead a team at the forefront of structured finance innovation.
- An opportunity to be a market-defining leader at the top rating agency in ABS, directly shaping the analytical framework for asset classes that are redefining the securitization landscape.
- Ability to grow the depth and breadth of your presence in emerging-asset ABS through active external participation with investors, issuers, legal counsel, and technology stakeholders.
- A dynamic and fluid work environment expanding the breadth and depth of your involvement in the debt capital markets, with direct influence on criteria development and strategic sector decisions.
- Dedicated trainings, leadership development and mentorship programs designed to ensure that your time at Fitch will be a continuous learning opportunity
- Retirement planning and tuition reimbursement programs that empower you to achieve your short and long-term goals
- Comprehensive healthcare offerings that enable physical, mental, financial, social, and occupational wellbeing
- Family-friendly policies, including a generous global parental leave plan, designed to help you balance career and family life effectively
- A collaborative workplace where all voices are valued, with Employee Resource Groups that unite and empower our colleagues around the globe
- Paid volunteer days, matched funding for donations and ample opportunities to volunteer in your community
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
