VP, Corporate Credit Research

Jackson•Chicago, IL

1d•$135,000 - $180,000

About The Position

Working at PPM America, Inc. PPM is a US-based institutional asset manager. Established in Chicago in 1990, PPM exists to consistently support institutional clients in achieving their long-term value goals. We take a hard work, straight talk, full transparency and humility approach to our work. Our success is supported by a team-based culture that encourages debate, collaboration and consistency. At the center of our belief is the fact that our best ideas to date have and can come from any team member anywhere in our firm. We believe the success of our investment culture is best demonstrated by the strong retention of our clients and investment professionals. PPM was again named one of the Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments in 2024. We attract professionals who exhibit humbleness, directness, and dedication. PPM’s values guide our internal conduct and help define the type of relationships we share with our investors, affiliates, and other valued partners. Above all, PPM is passionate about giving back to our clients, to each other, and to our community. We understand that community and purpose are just as important as the job description when finding your next career. At PPM, our values are reinforced in our culture every day. We act like owners. Integrity guides all that we do, and we are committed to exercising sound judgment in every decision that impacts the company and serves our clients. We are passionate about investment performance and driving results. We are relentless in our efforts to provide best in class service. We strive to build strong and lasting relationships with our clients, seeking to gain trust in everything we do. We work collaboratively with transparency and accountability. We operate as a team. We rely on each other, are accountable to each other, and respect each other. We value differences and unique perspectives and embrace the principle that great ideas can come from anyone. We embrace change. We are not afraid to challenge the status quo in search of a better, smarter or faster solution. We value learning, challenge ourselves and motivate others. We are also committed to positively impacting our community. As a firm, we invest time, experience and fundraising efforts with our non-profit partners. At PPM, we offer volunteer opportunities to get involved with a network of peers and support the causes that are important to you. Your passion and talents can make a lasting impact on our organization and our community. Additionally, our employees go the extra mile every day and the benefits of working at PPM reflect our commitment to supporting and enhancing their personal and professional lives. The plans and programs listed below are offered in collaboration with our parent company. The Fixed Income Research team is comprised of intellectually curious, collaborative professionals who formulate investment ideas for inclusion in PPM’s wide range of debt-focused client portfolios. As sector experts, analysts assess the credit quality of companies and industries through qualitative and quantitative analysis by following news, analyzing financials, and speaking to industry experts. Analysts then evaluate trading levels of these companies’ debt instruments to formulate investment recommendations, collaborating with the firm’s traders and portfolio managers to implement these views into portfolios. The VP, Corporate Credit Research, as part of the PPM Investment team, works closely with portfolio managers and traders and reports to the Head of Fixed Income Research. Conducts fundamental research and comprehensive credit analysis in support of existing positions and to identify investment ideas to enhance total return performance across a range of portfolios. The focus is on investment grade and high yield corporate bonds, and also includes leveraged loans.

Requirements

Ability to analyze companies and industries by reviewing a high volume of information (e.g., financial statements, company presentations, and third-party research reports) with the judgment to identify the most relevant areas for further investigation
Ability to quickly build accurate financial models in Microsoft Excel
Strong written and verbal presentation skills with an appreciation of the value of succinct, clear writing
Track record of professional and academic achievement with intellectual curiosity and a passion for financial and industry analysis
Previous work conducting original research and communicating the results in writing is required
Excellent financial statement analysis, excel modeling, and Bloomberg skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills along with a record of professional and academic achievement are required
Bachelor's Degree , preferably in Finance, Accounting, and/or Economics, required.
8+ years of credit experience required.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the SNL software package is a plus
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) or pursuing MBA preferred.
High Yield experience preferred.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential or pursing CFA preferred.

Responsibilities

Quantitative and qualitative credit analysis of the holdings in PPM's portfolios and research of new investment ideas
Preparation of written reports for new investments and ongoing monitoring of investments
Verbal presentations to senior management and other professional staff at PPM America
Update buy/sell/hold investment recommendations, incorporating real-time events and pricing changes
Maintain in-depth industry knowledge by attending conferences and sustaining relationships with buy-side and sell-side analysts, rating agency analysts, and industry management teams
Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Benefits

At PPM, we offer volunteer opportunities to get involved with a diverse network of peers and support the causes that are important to you.
Your passion and talents can make a lasting impact on our organization and our community.
Additionally, our employees go the extra mile every day and the benefits of working at PPM reflect our commitment to supporting and enhancing their personal and professional lives.
The plans and programs listed below are offered in collaboration with our parent company.
Competitive salary and bonus
Medical, dental and vision coverage
For eligible employees, $2 for $1 matching on 401k contributions, up to a max matching contribution of 12% of your eligible compensation.
Tuition and professional certification reimbursement
Paid parental leave
Adoption assistance
Holidays and paid time off
Paid time off to volunteer