Senior Director, Sovereigns
Company Overview
Dual-headquartered in New York and London, Fitch Ratings is a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary and research. Dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, Fitch Ratings offers global perspectives shaped by strong local market experience and credit market expertise. The additional context, perspective and insights we provide help investors to make important credit judgments with confidence. Fitch Solutions delivers credit market data, analytical tools and risk services to the global financial community. In addition to offering proprietary market-based content, Fitch Solutions distributes the ratings, research and financial data of Fitch Ratings through a variety of flexible platforms. With innovation and experience behind every solution, Fitch Solutions helps financial professionals meet the diverse and evolving needs of today’s global markets. Fitch Ratings and Fitch Solutions, along with Fitch Learning, are part of the Fitch Group, a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Fitch Group is a jointly owned subsidiary of Paris-based Fimalac, S.A. and New York-based Hearst Corporation. Fitch complies with all laws governing employment in each jurisdiction in which it operates, 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, sexual orientation, and other status protected by applicable laws.
Department Overview
The Sovereign & Supranationals Ratings Group is responsible for assigning and maintaining international credit ratings of sovereign governments and their debt issues as well as most of the world’s major supranational institutions. The Group currently maintains more than 100 public sovereign ratings and over 20 major supranationals worldwide. The group’s sovereign ratings coverage includes governments in so-called ‘advanced’ economies such as the US, the UK, Germany and Japan as well as in ‘emerging markets’ such as China, Brazil, India and Russia. The group’s coverage of supranationals includes most of the world’s largest multi-lateral development banks and key pan-regional institutions such as the European Union. The group comprises 32 analysts, based in Fitch’s offices in London, Paris, New York and Hong Kong.
Job Description
Based in the New York office, the successful candidate would report to the Global Head of Sovereigns in London. We are looking for a senior analyst with 5-10 years experience of economic and financial analysis focused on sovereign credit, including specific exposure to the North American region.
The primary responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to focus on the analysis and rating of Sovereign entities in the region. He/she will also provide some support for ratings coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The role will involve conducting in-depth analytical meetings with the sovereign authorities (Treasury and Central Bank) of rated entities and other relevant constituents, establishing working relationships with officials, updating databases and preparing forecasts, writing credit rating reports, presenting credits to a rating committee and preparing research reports and press releases for publication.
The successful candidate will also be required to produce written research and commentary on topical sovereign credit issues and developments in the region, as well as initiating and contributing to broad macro-economic research projects coordinated by the Global group from London.
Additionally, the successful candidate will be required to represent the agency’s views on North American and relevant macro-economic and sovereign credit topics to external constituents, including investors, issuers, bankers and the media. He/she would need to be an excellent communicator, able to deliver confident, insightful presentations at conferences and other public events and to present the agency’s views across a range of media platforms, including broadcast television interviews.
As a senior member of the team, the candidate would be expected to contribute to reviews of –and refinements to – the sovereign criteria and the Group’s rating models. It is critical that the candidate should be a self-starter and be able to work independently, while also being able to engage with colleagues across different time zones and maintaining regular communication with the Global Head. He/she must be able to cope with time pressure and deadlines and be able to travel as necessary.
Key Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to focus on the analysis and rating of Sovereign entities in the region. He/she will also provide some support for ratings coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The role will involve conducting in-depth analytical meetings with the sovereign authorities (Treasury and Central Bank) of rated entities and other relevant constituents, establishing working relationships with officials, updating databases and preparing forecasts, writing credit rating reports, presenting credits to a rating committee and preparing research reports and press releases for publication.
The successful candidate will also be required to produce written research and commentary on topical sovereign credit issues and developments in the region, as well as initiating and contributing to broad macro-economic research projects coordinated by the Global group from London.
Additionally, the successful candidate will be required to represent the agency’s views on North American and relevant macro-economic and sovereign credit topics to external constituents, including investors, issuers, bankers and the media. He/she would need to be an excellent communicator, able to deliver confident, insightful presentations at conferences and other public events and to present the agency’s views across a range of media platforms, including broadcast television interviews.
As a senior member of the team, the candidate would be expected to contribute to reviews of –and refinements to – the sovereign criteria and the Group’s rating models. It is critical that the candidate should be a self-starter and be able to work independently, while also being able to engage with colleagues across different time zones and maintaining regular communication with the Global Head. He/she must be able to cope with time pressure and deadlines and be able to travel as necessary.
Key Responsibilities:
- Organise and lead rating visits for sovereign issuers under primary coverage
- Produce credit reports and other written research
- Initiate/originate relevant topical commentary and other research
- Maintain country databases for the sovereigns that form part of the coverage
- Contribute to cross-regional macro-economic research and related analytical projects
- Communicate the agency’s views on sovereign credit and macro-economic issues to key constituents including investors, issuers, bankers and the media.
Requirements:
A good educational background, including strong and relevant qualifications in macro-economics at degree level. A balance of incisive numerical and analytical skills, together with an ability to speak and write concise, fluent English. Numerate, with experience in writing essays/reports and proficiency in Excel and Word. Appropriate post-graduate academic or professional qualifications in economics and/or finance with relevant experience of sovereign credit analysis. Excellent communication skills. Spanish or Portuguese language skills would be advantageous. Ability to work to tight deadlines and display a strong degree of flexibility to take on additional responsibilities, as required
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