Associate, Asia Direct Lending

Ares Management Corporation; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ares Management Corporation seeks a high-calibre investment professional for its Asia Direct Lending team. The Associate will support sourcing, underwriting, credit analysis, and portfolio management across the full investment lifecycle, collaborating with senior professionals and sponsors.

Analysts may be considered for the Analyst level based on experience. The role combines rigorous financial modelling with investment judgement, execution, and external engagement, offering exposure to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or international equivalent from a top-tier institution.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, with backgrounds in private credit, leveraged finance, investment banking and/or principal investing particularly relevant.
• Strong intellectual ability, with excellent quantitative, financial and analytical skills.
• Advanced Excel modelling capability with strong PowerPoint skills.
• A self-motivated, driven approach and the ability to operate effectively in a collegial, fast-moving, demanding and dynamic environment.
• Appetite to invest in and build a scaled direct lending business in Asia.
• Creative problem-solving ability and sound judgement.
• Strong team player.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage with colleagues, management teams and sponsors.
• Impeccable integrity and trustworthiness.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed financial and market research and analysis to support investment decisions across new credit opportunities.
• Screen and assess new investment opportunities.
• Build and maintain complex Excel financial models, including cash flow analysis, debt sizing and structuring.
• Preparation and presentation of investment committee materials.
• Prepare presentations and pitches for internal and external use.
• Analyse investment and portfolio performance, including maintaining and updating investment valuations and financial models and monitoring relevant market activity, including providing internal pipeline updates.
• Prepare portfolio reporting, including summarising changes in performance and updating forecasts.
• Assist with negotiating and preparing legal documentation and supporting investment closings.
• Meeting with management teams and sponsors in connection with new investment opportunities and ongoing portfolio monitoring.
• Additional duties, including providing direct support as deemed necessary by senior management.

Skills

Financial analysis

Excel modelling

PowerPoint

Investment analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares' success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values - Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy - and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description: We are seeking a high-calibre investment professional with a strong analytical foundation and a genuine interest in private credit and direct lending. The Associate will be an integral member of Ares' Asia Direct Lending team, supporting the full investment lifecycle across sourcing, underwriting and credit analysis, transaction execution, and post-closing portfolio management. The role provides exposure to the end-to-end investment process, from opportunity screening and underwriting through execution and ongoing portfolio monitoring. This is a highly interactive role that combines rigorous financial analysis and modelling with investment judgement, transaction execution, and external engagement. The successful candidate will work closely with senior investment professionals, management teams, and sponsors while gaining meaningful responsibility throughout the investment lifecycle. Candidates with less experience may be considered for the Analyst level.

Primary Functions & Essential Responsibilities

• Perform detailed financial and market research and analysis to support investment decisions across new credit opportunities
• Screen and assess new investment opportunities
• Build and maintain complex Excel financial models, including cash flow analysis, debt sizing and structuring
• Preparation and presentation of investment committee materials
• Prepare presentations and pitches for internal and external use
• Analyse investment and portfolio performance, including maintaining and updating investment valuations and financial models and monitoring relevant market activity, including providing internal pipeline updates
• Prepare portfolio reporting, including summarising changes in performance and updating forecasts
• Assist with negotiating and preparing legal documentation and supporting investment closings
• Meeting with management teams and sponsors in connection with new investment opportunities and ongoing portfolio monitoring
• Additional duties, including providing direct support as deemed necessary by senior management

Qualifications

• A relevant Bachelor's degree or international equivalent from a top-tier institution
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, with backgrounds in private credit, leveraged finance, investment banking and/or principal investing particularly relevant
• Strong intellectual ability, with excellent quantitative, financial and analytical skills
• Advanced Excel modelling capability with strong PowerPoint skills
• A self-motivated, driven approach and the ability to operate effectively in a collegial, fast-moving, demanding and dynamic environment
• Appetite to invest in and build a scaled direct lending business in Asia
• Creative problem-solving ability and sound judgement
• Strong team player
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage with colleagues, management teams and sponsors
• Impeccable integrity and trustworthiness

Reporting Relationships

Partner, Head of Asia Direct Lending

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2026, Ares Management's global platform had approximately $671 billion of assets under management(1) with more than 4,400 employees operating across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com. Ares Management LLC (together with its related operating and administrative subsidiaries, "Ares Management") is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. (1) As of June 30, 2026. AUM amounts include funds managed by Ivy Hill Asset Management, LP., a wholly owned portfolio company of Ares Capital Corporation and registered investment adviser.