Direct Lending Associate Director: Origination & Portfolio

Meraki Talent; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Meraki Talent is seeking an Associate Director for our client, a leading global investment management firm, to join the Direct Lending team across the UK and Europe. The role emphasizes originations, due diligence, and portfolio management within a mature private credit platform.

The successful candidate will lead investment opportunities, model and assess deals, and engage with sponsors, advisers, and management teams to drive value and timely completion.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience at Associate Director level within Private Credit, Direct Lending, Leveraged Finance or a closely related investment environment.
• Demonstrable experience of mid-market lending, ideally with exposure to private equity-backed businesses.
• Strong understanding of the deal origination process, including reviewing information memoranda, business plans and third-party due diligence.
• Strong financial analysis and modelling skills, with the ability to assess complex investment opportunities and clearly articulate key risks and returns.
• Experience supporting or leading transactions through due diligence, Investment Committee approval and execution.
• Strong understanding of investment appraisal and credit fundamentals.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to establish trusted relationships with sponsors, advisers, management teams and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to distil complex financial and investment information into clear, commercially focused reports and presentations.
• A relevant professional qualification such as CFA, IMC, ACA or ACCA would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Take a senior role within the Investment Team, with a strong focus on originating new investment opportunities across the UK and Europe.
• Lead the assessment and analysis of Private Credit transactions, taking opportunities through due diligence and preparing recommendations for Investment Committee.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with financial sponsors, advisers, management teams and other key market participants to identify and secure new investment opportunities.
• Review information memoranda, business plans and third-party due diligence reports as part of the investment assessment process.
• Build, review and challenge assumptions within financial models, assessing business performance, leverage, cash flow generation and downside scenarios.
• Manage the transaction documentation process alongside internal and external stakeholders to ensure investments are executed efficiently.
• Take responsibility for ongoing portfolio monitoring and management following completion.
• Provide oversight of investments showing signs of stress or distress, working with relevant stakeholders to assess appropriate courses of action.
• Produce clear and concise analysis, reports and presentations for Investment Committee, senior stakeholders and clients.

Job description

Meraki Talent is seeking an Associate Director for our client, a leading global investment management firm, to join the Direct Lending team across the UK and Europe. The role emphasizes originations, due diligence, and portfolio management within a mature private credit platform.

The successful candidate will lead investment opportunities, model and assess deals, and engage with sponsors, advisers, and management teams to drive value and timely completion.