Direct Lending/Private Credit Associate

Connect Search, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Search, LLC is partnering with the direct lending credit affiliate of a leading global private investment firm to identify a capable Associate for its credit investments team in Chicago. The role spans due diligence, modeling, and investment thesis development across a multi-strategy platform.

You will perform valuation, structure opportunities, and prepare investment memos while supporting portfolio monitoring.

Qualifications

• Experience in investment banking or equivalent.
• Elite financial modeling ability.
• Strong interest in fundamental credit investing.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.
• Ability to self-direct and form independent judgments.

Responsibilities

• Engage in due diligence and business analysis to develop investment theses.
• Model, value, and structure potential investments.
• Identify key credit merits and risks.
• Prepare detailed investment committee memoranda.
• Support credit documentation and closing processes.
• Manage and monitor portfolio investments.

Skills

Investment Banking

Financial Modeling

Credit Investing

Interpersonal Skills

Leadership & Communication

Independent Judgment

Job description

The direct lending credit affiliate of a leading global private investment firm with a substantial multi-strategy platform spanning private equity, credit, real estate, and other strategies.

Why This Seat

• Both sponsor and non-sponsor transaction flow


• Well-staffed team allowing for depth and intentionality on diligence rather than a lean deal team environment


• Significant responsibility and autonomy at the Associate level


• Not a traditional "two-and-out" seat — structured as the primary entry point for a long‑term upward career path

Key Responsibilities

• Engage in all aspects of due diligence and business analysis to develop and refine investment theses


• Modeling, valuation, and structuring of potential investment opportunities


• Identify key credit merits and risks


• Prepare detailed investment committee memoranda


• Support credit documentation and closing processes


• Manage and monitor existing portfolio investments

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in investment banking


• Elite financial modeling ability


• Passion for fundamental credit investing


• Outstanding interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills


• Ability to self‑direct and form independent judgments