Municipal Credit Research Analyst — Data-Driven Insights

Socket.dev; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Stanley Investment Management is seeking a Research Associate to provide investment research and analytical support to Municipal Credit Analysts and Portfolio Managers. You will focus on credit fundamentals, security structure, and relative value, and work with Senior Analysts to identify opportunities and develop independent credit views.

As you gain sector expertise, you’ll become a meaningful contributor to the municipal team's investment process, building models and tools to improve

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with a strong academic record; relevant experience or demonstrated interest in investment research, municipal finance, or credit analysis preferred.
• Strong Excel and quantitative skills required; experience with Python, SQL, R, data visualization, or AI-enabled research tools preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex issuer information into concise, actionable investment views.
• Intellectual curiosity, sound credit judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to think critically and creatively.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced investment environment, with flexibility to support multiple analysts, sectors, and priorities.
• Commitment to continued professional development; progress toward the CFA designation or graduate business study is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support senior analysts by conducting issuer-level municipal credit research, including analysis of financial performance, operating trends, security structure, and sector-specific risks.
• Collect, maintain, and analyze financial, market, and statistical data to support fundamental credit research and relative value analysis.
• Develop quantitative models, data tools, and AI-enabled workflows that improve research efficiency, surveillance quality, and the broader team’s analytical capabilities.
• Maintain surveillance of assigned credits through review of periodic financial reporting, news sources, peer comparisons, external research, and communication with market participants or issuer management teams.
• Write clear credit surveillance reports, present findings to colleagues, and develop trade ideas or investment recommendations with guidance from senior analysts.
• Build and maintain spreadsheets, dashboards, macros, or other tools that consolidate information from multiple sources into usable research outputs.
• Support Senior Analysts on sector reviews, issuer deep dives, portfolio surveillance, and other research projects as needed.

Skills

Excel

Python

SQL

R

Data visualization

AI-enabled research tools

Strong written and verbal comms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

Python

SQL

R

Data visualization tools

AI-enabled research tools

Job description

Morgan Stanley Investment Management is seeking a Research Associate to provide investment research and analytical support to Municipal Credit Analysts and Portfolio Managers. You will focus on credit fundamentals, security structure, and relative value, and work with Senior Analysts to identify opportunities and develop independent credit views.

As you gain sector expertise, you’ll become a meaningful contributor to the municipal team's investment process, building models and tools to improve