Private Credit Associate, Specialty Finance

Selby Jennings; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Selby Jennings is seeking a Private Credit Associate in Chicago to join its Specialty Finance investing team. The role focuses on evaluating and executing investments across consumer, commercial, and other asset-backed opportunities.

Key responsibilities include detailed due diligence, financial modeling, and presenting recommendations to senior investment professionals within a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• 2–4+ years in private credit, specialty finance, ABF, structured credit, or related credit investing roles.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills with credit risk evaluation experience.
• Knowledge of consumer finance, equipment leasing, receivables, or other asset-backed assets preferred.
• Experience conducting detailed due diligence and presenting investment recommendations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; entrepreneurial mindset.

Responsibilities

• Conduct due diligence and underwriting of specialty finance and asset-based opportunities.
• Analyze collateral performance, cash flows, and portfolio characteristics.
• Build complex financial models to evaluate investments and portfolio performance.
• Prepare investment memoranda and present recommendations to senior staff.
• Monitor investments and assess covenant compliance and risk factors.
• Collaborate with originators and advisors throughout the investment lifecycle.

Skills

Financial modeling

Credit risk analysis

Due diligence

Investment evaluation

Team collaboration

Job description

A leading global investment firm with approximately $20B in AUM is seeking a Private Credit Associate to join its Specialty Finance investing team in Chicago, IL. The platform provides creative and flexible capital solutions across a broad range of specialty finance sectors, partnering with both established and emerging asset originators to structure and finance portfolios of financial assets. Backed by significant institutional capital and a long-term investment horizon, the team focuses on sourcing, underwriting, and managing complex asset-based and specialty finance investments.

The Private Credit Associate will play a key role in evaluating and executing investments across a variety of specialty finance strategies, including opportunities backed by consumer, commercial, and other financial assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed due diligence and underwriting of specialty finance and asset-based investment opportunities.
• Analyze collateral performance, asset-level cash flows, portfolio characteristics, and structural credit protections.
• Build and maintain complex financial models to evaluate investment opportunities and portfolio performance.
• Prepare comprehensive investment memoranda and present recommendations to senior investment professionals.
• Monitor existing investments and assess ongoing credit performance, covenant compliance, and risk factors.
• Perform industry, market, and competitor research across specialty finance sectors.
• Support transaction structuring, documentation, and execution processes alongside legal and external advisors.
• Assist with portfolio management initiatives and participate in strategic projects across the platform.
• Collaborate with senior team members, originators, and counterparties throughout the investment lifecycle.

Candidate Qualifications

• 2-4+ years of relevant experience in private credit, specialty finance, asset-based finance (ABF), structured credit, investment banking, or other credit-focused investing roles.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, including experience evaluating credit risk and complex financing structures.
• Understanding of specialty finance asset classes such as consumer finance, equipment leasing, commercial finance, receivables, transportation, mortgage-related assets, or other asset-backed opportunities is preferred.
• Experience conducting detailed due diligence and preparing investment recommendations.
• Strong academic credentials with a demonstrated track record of achievement.Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial and collaborative investment environment.

This is an attractive opportunity to join a growing specialty finance platform with significant capital to deploy and exposure to a diverse range of asset-based and specialty credit investment opportunities.