Private Credit Associate, Specialty Finance

Selby Jennings; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Selby Jennings is seeking a Private Credit Associate to join its Specialty Finance investing team in Chicago, IL. The role involves evaluating and executing investments across consumer, commercial, and other asset-backed opportunities within a dynamic private credit platform.

Key responsibilities include due diligence, underwriting, financial modeling, and preparation of investment memoranda. The candidate should have 2–4+ years in private credit or related areas, strong analytical skills, and

Qualifications

• 2–4+ years in private credit or related credit-focused investing.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Experience evaluating credit risk and complex financing structures.
• Familiarity with asset classes such as consumer finance, equipment leasing, or receivables.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Entrepreneurial and collaborative mindset.

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.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial modeling

Credit analysis

Due diligence

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

Tools

Excel

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.