Senior Credit Analyst (IG & HY)

Laz Partners; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Laz Partners, a leading New York investment firm, is seeking a Senior Fixed Income/Credit Analyst to join its investment team in New York. The role focuses on deep, bottom-up credit research and offers a defined path into portfolio management with potential for leadership over time.

You will underwrite across investment-grade, crossover, high-yield and leveraged loans, assess capital structures and present views to the broader team, while developing a client-facing profile with institutional

Qualifications

• Experience in credit investment and underwriting across investment-grade, crossover, high-yield and leveraged-loan opportunities.
• Senior-level underwriting experience in a buy-side environment.
• Ability to assess capital structure, cash flows, leverage, covenants and downside scenarios.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed underwriting across investment-grade, crossover, high-yield and leveraged-loan opportunities spanning multiple industries.
• Identify credit investment opportunities and reach clear, defensible conclusions on credit quality.
• Evaluate cash flows, leverage, covenants, documentation, and structural protections with emphasis on capital preservation.
• Work with portfolio managers on capital deployment and participate in portfolio meetings and daily calls.
• Present credit views to the investment team and contribute to a consensus-driven decision process.
• Manage coverage across several industries and ratings, focusing on BBB and BB credits plus select single-B opportunities.
• Contribute to development of the credit platform and, over time, leadership within the team.

Skills

Credit underwriting

Fixed income research

Financial modelling

Independent underwriting judgement

Portfolio interaction

Client communication

Education

CFA, MSc or equivalent

Job description

We have partnered with a leading US investment manager looking to hire a Senior Fixed Income/Credit Analyst to join their investment team in New York. The successful candidate will join a highly respected and growing fixed income platform, working directly alongside the portfolio management team.

This is a senior role focused on deep, bottom-up fundamental credit analysis. The position offers a defined route into portfolio management and is intended to develop into a senior leadership role over time. The successful candidate will also build a client-facing profile, subsequently leading meetings with institutional clients and prospective investors.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundamental Credit Research: Conduct detailed underwriting across investment-grade, crossover, high-yield and leveraged-loan opportunities spanning multiple industries.
• Credit Assessment: Identify credit investment opportunities, reaching clear and defensible conclusions on credit quality and suitability.
• Capital Structure Analysis: Evaluate cash flows, leverage, covenants, documentation, structural protections and downside scenarios, with an emphasis on capital preservation and avoiding permanent impairment.
• Portfolio Management Partnership: Work closely with portfolio managers on capital deployment and participate in portfolio meetings, investment discussions and daily calls across the broader credit platform.
• Investment Presentations: Present credit views to the full investment team, responding constructively to challenge and contributing to a transparent, consensus-driven decision-making process.
• Cross-Grade Coverage: Manage coverage across several industries and ratings categories, with a particular focus on BBB and BB credits alongside selective performing single-B opportunities.
• Platform Development: Contribute to the continued development of the credit business and, over time, support the leadership and stewardship of the platform.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Experience: Approximately 10–20 years of credit investment experience, operating at senior analyst level or equivalent.
• Buy-Side Background: Demonstrable experience underwriting credits within an asset manager, investment manager, insurer or comparable buy-side environment.
• Cross-Grade Expertise: Strong experience across both investment-grade and performing high-yield credit, with the ability to assess opportunities throughout the corporate capital structure.
• Sector Coverage: Experience covering multiple sectors is preferred over a career focused exclusively on one industry.
• Leveraged-Loan Knowledge: Proven expertise in leveraged loans, including cash-flow modelling, covenant analysis, documentation review, structural analysis and an understanding of loan trading and settlement.
• Investment Judgement: A strong record of making independent underwriting decisions, rather than solely producing research or supporting recommendations.
• Capital-Preservation Mindset: A quality-focused approach with the discipline to reject inexpensive but structurally weak credits and remain patient when attractive opportunities are limited.
• Adaptability: Willingness to adopt a differentiated investment process combining quantitative screening with fundamental, durability-led underwriting.
• Collaboration: A collegiate working style and the confidence to present investment conclusions within an open, debate-driven team environment.
• Commercial Aptitude: Interest in developing an institutional client-facing profile, supported by strong communication skills and senior-level presence.
• Education: A CFA, MSc or other relevant advanced qualification is preferred.