Senior Credit Trader, Principal, Liquid Credit

Ares Management Corporation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 230,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical/Rx

401(k) with company match

HSA with company contribution

Life Insurance

EAP

Job summary

Ares Management Corporation in New York seeks a Principal to join its liquid credit trading team. You will trade bank loans, high yield bonds and distressed securities, partnering with portfolio managers to align investment goals and generate actionable ideas.

Source opportunities and manage the calendar with capital markets counterparts and sponsors. You will contribute to committee discussions, provide market color, and collaborate across Credit to improve trading processes.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Finance, Accounting, or related field required; master’s degree and/or CFA a plus.
• 8-10+ years relevant experience in buyside/sellside trading or capital markets in IG-corporate credit.
• Strong relationships with internal/external counterparties; ability to source opportunities.
• Able to quickly learn internal applications; strong credit fundamentals and market knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Senior trader focused on bank loans, high yield bonds and distressed securities for multiple credit groups.
• Partner with portfolio managers to understand investment goals and generate trade ideas.
• Source investment opportunities and build buyside relationships for deal flow.
• Manage capital markets calendar and facilitate dialogue with issuers and sponsors.
• Contribute to committees with technical trading insights and credit analysis.
• Provide market color to portfolio managers, analysts, and firm management.

Skills

Senior trading

Credit markets

Relationship building

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

BA/BS in Finance

CFA preferred

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

With a tenured team of investment, trading and risk professionals in offices across the U.S. and Europe, we seek to capitalize on investment opportunities within the liquid credit universe through tactical top-down allocation and disciplined credit selection. Liquid credit investment solutions help traditional fixed-income investors access the syndicated loan and high yield bond markets and capitalize on opportunities across traded corporate credit. Our strategies include syndicated loans, high yield bonds, and multi-asset credit. We are currently seeking a Principal to join our liquid credit trading team based in New York, NY.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND ESSENTIAL RESPOSIBILITIES

• Senior trader focused on bank loans, high yield bonds and corporate distressed securities with responsibility for trading on behalf of the Liquid Credit, Direct Lending, Special Opportunities and Alternative Credit groups.
• Partner with portfolio managers to develop a fulsome understanding of the Firm and Credit Group’s investment goals and divergent portfolio mandates to generate actionable trade ideas including relative value across loans/HY.
• Source investment opportunities and deal flow by leveraging Street relationships and by establishing/fostering new buyside partnerships.
• Capital markets responsibilities including but not limited to: manage new issue calendar, facilitate dialogue on early looks, reverse inquiries, develop/strengthen relationships with our capital markets counterparties and in time develop relationships with Sponsors.
• Serve as a dynamic contributor to the Liquid Credit Investment Committee and Global Allocation Committee processes, adding not only technical and trading commentary, but also fundamental credit insight.
• Provide timely market color and feedback to internal constituents (portfolio managers, analysts, credit/firm management).
• Specifically provide daily proprietary summaries of firmwide trading activity and overall market commentary that can be shared across Ares’ investment and investor relations platform.
• Foster communication and collaboration with professionals across Credit including Liquid Credit, Direct Lending, Special Opportunities, and Alternative Credit.
• Partner with IT and investment operations groups to leverage the use of technology to provide efficiencies in all areas of the trading process.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education/Certification: BA/BS in Finance, Accounting, or related field required; master’s degree and/or CFA a plus
• Experience Required: 8-10+ years relevant experience and currently in a buyside or sellside trading (preferred) or capital markets capacity within the below IG-corporate credit markets
• Proficient in understanding portfolio manager/client needs, generating proprietary idea flow, partnering with counterparties to source opportunities, and communicating credit and market news to internal constituents
• Established track record of strong relationships with internal and external/counterparty relationships
• Ability to assess facts and make quick decisions in a trading environment
• A demonstrated track record of multi-tasking/simultaneously managing multiple tasks while on the trading desk
• Firm understanding of trading platforms and the ability to quickly learn any required internal applications
• Strong understanding of credit fundamentals and market technicals
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to manage both internal and external business relationships
• Strong attention to detail and high operational accuracy
• Strong sense of teamwork, ethics and personal accountability

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$230,000.00 - $250,000.00

The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical/Rx
• Dental and Vision plans
• 401(k) program with company match
• Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA)
• Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution
• Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit
• access to a world-class medical advisory team
• a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry
• a mindfulness and wellbeing app
• financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor
• new parent leave
• reproductive and adoption assistance
• emergency backup care
• matching gift program
• education sponsorship program

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2026, Ares Management's global platform had approximately $671 billion of assets under management(1) with more than 4,400 employees operating across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

Ares Management LLC (together with its related operating and administrative subsidiaries, “Ares Management”) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. (1) As of June 30, 2026. AUM amounts include funds managed by Ivy Hill Asset Management, LP., a wholly owned portfolio company of Ares Capital Corporation and registered investment adviser.