Senior Portfolio Performance Analyst

Nelnet, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

HSA and FSA

401K/student loan repayment

Life insurance & AD&D

Employee assistance program

Employee stock purchase program

Tuition reimbursement

Performance-based incentive pay

Disability insurance

Wellness program

Job summary

Nelnet is seeking a Senior Portfolio Performance Analyst to analyze portfolio performance with a focus on NFS portfolios and capital markets activity such as securitized portfolios, forward flow partnerships, joint ventures, and acquired whole-loan portfolios. The role partners with Capital Markets, BI, and Finance to translate analysis into actionable decisions.

Requires 6+ years of experience, strong financial judgment, and advanced Excel/SQL skills, with familiarity in AI tools and data

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience in portfolio management, credit or analytics.
• Experience with securitized portfolios, forward flow partnerships, joint ventures, or whole-loan portfolios.
• Strong understanding of delinquency, losses, prepayments, and vintage performance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with senior leadership.
• Ability to work independently and solve complex problems with data.
• Proficiency with Excel, SQL and modern analytical tools; familiarity with AI applications.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Capital Markets and other stakeholders to understand objectives, frame questions, and support informed decision-making.
• Develop understanding of NFS portfolios and partnerships tied to capital markets; monitor performance, risks, opportunities, and threshold triggers.
• Investigate complex questions and communicate findings so leadership understands changes and actions.
• Develop and maintain frameworks for evaluating portfolio performance and key drivers.
• Define requirements for recurring reporting; partner with BI on dashboards and data quality issues.
• Use AI and modern tools to accelerate research, analysis, and communication.

Skills

Portfolio management

Credit/portfolio analytics

Financial modeling

Excel

SQL

Power BI

AI tools

Snowflake

Intex

Forecasting

Tools

Snowflake

Power BI

Intex

Job description

Nelnet is a diversified and innovative company committed to enriching lives through the power of service as a student loan servicer, professional services company, consumer loan originator and servicer, payments processor, renewable energy solutions, and K-12 and higher education expert. For over 40 years, Nelnet has been serving its customers, associates, and communities. The perks of working at Nelnet go beyond our benefits package. When you join the Nelnet team, you're part of a community invested in the success of each individual. That support comes through in our work, as we are united by our mission of creating opportunities for people where they live, learn, and work. The Senior Portfolio Performance Analyst, reporting to the Director of Analytics, is a senior individual contributor responsible for analyzing portfolio performance and translating complex credit and capital markets information into clear insights and actionable recommendations for senior leadership. The role has a significant focus on NFS portfolios and partnerships associated with capital markets activity, including securitized portfolios, forward flow partnerships, joint ventures, and acquired whole-loan portfolios. The analyst helps stakeholders understand portfolio performance, emerging risks and opportunities, and the key drivers influencing business outcomes. The ideal candidate combines strong credit and portfolio judgment with meaningful capital markets experience, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to operate independently through ambiguity. The role works closely with Capital Markets, Business Intelligence, Finance, and other partners to turn analysis into better business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Partnership and Decision Support: Partner closely with Capital Markets and other stakeholders to understand business objectives, anticipate analytical needs, frame key questions, and support informed decision-making.
• Portfolio and Capital Markets Performance: Develop a deep understanding of NFS portfolios and partnerships associated with capital markets activity. Monitor portfolio performance, emerging trends, risks, opportunities, and applicable trigger or covenant thresholds. Surface developments requiring deeper analysis or management attention.
• Analysis and Communication: Investigate complex portfolio, credit, and capital markets questions and communicate findings so leadership understands what is changing, why it matters, and what actions may be appropriate.
• Analytical Frameworks: Develop and maintain consistent frameworks for evaluating portfolio performance, key drivers, trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Reporting Strategy and BI Partnership: Define business and analytical requirements for recurring reporting; partner with Business Intelligence on dashboard and report development and to resolve data quality or availability issues that affect analysis.
• AI and Modern Analytical Tools: Use AI and other modern analytical tools to accelerate research, analysis, and communication.

Required Skills and Experience

• 6+ years of relevant professional experience in portfolio management, credit, finance, risk, analytics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with securitized portfolios, forward flow partnerships, joint ventures, acquired whole-loan portfolios, or similar capital markets structures.
• Knowledge of credit and portfolio performance concepts, including delinquency, losses, prepayments, repayment behavior, vintage performance, and portfolio composition.
• Strong analytical judgment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify key drivers and form well-supported conclusions from complex information.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across business and technical teams.
• Independence, curiosity, and sound judgment when working through ambiguous or unfamiliar situations.
• Comfort working with complex financial and portfolio data using Excel, SQL, and related analytical tools.
• Ability to use AI and other modern analytical tools effectively in research, analysis, and communication.
• Helpful Skills and Experience Knowledge of rating agency methodologies, investor or counterparty reporting, or capital markets documentation.
• Familiarity with Intex or comparable structured finance tools.
• Experience with Snowflake, Power BI, or comparable data and reporting platforms.
• Exposure to forecasting, scenario analysis, or other forward-looking analytical techniques.

Helpful Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of rating agency methodologies, investor or counterparty reporting, or capital markets documentation.
• Familiarity with Intex or comparable structured finance tools.
• Experience with Snowflake, Power BI, or comparable data and reporting platforms.
• Exposure to forecasting, scenario analysis, or other forward-looking analytical techniques.

Pay Range for this role is - $100,000 - $135,000 depending on experience

Our benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, HSA and FSA, generous earned time off, 401K/student loan repayment, life insurance & AD&D insurance, employee assistance program, employee stock purchase program, tuition reimbursement, performance-based incentive pay, short- and long-term disability, and a robust wellness program.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Nelnet is committed to providing a welcoming and respectful workplace where all associates have the opportunity to succeed. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we ensure that all qualified applicants are considered for employment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion/creed, national origin, gender, sex, marital status, age, disability, use of a guide dog or service animal, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. We value the unique contributions of every team member and believe that a positive work environment benefits everyone. Qualified individuals with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations in order to apply or compete for positions at Nelnet may request such accommodations by contacting Talent Acquisition at 402-486-5725 or [e-mail]. Nelnet is a Drug Free and Tobacco Free Workplace.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Hiring

We may use automated or artificial intelligence enabled tools to assist with the initial review of applications, such as identifying relevant skills or experience. These tools are used to support human review and do not make hiring decisions. A recruiter reviews applications and determines which candidates move forward in the hiring process. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Pre-Use Notice: Automated Tools in Hiring. You may know Nelnet as the nation’s largest student loan servicer – but we do more than that. A lot more. We’re also a professional services company, consumer loan originator and servicer, payment processor, renewable energy innovator, and K-12 and higher education expert (and that’s just a shortlist). For over 40 years, we’ve been serving our customers, associates, and communities to make dreams possible.

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