Vice President, Credit
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.
About the role
Ares U.S. Direct Lending Group (“DLG”) is one of the largest self-originating direct lenders. With a team of over 230 investment professionals in offices across the U.S., Ares U.S. DLG self-originates investment opportunities in senior secured loans, private high yield, mezzanine and select minority equity investments. Ares U.S. DLG provides investors access to its self-originating direct lending platform through several vehicles, including commingled funds, separately managed accounts and a publicly traded vehicle, Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: ARCC).
The Vice President will work closely with Ares partners and other key members of the investment team on all aspects of the credit platform. The position requires junior level relationships with private equity sponsors and capital market participants and will directly interface with clients and lead the internal support staff and junior members of the investment team.
Responsibilities
- Underwriting, executing, and negotiating new private credit transactions
- Developing relationships with the private equity community and portfolio management
- Executing debt financings for leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, recapitalizations, and restructurings
- Leading and executing transactions from initial deal sourcing through closing
- Overseeing investment memorandums for deal screening and formal investment committee approval, with ability to present findings to the RCS investment committee
- Running the legal documentation process
- Functioning as a junior level transactor with private equity (sponsored) and private company (non-sponsored) clients
- Building and maintaining excellent client relationships
- Utilizing independent research and analysis to generate ideas and recommendations to partners
- Mentoring junior members of the team
Requirements
- 6+ years experience in an underwriting and execution role, focusing on direct lending or credit related transactions
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics or an MBA
- Proven ability and highly skilled at developing positive relationships with private equity sponsors, lending partners and internal partners
- Demonstrated track record and expertise with financing across the capital structure including bank loans, senior unsecured debt, subordinated debt and knowledge of equity securities
- Excellent track record in deal execution, understanding all phases of the process from sourcing, due diligence, documentation, marketing, and syndication
- Strong understanding of financial accounting with financial modeling experience
- Experience working in a rapid paced and challenging environment
Skills
- Exceptional intelligence and the ability to grasp concepts quickly and interpret requests
- Self-motivated, driven by the need to succeed, with energy and enthusiasm
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
- Strong executive presence and respect from peers and clients
- Excellent personal presentation skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of the team
- Demonstrates initiative, a commitment to learning, and the ability to adapt to changing environments
- Highly collaborative; ability to work within a team of experienced professionals
- Long-term, value creation and disciplined approach to capital preservation
Pay
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $150,000.00 - $185,000.00. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus.
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) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit
- Access to a world-class medical advisory team
- Mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry
- 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