Sr. Associate, Asset Backed Structuring
National Life Group
Sr. Associate, Asset Backed Structuring
Company Summary
For 175 years, National Life Group (“NLG”) has aimed to keep their promises to provide families stability in good times and in bad. And throughout that history, they have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures.
As a mission-driven business, the cause of what they do is as important as the products they sell. And their cause is a very simple one, directed at the people who live and work on America’s Main Streets: “To Do good in our communities and with the individual families we serve.”
NLG Capital, the investment management company of NLG, manages approximately $40+ billion in AUM. Our purpose is simple – to allow NLG to keep its promises. How we do this – an obsessive focus on delivering investment results. We drive results through a rigorous but collaborative investment process, and we hold ourselves to the highest of standards, both as investors and teammates. While our process is based on rigor, our culture is based on our guiding principles: Meritocracy, Uncompromising Transparency, Intellectual Honesty, Performance Driven Learning, Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. These principles serve as the foundation of our team. They govern the way we conduct ourselves, how we interact with teammates and how we approach every investment decision. We act with the integrity and humility required to make the investment decision that is right for the firm, and ultimately our policyholders. Our culture has been deliberately built to foster curiosity and provide opportunities to learn and grow, both as people and investors. The flat and collaborative nature of our team promotes an atmosphere where the best ideas are continually expressed and rewarded. Our pursuit of excellence is unwavering.
Role Summary
NLG Capital is seeking a Senior Associate, Asset Backed Finance to join an expanding Structuring team. In this role, you will play a key part in developing optimal structuring solutions across private credit strategies, leveraging your expertise in securitization and rating agency methodology. The Structuring effort at NLG Capital partners with investment teams across private markets, and this role will work closely with them to evaluate transactions, develop cashflow modeling and analytics, participate in legal efforts, and interface with rating agencies. Ideal candidates will possess deep subject matter expertise in structured finance, with a preference for experience in Asset Backed Finance markets such as Consumer, Equipment Leasing, Small Business Finance, and/or Aircraft. Experience structuring private or bi-laterally negotiated transactions strongly preferred.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Partner with investment teams to evaluate transactions, propose structuring options, and execute the ratings process
- Develop and run cashflow models that inform the structuring and ratings processes
- Track the public and private structured finance markets, evaluate securitization structures, and maintain deal comp sheets with key structural features
- Act as subject matter expert on rating agency methodologies and ratings criteria, and maintain internal materials to inform investment teams on rating agency constraints
- Coordinate rating agency discussions and maintain materials for presentations
- Maintain collaborative and active dialogue with dealer structuring desks, law firms, and rating agency counterparts, building on NLG Capital’s reputation in the structured finance marketplace
- Conduct research on the structured finance markets and insurance activity in the space
- Participate in ad-hoc projects related to the NLG Capital structured finance business
Minimum Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Finance, Accounting, or a related field of study
- 3+ years of experience in Structured Finance including ABS banking, buy-side analysis/structuring, capital markets, or a rating agency
- Exposure to private markets, including bi-laterally negotiated transactions, forward flow, etc.
- Excellent proficiency in Excel, with the ability to build complex asset-backed cashflow and liability models
- VBA and Python programming expertise a strong plus
- Strong understanding of cashflow modeling and waterfalls, collateral analysis, and stress scenario modeling
- Knowledge of rating agency methodologies and the ratings process
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex information clearly and concisely
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple tasks effectively
- Highly organized and detail-oriented
- Proactive and self-motivated with a strong work ethic
- Solid interpersonal skills and ability to connect to form meaningful working partnerships
Cultural Fit
- Results-driven mindset
- Thrives in a collaborative environment where the best ideas that drive the best results are rewarded
- Has the integrity to communicate all relevant facts and information in evaluating decisions and the humility to admit what you do not know
- Love of learning – comfortable in an organization that seeks to continually learn from its mistakes and successes to drive better investment decisions
- Comfortable with ambiguity and the mentality required to address and ultimately own those ambiguous situations – finding answers and solutions
- Proficient in giving and receiving constructive feedback in both real time and structured environments
- Demonstrates transparent, direct, and open communication across the organization
- Promotes collaboration and has a “firm first” attitude – does what is right for National Life Group
- Commitment to our mission and values
Preferred Qualifications
- VBA and Python programming expertise a strong plus
Benefits & Compensation
- Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!
- The base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $200,000. We are open to varying levels of experience.