Associate - Ratings

Description Standard & Poor's, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data.  With approximately 10,000 employees, including wholly-owned affiliates, located in 24 countries, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for nearly 150 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions.  For more information, visit http://www.standardandpoors.com.
 
Recognized as an industry benchmark, Standard & Poor's Public Finance Ratings help assess the creditworthiness of municipalities, public and quasi-public agencies, government-owned facilities, and not-for-profit organizations with a variety of powerful tools and credible analytics.  Whether it's a rating for a single issue or an evaluation of a longer term strategy or financial plan, we provide a wide range of rating services market professionals depend upon to help manage financial decisions with clarity and assurance.
 
Standard & Poor's Public Finance is currently looking to fill the position of Associate in the State and Local Government Group. The work location for this position is Chicago.
 
Responsibilities:

•  Meeting with and managing relationships with senior executives of Public Finance governments, agencies and authorities
• Developing general familiarity and expertise in the assigned Public Finance sector
• Providing updated published reports on credits issuing new debt or in order to review outstanding ratings
• Preparing credit analyses for rating committees
• Monitoring and responding to credit developments on a real time basis
• Responding to inquiries from investors and media contacts
• Publishing topical commentaries
• Speaking at industry conferences

 
Associates must demonstrate the ability to communicate Standard & Poor's Ratings methodology and to manage relationships with issuers, bankers, auditors, financial advisors and colleagues.  A strong intellectual curiosity and the ability to respond to market changes or to offer creative financing solutions, as well as develop new products and risk models, are critical for advancement.

Requirements

• Completion of an MBA or an MPA degree
• Proficiency in financial statement analysis
• Strong quantitative skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability and desire to publish analyses
• Ability to negotiate effectively and to work well in a team environment
• Ability to multi-task and solve problems in a fast-paced environment
• Relevant work experience with a government agency, consulting, financial services or not-for-profit organization is a plus.
• Candidates must hold permanent work authorization for the country for which they apply.