Vice President/Principal - Credit Research, Senior Investment Analyst

Octagon Credit Investors, LLC is a 25+ year old, $34B+ investment adviser focused on leveraged loan, high yield bond, and structured credit (CLO debt and equity) investments. Through fundamental credit analysis and active portfolio management, Octagon's investment team identifies attractive relative value opportunities across below-investment grade asset classes, sectors, and issuers. Octagon’s investment philosophy and methodology encourage and rely upon dynamic internal communication to manage portfolio risk. Over its history, the firm has applied a disciplined, repeatable, and scalable approach in its effort to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its investors.

The firm was founded in 1994 as a separate business unit of Chemical Bank and in 1999, Octagon spun out from Chase Manhattan Bank. Octagon honors its heritage through its company name and logo, both of which are derived from Chase Manhattan's emblem. Located in New York, the firm currently comprises approximately 90 employees, many of whom have spent their entire professional careers at Octagon.

Octagon believes that providing a challenging and rewarding career, combined with a supportive work environment, incents employees to remain at the firm. Significant employee ownership and low employee turnover also underscore our culture of partnership, teamwork, and dedication to preserving investor capital across all our funds/accounts under management. We also embrace the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; our employees can bring the best version of themselves to work every day. We thrive in an environment where everyone’s voice is heard, every idea counts, and the differences of our employees are valued.

Position Summary:

The Vice President or Principal will serve as a Senior Analyst on the Credit Research team and will partner with members of the Investment Committee (“IC”) in utilizing their research expertise and industry knowledge to provide buy, sell, or hold recommendations on loans and bonds. They will perform in-depth quantitative and qualitative analyses for their assigned industry sectors by analyzing macro-economic factors and industry trends to assign internal ratings and investment outlooks. The Vice President or Principal will work to ensure that their recommendations help Octagon generate strong risk-adjusted investment returns. 

We are looking for an individual who is curious, eager to learn, excited to contribute and take initiative, and will help add value to the team. The Vice President or Principal will take on an integral role in helping to manage and contribute to Octagon’s overall portfolio management responsibilities, strategies, and success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

·      Research, analyze, and evaluate credit investment opportunities for assigned industry sectors

·      Prepare and present investment recommendations to Octagon’s Investment Committee

·      Analyze industry sectors from a long-term and short-term perspective to improve internal ratings and outlooks

·      Collaborate and manage relationships with various counterparties both internally and externally (i.e., management teams, investment banks, private equity sponsors, other lenders, and our investors)

·      Monitor an existing portfolio of predominantly leveraged loan investments through updating investment tracking models, news releases, earnings calls, sell-side research, company filings, and industry conferences

·      Evaluate changes in the economic, legislative, or business environments for assigned industry sectors which are likely to have an impact on investment strategy

·      Make relative value trade recommendations on existing investments

·      Work with, train, and develop a dedicated junior investment professional 

·      Support the development of technology-based solutions designed to improve internal recordkeeping, monitoring, and reporting capabilities

·      Help answer questions pertaining to investment activity and follow up with solutions/process improvements

·      Proactively take on ad hoc projects and provide support for new business initiatives, as needed

Areas of Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Qualifications:

·      5+ years of relevant and in-depth research experience with below investment grade credit and the loan/CLO markets

·      3+ years of primary industry coverage responsibilities, preferred

·      CFA or MBA (or other related graduate-level business degree), preferred

·      Comprehensive knowledge of credit and ability to overlay trading and fund management considerations into credit recommendations

·      Strong leadership skills and ability to collaborate in team environment

·      Keen process focus and demonstrated ability to institute best practices across team

·      Demonstrated track record of deep credit work and corresponding recommendations supporting above-benchmark performance

·      Highly motivated, proactive team player with a positive attitude

·      Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong analytical skills, and exemplary attention to detail

·      Proven relationship and managerial skills

·      Ability to multi‐task, be proactive, work independently, and work effectively under pressure (often under deadlines and changing priorities)

·      Comfortable interacting and building relationships with all teams (including senior management) across the firm and affiliated organizations

·      Outstanding reputation of professional integrity and maturity